Ask Us - Retirement

I have a profit-sharing plan with my former employer. I am now trying to buy a home. Can I use my profit-sharing money to put a down payment on a house? (view answer)

How does an employer benefit from a 401(k) matching plan? (view answer)

Should I collect early Social Security? (view answer)

What is the "stretch IRA" concept? (view answer)

What are the distribution options for an inherited annuity? (view answer)

What are the pros/cons of naming a trust as the beneficiary of a retirement account? (view answer)

What is the difference between early retirement and full retirement as it applies to Social Security retirement benefits? (view answer)

If my spouse passes away, will I have to sell my home to meet creditor obligations? (view answer)

What is the "three-legged stool"? (view answer)

Is an 8% annual return on retirement savings realistic? (view answer)

What is pension maximization? (view answer)

Should a Canadian citizen who lives and works in the U.S. continue to contribute to a RRSP account? (view answer)

How do I use a conduit IRA? (view answer)

Do I still have to pay penalties and taxes on money that I don't roll over from a DROP fund? (view answer)

We are in a 401(k) at work. Can we also do a Roth each year? (view answer)

Is a person an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan if he or she was only active for a short time? (view answer)

What are the penalties for withdrawing from my Traditional IRA less than a year after acquisition? (view answer)

Am I entitled to any of my ex-spouse's retirement plan benefits? (view answer)

What happens when someone is given the golden boot? (view answer)

What is a vest fleece? (view answer)

How can I get information about my deceased husband's retirement account if his employer withholds it? (view answer)

What is cliff vesting? (view answer)

How do I "vest" something? (view answer)

Why should investors pick less risky investments as they approach retirement? (view answer)

What is a blackout period? (view answer)

Can I roll over a 403(b) to an IRA? (view answer)

My husband left his ex-wife as his retirement plan beneficiary. Can this be changed? (view answer)

Can I combine my inherited IRA and Keogh into one plan? (view answer)

Is my 403(b) account owned by me or by the institution? (view answer)

Can I contribute to both a 529 plan and an education savings account? (view answer)

If I take a severance package from my employer, how will it be taxed? (view answer)

Can a person who is retired continue to fund an IRA? (view answer)

Can I pull out most of my assets from my IRA and use the cash as long as I replace it in the IRA within a year? (view answer)

How do my siblings and I receive inherited pension benefit payments from our deceased parent? (view answer)

Can I leave my pension to my spouse when I pass away? (view answer)

What should I consider when I select an executor for my will? (view answer)

Is my husband's ex-spouse entitled to receive my spouse's retirement benefits? (view answer)

Does participation in a 401(k) plan prevent an individual from contributing to a Traditional IRA? (view answer)

Can I borrow from an IRA without penalty? (view answer)

Can the beneficiary of an IRA name a successor beneficiary? (view answer)

What effect will a prenuptial agreement have on a 401(k)? (view answer)

Does my cost basis change after I roll my spouse's IRA into mine? (view answer)

What types of plans allow catch-up contributions? (view answer)

Health problems caused me to take my RMD after the deadline. Can I appeal my case to the IRS? (view answer)

Can we convert our IRAs to Roth IRAs regardless of earned income? (view answer)

How do I go about opening up a Roth IRA? (view answer)

For tax and retirement purposes, what does being "single" mean? (view answer)

Is it too late to start saving for retirement? (view answer)

Can a spouse who is not named as a beneficiary receive assets from an IRA? (view answer)

I am 100% invested in company stock. Can I use these funds to diversify? (view answer)

Can a creditor seize my retirement savings? (view answer)

Can an employer adopt a different type of retirement plan for each employee? (view answer)

Should I put money into a retirement account even if it isn't tax deductible? (view answer)

Where can I find information on how to distribute my deceased parent's assets? (view answer)

Do withdrawal penalties apply to involuntary plan contributions by temporary employees? (view answer)

How do I sign up for the saver's tax credit? (view answer)

Can I establish more than one IRA? (view answer)

What is the difference between qualified and non-qualified plans? (view answer)

What are some of the features and benefits of SEP IRAs and Roth IRAs? (view answer)

When can I withdraw money from my profit-sharing plan tax-free? (view answer)

If I pass away, will my retirement plan go to my spouse tax free? (view answer)

Why should I ask for two checks from my employer when rolling over retirement plan money? (view answer)

Can you have a 403(b) and also contribute to a 401(k)? (view answer)

I have conservative views on investing. How should I go about investing in a Roth IRA? (view answer)

What should I do if I accidentally over-contributed an IRA for my spouse? (view answer)

Does a former spouse receive IRA assets upon the IRA holder's death? (view answer)

What are the tax implications of distributions from a qualified plan in accordance with a QDRO? (view answer)

Can I hold non-dollar currencies in my retirement fund? (view answer)

What are the requirements that a trust needs to meet to be qualified? (view answer)

Can I close my Roth IRA account without a tax penalty? (view answer)

Can I defer starting my required minimum distributions? (view answer)

After receiving a required distribution when and how are my taxes affected? (view answer)

What kinds of investments are allowed in a qualified retirement plan? (view answer)

Where can I find information on multiple annual additions? (view answer)

What's the difference between a savings account and a Roth IRA? (view answer)

Can I set up a defined-benefit plan and make deductible contributions? (view answer)

Is it possible to fund limited partnership interests with SEP contributions? (view answer)

Can after-tax amounts from my annuity be taxed as income? (view answer)

Who bears the investment risk in 401(k) plans? (view answer)

Am I too old to contribute to my employer's 401(k)? (view answer)

I own a small business. Can the SBO-401(k) work for me? (view answer)

Should I choose an SBO-401(k) or a SIMPLE IRA for my company? (view answer)

Is an employee eligible for an SEP if the plan has already been set up for other employees? (view answer)

Can I transfer a portion of my IRA to another IRA account? (view answer)

Can I contribute the maximum to multiple employer retirement plans? (view answer)

Will I be penalized for stopping distributions from my retirement account while under Rule 72(t)? (view answer)

What retirement plan options are available to high-income earners? (view answer)

Can the beneficiary of a retirement plan change after the account holder has died? (view answer)

Can I fund a Traditional IRA or other retirement account using pension money? (view answer)

Do I qualify for a SIMPLE IRA as the sole employee of my own business? (view answer)

Can I set up SEP benefits for my business if I use independent contractors? (view answer)

Is there a retirement plan for small business owners that does not require all employees to participate? (view answer)

What are some common and useful retirement planner designations? (view answer)

When should I take my Canadian Pension Plan distributions? (view answer)

Are there tax penalties for closing my Roth IRA account? (view answer)

Can I convert a SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA? (view answer)

When and what percentage or dollar amount can I withdraw from my SIMPLE IRA? (view answer)

What investments are available to someone with no earned income? (view answer)

Can I avoid having to pay an early-distribution penalty on the grounds of hardship? (view answer)

Can 529 plans be used to transfer wealth? (view answer)

What is the best way to save for private school expenses? (view answer)

Why would a former employer delay distributions from a 401(k) plan? (view answer)

Why can't we make a hardship withdrawal from my husband's 401(k) account? (view answer)

Is it true that workers who don't roll over their 401(k)s after retiring face some problems related to estate planning? (view answer)

If I take a distribution from my 401(k) to purchase my first house, will I have to pay a penalty on this distribution? (view answer)

Do my wife and I each qualify for a one-time, tax-free $10,000 "qualified distribution" to purchase or rebuild our first home? (view answer)

What do you do for a non-spousal beneficiary receiving a required minimum distribution when the plan terminates? (view answer)

Can I roll my IRA funds into a newly opened 403(b) plan since I am presently employed by the school system? (view answer)

If Roth IRA assets are used to make an annual gift tax exclusion, can they still be considered Roth IRA? (view answer)

Are all my Roth IRA distributions tax free? (view answer)

Is it true that only the earnings of my Roth IRA conversions must stay in the account for five years? (view answer)

Can an SEP IRA be converted to a Roth IRA in the same manner that a Traditional IRA can? (view answer)

When does the five-year rule apply? (view answer)

If I am entitled to a percentage of my ex-husband's IRA, how can I receive the assets without being taxed? (view answer)

Are the distribution rules for 401(k) and 403(b) plans the same as those for IRA plans? (view answer)

After converting my IRA, can I still make a withdrawal for a house? (view answer)

Can an individual contribute to both a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA in the same year? (view answer)

Can I move my IRA to a better income-producing opportunity? (view answer)

Can 401(k) contributions be based on gross earnings? (view answer)

What are the "certain requirements" that must be met for a substantially equal periodic payment (SEPP)? (view answer)

Can I roll over the money in a 401(k) plan to a new 403(b) plan? (view answer)

I am considering taking a loan from my qualified retirement plan. What is the definition of a "reasonable interest rate"? (view answer)

Can I, without tax penalties, use the IRA I inherited from my father to buy a home that I will live in? (view answer)

Can I roll over a profit-sharing plan to an SEP IRA account without penalty? (view answer)

Can I withdraw from my Roth with no taxes or penalties? (view answer)

What are the pros and cons of having the company as the trustee versus the plan provider/vendor? (view answer)

Is it possible to reverse an IRA? (view answer)

I'm a teacher. Which is better for me, a 401(k) or 403(b)? (view answer)

What are the income limits for Roth IRA contributions? (view answer)

Can I withdraw IRA funds without penalty when I leave the country? (view answer)

Can either a SEP IRA or a SIMPLE IRA be attached in a bankruptcy or malpractice action? (view answer)

Can I withdraw from an IRA the year I turn 55 without the 10% penalty? (view answer)

I have a 403(b). Can I switch it to a different provider? (view answer)

I do not want to totally get out of my retirement 401(k), but I want to take 72(t) distributions. What should I consider? (view answer)