| December 2002 |
 December 19, 2002
Readers' suggestions for teaching kids about money and saving ý Can I transfer money from my 401(k) to an IRA to get better investment performance? ý My employer changed investments in our plan, forcing many of us out of the old investment. Is this allowed?
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December 5, 2002
Can you recommend any games or Web sites that will help children understand basic financial concepts and the importance of saving? ý What information should be included in quarterly and annual 401(k) statements? ý Is it legal for my employer to not offer the age-50 catch-up contribution this year? ý I am divorced. Am I entitled to any of my ex-husband's 401(k) retirement benefit?
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| November 2002 |
November 21, 2002
Can you recommend organizations that help individuals develop budgets and control compulsive spending? ý When I file my tax return for the year, can I get back some of the taxes my employer withheld when I took a 401(k) distribution? ý Can you clarify the 401(k) distribution rules? ý My employer decides how to invest our profit-sharing plan money, and his investments are fishy. Can I put the money somewhere else instead?
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November 7, 2002
What are the tax consequences to my spouse, or to my son if my spouse predeceases me, when inheriting my 401(k) after I die? ý Where can I find the guidelines concerning contributions to my employer's profit-sharing plan? ý Under what circumstances is a 401(k) loan permitted?
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| October 2002 |
October 17, 2002
I just left my job and want my 401(k) money. But, my employer says I must wait until next year. Is that right? ý Can you explain how the catch-up contribution rules work? ý I'm a highly compensated employee. What is my total contribution limit?
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| September 2002 |
September 5, 2002
My wife and I have an S corporation. Can I pay myself income from it and put it into a 401(k) plan? ý Once I get my company's full matching contribution, should I stop contributing to the 401(k) and save in other accounts? ý When must my employer deposit my contributions to the plan, and when must the money be invested? ý Will my company include my bonus when determining whether I'm highly compensated? If so, how do I control my 401(k) contributions so I don't get a refund?
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| August 2002 |
August 15, 2002
I'm highly compensated and was told my 401(k) contributions are being capped. How can I contribute more? ý Can I take a hardship withdrawal from my plan in order to pay off credit cards? ý I hold some stock in an old 401(k) plan. How can I roll this into a new plan? ý My husband withdrew 401(k) money to pay medical bills, but the account's balance was less than the amount he contributed. Can we take the loss off of our taxes?
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August 1, 2002
Where can I get information on new 401(k) laws being proposed in Congress? ý Does the $11,000 annual 401(k) contribution limit include any employer match? ý The rollover check just arrived at our company for an employee who we recently laid off. What are the employee's options? ... How can I change my money purchase plan to a profit-sharing plan?
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| July 2002 |
July 18, 2002
My wife's employer says she has to arrange her own retirement account. Is this considered a 401(k)? ý I'm being terminated from my job. Can I make a contribution to my 401(k) from my severance pay? ý I plan to be in the United States for 10 years and then leave for good. Is it worth it to participate in my employer's 401(k) plan? ý I'm 20, and my employer says I need to be 21 to participate in the company 401(k) plan. Why? I want to start saving early.
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July 3, 2002
I'm thinking of stopping contributions to my 401(k) and putting that money in a Roth IRA. What do you think? ý How can I set up a one-person 401(k) plan? ý If my employer is bought and its 401(k) plan is merged with the new firm's, can I still hold on to my old investments? ý I got an unsolicited distribution of my 401(k) balance from a former employer when the account value fell below $5,000. Can I return the money?
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| June 2002 |
June 20, 2002
I changed my husband's 401(k) elections, and the portfolio still is largely split 50-50. Do I need to change the allocations as well? ý How can I find a 401(k) account from 1996? ý What are the advantages of a 401(k) over an IRA for a retired person? ý I am trying to build a new home and need a down payment. Can I borrow against my 401(k) for this?
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June 6, 2002
Can I roll my 401(k) into a SEP or Keogh? If I reenter the corporate world can I roll this back into a 401(k)? ý How does the change to the same-desk rule this year affect qualified plans? ý I want to make a lump-sum contribution to my 401(k) to meet the $11,000 annual limit. What is the law on this? ý If I retire, what are the tax rules concerning company stock? What if I want to sell shares over time?
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| May 2002 |
May 16, 2002
What information must an employer report to its employees about their 401(k) accounts? ý I have two jobs, one full-time and one part-time. Can I have two 401(k) plans at the same time? ý I am 61 and was told that I would be considered 100 percent vested in my 401(k) when I retire at age 65. Is this correct? ý I took a $24,000 withdrawal from my 401(k) plan to use in a real estate deal. I have the money back. Can I roll it into an IRA without paying taxes?
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May 2, 2002
I withdrew $200,000 from my 401(k) to build a retirement home. How are the taxes on that calculated? ý Is it a good idea to take a 401(k) withdrawal to pay for my son's college expenses? What penalties are there? ý Should I consolidate my bills with a 401(k) loan? ý What information must employers report to employees concerning their 401(k) contributions and investment performance?
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| April 2002 |
April 18, 2002
My employer is thinking about switching the 401(k) plan to another company. Will I have to sell my investments? ý What are my rights concerning getting information from my employer about the investments it manages in my 401(k) plan? ý I participated in my 401(k) plan in 2001; can I make an IRA contribution, too? ý When are employer contributions to my 401(k) plan due?
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April 4, 2002
I quit my job in 2001, but my employer won't let me roll my 401(k) money into an IRA for five years. Is this legal? ý If Congress said the new 401(k) rules are effective Jan. 1, 2002, why do employers have the choice of when to adopt them? ý Are there any time limits on how long an employer can take to roll over a 401(k) balance from one plan provider to another? ý Can you explain how a 401(k) is split in a divorce?
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| March 2002 |
March 20, 2002
Why was my mother told that she needed to provide a financial statement in order to participate in her employer's 401(k) plan? ý How are 401(k) safe harbor employer contributions determined? ý I've been with my company a year. When I retire at age 65, in three years, will I get my entire 401(k) balance including the employer's contribution (which vests over seven years) or only my contributions? ý I'm Irish but have a green card. May I consolidate my 401(k) into a retirement plan I have in the U.K.?
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March 7, 2002
My husband is still working and will be 70ý at year-end. Does he have to take money from his plan then? ý My employer was acquired. Can I roll over my 401(k) money to an IRA if the plan is being terminated? ý If I take a lump-sum distribution from my 401(k), can I do five-year income averaging with this money? ý Can I move my 401(k) money among investments in the plan without penalty?
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| February 2002 |
February 21, 2002
My employer's contributions outperformed mine by 2 to 1, even though I have contributed more. Why? ... My employer's 401(k) plan flunked the discrimination test and has to return money to the highly compensated employees. How are those refunds determined? ... Can you help me figure out how my company calculated my profit-sharing match? ... I'm a financial advisor. I want to become broker of record for a company that has a bad 401(k) plan, but there's nepotism in the plan administration. What should I do?
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February 7, 2002
Might I forfeit my unemployment insurance if I initiate a rollover from my 401(k) plan? ý If you're a highly compensated employee (HCE) one year, but take a pay cut the next year, can you avoid the HCE contribution limits in the year you earn less? ý Can you explain the catch-up contribution rules? ý Can a new employee roll money from his old 403(b) plan into our 401(k) using a check dated December 2001?
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| January 2002 |
January 22, 2002
Can you explain how the age-50 catch-up contribution limit works? ... I earn overtime and my salary fluctuates. If I max out my contributions early in the year, I miss out on part of my employer match. How can I set my contributions so I get the full match? ý Are vacation and severance pay subject to 401(k) deductions? ý I change jobs frequently and often miss vesting my employer match. Can my employers boost the amount I can contribute to make up for that loss?
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| December 2001 |
December 18, 2001
In June, my employer stopped investing my 401(k) contributions. What should I do? ... Can I roll my outstanding 401(k) loan over to my new employer's plan when I change jobs? ... My employer is changing the rules so matching contributions will only be deposited once a year, and if the employee leaves before Dec. 31 no match will be made. Can my employer do this? ... The new rules say you can make an age-50 catch-up contribution after putting in $11,000. Can I still make one if my plan caps my contributions at $9,000?
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| November 2001 |
November 6, 2001
My plan has a 15-percent-of-pay limit that I want my employer to raise, but it won't. What other limits could reduce my contributions, and why? ... If I transfer 200 shares of company stock into my 401(k) account, will it be sold at today's price? ... My co-worker said she can roll her entire 401(k) to an IRA while still working. Is this true? ... If my former employer gets into financial trouble, can it access my 401(k) money?
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| October 2001 |
October 23, 2001
My employer wants to change the terms of my 401(k) loan. Can it do that? ... I have a 401(k) loan and am paying a 6.5 percent interest rate, but market rates are now lower. Is it worth refinancing the loan to get a lower rate? ... Are 401(k) loan repayments taxed twice? ... Since my 401(k) balance has fallen 12 percent in the last year, should I reduce my contributions and use the extra income to pay off bills?
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October 9, 2001
I'm thinking about using my 401(k) rollover check to pay bills instead of putting the money in my new employer's plan. Can I cash this check for that purpose? ... What are the differences among mutual fund share classes, and what kinds are commonly offered in 401(k) plans? ... How does the $170,000 compensation limit work? ... We can't find former employees who left money in our 401(k) plan. Can we roll it back into the plan?
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| September 2001 |
September 25, 2001
I'm thinking about using my 401(k) rollover check to pay bills instead of putting the money in my new employer's plan. Can I cash this check for that purpose? ... What are the differences among mutual fund share classes, and what kinds are commonly offered in 401(k) plans? ... How does the $170,000 compensation limit work? ... We can't find former employees who left money in our 401(k) plan. Can we roll it back into the plan?
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September 18, 2001
My mother's estate is the beneficiary of her IRA, which was then given to a trust for which I am the trustee. My sister is disabled and I would like to pay out the IRA balance to her over her lifetime. Can I do this?
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| August 2001 |
August 28, 2001
What are the IRS/ERISA rules concerning the vesting of my 401(k) match if I worked intermittently for one company? ... My son's previous employer rehired him. The company no longer offers the 401(k) plan he contributed to (and left his money in). Can he withdraw his money now? ... I am considering switching our 401(k) plan to institutional funds to reduce fees. Is this a good idea? ... I have private company stock in the 401(k) at my old employer; can I roll that to my new employer's plan?
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August 14, 2001
I am a foreign worker about to return home. How can I avoid the early withdrawal penalty if I take money out of my 401(k)? ... I'm 54 with no job and thinking about taking retirement. How do I withdraw the maximum from my 401(k) and pay minimum tax? ... My former employer mistakenly sent me stock certificates rather than rolling the money to my new employer's 401(k) plan. What can I do? ... Will the new total employer and employee 401(k) contribution limit of $40,000 a year be indexed to inflation?
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| July 2001 |
July 31, 2001
I was laid off six months shy of vesting in my 401(k) plan. I lost $20,000 in matching contributions. Can I get that money back? ... Are there any factors that make it mandatory to roll money from a previous employer's 401(k) to a current employer's plan? ... Will the "top-heavy" limits on 401(k) contributions apply to the catch-up provisions in the new tax law? ... I have investments in a former employer's 401(k) plan. How can I cash out the company stock and leave the rest?
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July 17, 2001
Our new plan year begins Dec. 31, 2001. Does this mean I have to wait a year longer to take advantage of some of the new 401(k) rules? ... If I default on my 401(k) loan, will it affect my credit rating? ... What are the most common reasons that the IRS and/or Department of Labor penalize an employer and/or disqualify a 401(k) plan? ... Hourly workers at my company contribute to the 401(k) based on their base pay, but have to limit their contributions if their total compensation makes them highly compensated employees. Shouldn't they be able to contribute based on their total compensation as well?
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July 3, 2001
If I exceed the annual contribution limit for my 401(k) plan, who has to fix the situation - me, or my employer? ... Do you agree that investors tend to act emotionally rather than intelligently, no matter how good a plan they have in place? ... Is it necessary to file a hardship request in order to withdraw after-tax contributions? ... Is money in a 401(k) more protected than money in an IRA in the event of civil suit?
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| June 2001 |
June 19, 2001
I invest my 401(k) money in the stock purchase plan offered by my employer. They say I own units rather than shares of stock. How does this work? ... Can a company force its employees to fund an ESOP with their own 401(k) contributions? ... How do I calculate my rate of return? ... If I cash out of my 401(k) because I'm leaving my job, when will I get my money?
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| May 2001 |
May 22, 2001
My wife's employer contributes to her flexible spending account, and she is allowed to put this contribution in her 401(k) plan. Will this money count against her $10,500 annual contribution limit? ... Our company wants to convert our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) into a 401(k). What are the implications of doing this?
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May 8, 2001
Reader response on tribal 401(k) plans ... I have cancer. Is my 401(k) balance vulnerable if I have to go on state medical disability assistance? ... I want to assign a portion of my 401(k) to a company as collateral to fund a venture with them. The company wants a written guarantee and legal assurance that it will get my 401(k) money if I'm unable to repay the loan. Is this legal?
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| April 2001 |
April 24, 2001
I have a 401(k) and want to roll it over to an IRA. If I transfer to my current employer's European office and give up U.S. residency, can I do this? ... Can you explain why a tribal entity offering a 401(k) plan may or may not have to file an IRS Form 5500?
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April 17, 2001
I want to cash out two deferred-compensation insurance policies owned by my former employer, but only if I can average the lump-sum distribution over five or 10 years. Is this possible? ... I'm withdrawing money from my 401(k) plan. I asked my plan provider to send the check to me but the provider said it will be sent to my former employer. Do they have the right to ignore my request?
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April 10, 2001
I left my employer in July 2000 but the company refuses to release my 401(k) money until April 2001. Is this legal? ... My company was sold. I'm being forced to liquidate losing positions in the self-directed brokerage account in the old 401(k). Under the "same desk" rule, can I keep my money in my old account?
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April 3, 2001
How do I find the amount of after-tax contributions to my 401(k) plan that are nontaxable and therefore nontransferable to another IRA? ... I have been told that having a profit-sharing plan could preclude me from starting a 401(k) for my employees. Yet, I still want a 401(k) plan. How do I accomplish this?
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| March 2001 |
March 27, 2001
Should I max out contributions to my pretax nonmatch 401(k) account or contribute to my employer's after-tax match account? ... My old employer hasn't transferred my 401(k) money into my new plan yet. When it does transfer the money, won't I get less than I should because the market has dropped in the meantime?
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March 20, 2001
I want my employer to offer a 401(k) plan, and we have a lot of employees earning over $80,000 a year. How will that affect the plan? ... My employer says it can't make its matching contribution for 2000 until the W-2s have been issued. Is this legal? ... Our company failed and I'm trying to close the 401(k) plan. What do I do with the contributions from employees I can't find? ... What happens if you leave before a safe harbor matching contribution is made?
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March 13, 2001
I recently quit my job; can my former employer refuse to send me my 401(k) balance? ... When I left my job, my employer cashed out my 401(k) without my approval and deducted taxes. I wanted to roll it into my new plan. What can I do now? ... When I retired, I asked my employer to roll over my 401(k) to an IRA but they sent me a check instead. What do I do?
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March 6, 2001
More on charitable giving using your 401(k). ... My employer failed to deduct loan payments from my paycheck for seven months and now wants me to pay it all at once. What can I do? ... I am on a committee to make recommendations for re-designing our 401(k) plan. What should we ask from a new plan administrator?
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| February 2001 |
February 27, 2001
I'm not happy with my plan's fund choices. Can I withdraw money from my 401(k) while still employed and put it in an IRA? ... The company managing my plan said they have to withhold 20 percent when I make a withdrawal. Is this correct? ... My wife's 401(k) plan administrator takes from four to seven days to invest her contribution in mutual funds. Why the irregular delays?
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February 20, 2001
My employer decided to change investment companies and after three months, my money hasn't been transferred. Should I be worried? ... I've been told that due to my company's small size, variable annuities are the only investment option we can get. Is this true? ... I want to take out my after-tax contributions but my employer will only let me withdraw $4 of an $8,000 contribution. Is this legal?
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February 13, 2001
Is it wise for me to contribute 15 percent of salary to my 401(k) plan if this exceeds the maximum dollar contribution limit? ... Do you expect the new Congress to raise the 401(k) and IRA contribution limits? ... What tax benefit will I get by donating to charity from my retirement account? ... Can a Canadian corporation contribute to a 401(k) plan for American employees working in the United States?
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February 6, 2001
Is a third-party administrator required by law? ... My employer showed me how he calculates gross pay for the purposes of making 401(k) contributions. Is this right? ... My 401(k) plan is being terminated. What does this mean for me?
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| January 2001 |
January 30, 2001
Can my employer contribute unused sick leave to my 401(k)? ... My employer doesn't offer a 401(k) matching contribution. Would I be better off putting my money into a Roth IRA? ... My plan only allows me to contribute to the investments in multiples of 10 percent. Is this normal for 401(k) plans?
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January 23, 2001
Can an employer include an independent contractor in its 401(k)? ý My husband was notified that he isn't eligible to contribute to his 401(k) plan in 2001 because he made more than $85,000 in 2000. Is this legal? ý My employer says he put too much in my 401(k) in May 2000 and will take it back from my account. Can he do this?
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January 16, 2001
I would like to make my full 401(k) contribution early in the year. Is this legal? ... I run a 401(k) plan and can't find an employee who should be taking required minimum distributions. Is this a concern for the plan? ... If I take an in-service withdrawal from my profit-sharing plan before reaching age 59ý, what are the tax consequences?
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January 9, 2001
Can I be invested in too many funds in my 401(k) plan? ... I sell qualified retirement plans and some of my competitors charge a fee to take on fiduciary responsibility ý don't they have to do this anyway? ... If I want to withdraw my funds from my 401(k) plan, can I do it at any time as long as I pay the penalties?
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| December 2000 |
December 19, 2000
How does an "individual deferred annuity" differ from an IRA or a 401(k)? ... Is the 22 percent fee charged by the person who set up my employer's 401(k) plan reasonable? ... I'm worried that my wife's former employer will keep her 401(k) money. What should I do?
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December 12, 2000
Can my husband claim any portion of the 401(k) contributions I made during our two-year marriage? ... Can you recommend a good book or Web site that goes into detail on taking required minimum distributions from a retirement plan? ... How do 401(k) plans handle capital gains distributions from a mutual fund?
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December 5, 2000
What legal protections do my 401(k) assets have against creditors? ... What's the best way to withdraw from my 401(k) plan to minimize the tax bite? Is there a better option than 10-year forward averaging? ... My company is changing from an annual match payment to quarterly deposits. Are there any disadvantages to this?
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| November 2000 |
November 27, 2000
I am about to consolidate all of my student loans. Would it make more sense to pay them off in 10 years or 20 years? ... Is there an advantage to buying 20 individual stocks, in my 401(k), over time and holding them over 25 years to 30 years vs. buying five to six funds and holding them over the same time? ... If an IRA contains money from both a 401(k) and a defined-benefit pension plan, can I still roll it over into a new 401(k)?
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November 21, 2000
What is it called if my company contributes up to 3.5 percent of my annual earnings at the end of each year? ... If I roll my 401(k) money into an IRA, will it be vulnerable to the IRS? ... Do employers get a percentage or commission fee for the money that is taken out of employees' salaries for their 401(k)?
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November 14, 2000
My company is switching from a profit-sharing plan to a 401(k). Why? ... Does the 3 percent nonelective contribution in a "safe harbor" 401(k) plan just go to the nonhighly compensated employees or can it go to the highly compensated as well? ... My company recently switched plan providers and I lost about 3 percent of my balance. How can I stop this from happening in the future?
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November 7, 2000
Are employers required to search for lost participants? ... Can I quit my 401(k) plan because the charges are too high and roll my money over into an IRA? ... How long can my employer hold my 401(k) deduction until investing it into my account?
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| October 2000 |
October 31, 2000
What information do I need from my new employer in order to roll over my 401(k)? ... I'm a CFP in Sydney, Australia. Are there rules for accessing your 401(k) money before 59ý if you leave the United States permanently? ... How should we educate our employees about choosing their own 401(k) investments?
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October 24, 2000
Will income and estate taxes come out of the $25,000 that I was willed from a relative's estate? ... What are my wife's options for my 401(k) if I pass away? ... What options are available for our company's 401(k) when only a portion of the company is acquired?
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October 17, 2000
As a fiduciary, how often should an employer offering a 401(k) plan review its plan investments and plan documents? ... How can I determine whether a fund is underperforming? ... If employer contributions to a 401(k) plan are tax-deductible, why wouldn't my employer want to match or contribute? ... My employer reimbursed me for relocation costs. Since this is considered income, will I now be a highly compensated employee?
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October 10, 2000
I need help understanding my "k-plus" program. ... Can I roll over my 401(k) monies into an IRA if my company was unionized and I can no longer contribute to the plan? ... My bonus this year makes me a highly compensated employee, so my contribution limit is cut. How can I make up for this lost opportunity to save? ... My wife is not happy with the return on her 401(k) investments. Should she cut her contribution to the minimum needed to receive the employer match and invest the rest elsewhere?
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October 3, 2000
Why can't I roll highly compensated employee 401(k) money into an IRA? ... When will 401(k) contribution caps next be adjusted for inflation? ... Is there a way to contribute beyond the 401(k) $10,500 annual limit into an after-tax instrument? ... My wife and I are contributing heavily into our 401(k) plans, should I contribute into an IRA? ... When can I get my 401(k) money if my company was purchased and the old plan was closed?
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| September 2000 |
September 26, 2000
I read that I should "not ... max out the contributions before getting the full employer match." Is this right? ... My sister-in-law's company recently converted from a 401(k) to a 403(b). Could she roll her 401(k) balance over into a Roth IRA? ... If I'm not fully vested and I leave the company, what happens to the employer contribution? ... If I do decide to cash out my 401(k), can I put that money into my existing IRA, or must I keep it separate? ... How do I do the math to determine what percentage I can contribute into my 401(k) in order to receive the maximum company match? ... I recently left the company I worked for with a 401(k) balance of $6,000. Should I roll the money into my new employer's program, or into an IRA?
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September 19, 2000
Why are pretax contributions made before 1980 treated differently than those made later? ... I have to make a minimum withdrawal; can I roll my 401(k) into an annuity without paying tax? ... My weekly salary is variable; should my 401(k) contributions fluctuate as well? ... Can I donate funds from my 401(k) to charity? ... I took a hardship withdrawal from my 401(k). Will that prevent me from making contributions to another employer's plan? ... Can our company president refuse the recordkeeper recommended by the investment committee? |
September 12, 2000
How do 401(k) plans offered by insurance companies compare with those from mutual fund companies? ... Can I transfer my 401(k) into an IRA and remain active in my plan at work? ... Do Section 125 contributions affect my 401(k) contribution limit? ... What's the 2000 income limit for highly compensated employees? ... What happens if you go past the $10,500 contribution limit? ... Are there legal implications of automatically enrolling employees in our company 401(k) plan? |
September 6, 2000
I'm taking a new job, can I contribute my entire first paycheck to my 401(k) to hit the $10,500 annual max? ... My former employer sent me my 401(k) balance when I didn't ask for it. What do I do? ... Can a new employee contribute to our 401(k) plan even if he has maxed out for the year? ... Should I roll my 401(k) into my IRA before I reach 70ý and have to take required distributions? ... How much do people typically contribute to their 401(k) plan? ... If my union disbands, what happens to my 401(k) plan? |
| August 2000 |
August 29, 2000
What are the three ways to make penalty-free withdrawals from my 401(k) if I'm younger than 59ý? ... Why should I, as a foreign worker in the U.S., participate in a 401(k) plan? ... How can I save, pre-tax, while I'm waiting out a 401(k) eligibility period? ... What is a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO)? ... Can I make contributions to my 401(k) plan if I'm older than 70ý? |
August 22, 2000
How do you determine whether an employee is highly compensated? ... I'm doing 10-year averaging for my taxes; should I take a lump sum from my 401(k)? ... Are the annuity calculations for IRAs the same as for 401(k)s? ... When I took my 401(k) loan there was no fee; we changed trustees and now there is one. Why do I have to pay it? ý Can I use my 401(k) money to buy a house? ý Is it legal for my husband's company to exclude him, a sales rep, from its profit-sharing plan? |
August 15, 2000
Can I contribute to two 401(k) plans at the same time? ý Will my $600,000 balance last me through retirement? ý I don't know where my estranged husband lives; is his signature required to make my son my 401(k) beneficiary? ý Where can I find data on various employers' 401(k) plans? ý My company was bought. How long will it take to get my 401(k) money? ý How do I calculate minimum withdrawals? |
August 8, 2000
Revisiting consideration of 401(k) assets by nursing homes. ... Why would a fiduciary abandon a 401(k) plan? ... When do I have to cash out of my 401(k) plan, and what's the best way to keep my taxes low? ... What is an "open architecture plan"? ... How do I replace a lost rollover check? |
August 1, 2000
Savings rates, how are we doing? |
| July 2000 |
July 25, 2000
I didn't approve my deceased wife's beneficiary choices, what can I do? ... If I was downsized, can I claim a 401(k) withdrawal as a hardship? ... Can my employer take previous 401(k) contributions and automatically roll it into an ESOP? ... Can an employee borrow money from a 401(k) for a house purchased seven months ago? ... My 401(k) plan is part of an annuity, is this a bad idea? ... Are there any laws concerning how often employees can change their payroll deductions? |
July 18, 2000
Can the IRS seize my 401(k) money if I've declared bankruptcy? ... I'm waiting for my green card; is it worth it to start contributing to my employer's 401(k) plan? ... How long do I have to roll my 401(k) money into a new investment? ... Why am I paying all kinds of fees in my 401(k) plan? ... Should my wife leave her money in her former employer's 401(k) plan? ... How do I pay taxes if I'm cashing out of my 401(k) plan? |
July 11, 2000
I'm moving back to the United Kingdom; how do I deal with my 401(k) plan? ... My brother has cancer; how can his family avoid having his 401(k) money seized by the nursing home? ... Do you have to be a certain age to open a 401(k)? ... Is there any benefit to having long-term care insurance as part of a 401(k) investment choice? ... When must my employer deposit my money? |
| June 2000 |
June 27, 2000
We spent the 401(k) money my husband's former employer mistakenly gave us. Now they want it back. What should we do? ... Do you have any information on unused vacation time being deposited into a 401(k)? ... How big does a company have to be to get a 401(k) plan? ... What are the disadvantages of rolling over my 401(k) into an IRA that is placed in my revocable living trust? ... What is the national average of employee deferrals as a percentage of compensation? ... I contributed to a 401(k) before my company policy allowed. Can I keep the investment gain I made? |
June 20, 2000
Can I take a yearly interest into effect when calculating 401(k) withdrawals? ... Can I roll over the sum of my after-tax contributions into a Roth IRA? ... What is the best way to tax defer for myself and the only other employee? ... Can I roll my 401(k) money into an IRA if I don't like my new plan? ... My company charged to the participants the cost of a penalty on fixed guaranteed fees. Is this legal? |
June 13, 2000
Can a 401(k) plan add a "safe-harbor" nonelective contribution? ... How do I set up a 401(k) plan? ... How do I choose between private-managed funds with no fees and brand-name funds with fees but also more flexibility? ... Revisiting employers' ability to change funds. ... Can my wife make penalty-free withdrawals from her 401(k) to pay for education? ... If I'm 59ý and go back to work in the same industry I retired from, will I have to pay taxes and penalties on 401(k) distributions? |
June 6, 2000
Clarification of after-tax withdrawal rules ... Can I withdraw my 401(k) money to buy a second home? ... Does the early withdrawal penalty apply to 401(k) money with former employers? ... How does the "same desk rule" work? ... What recourse do I have when my employer moves my money to a fund that does badly? ... Will returning to work after retiring at age 55 trigger the early withdrawal penalty? |
| May 2000 |
May 2, 2000
401(k) plans for people in the U.S. on work visas. ... Is an employer's discretionary contribution counted as income? ... Who pays the taxes when I take an early withdrawal from my 401(k) plan? ... My company sold my unit when I was two months short of vesting. Can I get that money? ... My husband took the money from his 401(k) plan without my required permission. What can I do? ... I took early retirement. How do I roll my money from the 401(k) plan to an IRA? |
May 16, 2000
How can I have the money from my spouse's 401(k) plan allotted to me after our divorce? ý Why do I have three companies managing my 401(k) plan? ý How do I deal with the taxes on company stock in my 401(k) plan? ý When do employer-matching contributions have to be put into my account? ý My company was sold and the 401(k) plan is frozen; what happens if I lose money on my investments? ý What's the difference between a CODA and a 401(k) plan? |
May 23, 2000
How can employers make sure they pass discrimination tests? ý I'm under 59ý and want to withdraw after-tax contributions from my 401(k); will I have to pay a penalty? ý How can I find out if my state has laws protecting my IRA from creditors? ý I'm 70 and still working, can I continue to contribute to my 401(k)? ý Why will my employer only let me withdraw $1,500 of my $11,000 401(k) balance for a home purchase? ý Should I transfer 401(k) money to my pension plan so I can boost my annuity payments? |
May 30, 2000
My employer inadvertently gave me more than my 401(k) balance after I retired. Do I have to pay it back? ý Why does my employer offer after-tax deferrals into my 401(k) plan? ý Is the 20% tax withholding required when stock is the only distribution from an ESOP? ý How can I set up a plan so highly compensated employees can get more money into it? ý How do I set up a 401(k) plan for temp employees? ý How is a lump-sum distribution defined? |
| April 2000 |
April 4, 2000
How do I manage my early retirement withdrawals?ýI have a job offer with a great employer-matching contribution but lousy salary. Is this a good deal?ýHow are 401(k) and insurance premium deductions made?ýWhat guidelines should I use to select a 401(k) provider?ýHow will my beneficiaries deal with my 401(k) after I die?ýComparing SIMPLE IRAs with 401(k) plans. |
April 11, 2000
How do I calculate the cost basis for company stock in
my 401(k) plan?...I contributed more than my 401(k) plan's allowed limit. What will happen
to the money?...How do 401(k) loans work?...My company only makes a matching contribution
if I invest my 401(k) in company stock. Is this legal?...How do I set up my 401(k) so my
kids don't pay taxes or go through probate?...If I contributed $10,600 to my plan, what
happens to the extra $100? |
April 23, 2000
Old vs. New Money...Loans..Vesting Rules...And Why It Doesn't Pay To Invest Your 401(K) In Municipal Bonds. |
April 25, 2000
How do discrimination tests work? ... Can I make up missed contributions? ... How do matching contributions work? ... How are 401(k) plan fees taxed? ... What happens to employer-matching contributions when a business fails? ... How do I design a 401(k) plan for employees who make tips? |
| March 2000 |
March
7, 2000
What happens if I get two 1099s when I roll my 401(k) into an IRA? … I lost a lot of
money when it took seven months to get out of my 401(k) and ESOP; what recourse do I have?
… How do I pay the proper tax when I roll my 401(k) with after-tax money into an IRA?
… What are the issues with retiring before age 55 with a 25-and-out plan? … When
can I get money from my 401(k) plan if I was fired? … Will taking occasional
withdrawals from a 401(k) plan between age 60 and 70 trigger a mandatory withdrawal
schedule? |
March
14, 2000
Clarification on required minimum withdrawals from a 401(k) and multiple IRAs ... What are
the laws concerning the safety of my retirement money? … Why would my plan
administrator not produce a 1099-R for 1999? … I have money in a variable annuity
with high administrative fees; what do you recommend? … How can I keep my 401(k) from
going into my estate? … What contribution provisions are in place for newly eligible
participants? … I work for the state and will retire in one year; would you recommend
leaving my 401(k) where it is or rolling it over? |
March
21, 2000
Correction to last week's answer on 1099 refund forms ... How can I avoid an early withdrawal penalty on an outstanding 401(k) loan when I leave my job? ... Is a travel trailer eligible for a primary-residence loan from a 401(k) plan? ... Can my company give me my 401(k) money while still waiting for the letter of determination? ... Am I being unfairly deprived of my full vesting? ... Can you define the SEPP phrase "over 55, terminated from service"? ... Is the 25% limit on contributions to 401(k) accounts based on gross earnings or adjusted gross earnings after the pre-tax deductions? |
March
28, 2000
What's the tax incentive for my employer to offer a 401(k) plan? ý What's the formula to calculate annuity-type distributions from a 401(k) plan? ý How are mandatory withdrawals enforced? ý I have $1 million in my 401(k), should I continue to contribute to the account? ý How does the IRS handle a partial rollover of a 401(k) balance? ý I'm retired, but my 401(k) money is with my former employer. Is that a good idea? |
| February 2000 |
February
1, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: Minimum required distributions … The pros and cons of
variable annuities … How do I boost my 401(k) contributions and increase my tax
deductions to keep the same take-home pay? … Repaying 401(k) plan loans … Rules
on first-time home purchases … Tax rules for highly compensated employee refunds.
|
February 8, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: Tax on minimum required distributions for workers over 70ý …
Why won't my employer let me invest in individual stocks? … Are my 401(k)
contributions counted against my Social Security benefits? … What if I return to my
former employer after taking early retirement? … Comparing variable annuities and
index funds … How 401(k) trustees deal with their own withdrawals when they leave a
company. |
February 15, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: How are "key employees" defined for discrimination
tests? … What is 401(k) lite? …My 401(k) contributions are capped at 15% of
salary. How do I get more in the plan? … Understanding how 401(k) loans are repaid.
… Should I buy liability insurance to protect my retirement money? … My company
seems to have botched my account. Where can I file a complaint? |
February 23, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: The timing of minimum distributions …Calculating minimum
distributions when you have several IRAs and a 401(k) … Does the early withdrawal
penalty apply if you withdraw 401(k) money in a year you don't have income? … How
long does it take to get your 401(k) money when you cash out? … What to do with
post-tax contributions in a 401(k)-IRA rollover … 401(k) contributions can lower your
tax rate. |
February 29, 2000
What can I do about high plan fees? … What are PS-58 costs and reporting
requirements? … Can my former employer force me to leave the 401(k) plan if my
account is worth over $5,000? … If I cash out company stock in my 401(k) plan, what
are the tax issues? … How are plans valued when you ask for a distribution? …
How can employees affect the choice of 401(k) plan administrators? |
| January 2000 |
January
4, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: Cash balance plans ;What are my sons' options for taking money
from my 401(k) plan if I die? … As a plan trustee, should I set up individually
directed accounts for my 401(k) plan participants? ; Do ERISA regs require employers to
allow partial distributions? ; As a single mom, should I use 401(k) money I got through my
divorce to buy a home? ; Can someone put a lien against my 401(k) plan? |
January
11, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: Can I "double up" my 401(k) contributions? … What
happens to my 401(k) if my employer declares bankruptcy? … My husband has cancer; can
we take money out of his 401(k)? … Where can I find data to show my employer I have a
lousy plan? … I'm 52 and being forced out of my job; how can I access my 401(k) money
without penalties ? … Why can't my plan administrator give me detailed fund
transaction information? |
January 18, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: How does monthly valuation work? … Will my 401(k) money roll
over to my wife when I die? … Does it make sense to contribute after-tax dollars to
my 401(k) plan? … Where can I find
information about starting a 401(k) plan? … How much should I contribute to my 401(k)
plan in order to lower my tax bracket? … Should the company match come out of my
salary? |
January 25, 2000
This Week, Ted Tackles: How much can I borrow against my 401(k)? …Explaining double
taxation … How much should I save in my 401(k)? …Will Congress let me use my
401(k) to buy a house without taking out a loan? … My employer lost my 401(k)
enrollment forms and didn't credit my account; what can I do? … Tax treatment of
stock in your 401(k). |
| December 1999 |
December 6, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: Can my employer force me to take a lump-sum distribution? …
I’m moving to the U.S., can I roll retirement money saved overseas into a 401(k)
… What’s the tax impact on a 401(k) if the owner dies? … How do I calculate
early distributions? … Where can I find information about the safe-harbor law? …
How do I set up a 401(k) plan for a small business? |
December 13, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: ESOPs and the 25% maximum contribution limit … Should I put
after-tax money into my 401(k)? … In a 401(k)-IRA rollover, are capital gains
considered after-tax money that can't be rolled over?… What are the tax advantages of
company stock in a 401(k) plan? … What happens if I'm laid off and have an
outstanding loan against my 401(k)? … Do employers have to return forfeited company
matching contributions if the employee is rehired within five years? |
December 20, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: Explaining the five- and 10-year laws … Is my employer
allowed to let me roll 401(k) money into my IRA? … How are company matching
contributions calculated? … How should an employer deal with a worker who
over-contributed to a 401(k) plan? … How much does it cost to set up a 401(k) plan?
… Why do people fail to meet their retirement goals?
|
December 27, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: Choosing investment options … How to locate old 401(k) plans
… Are distributions exempt from the 10% penalty tax if I'm 56 years old? … What
happens if my employer is bankrupt and I have a loan out against my 401(k) plan? …
Can I tap my IRA to pay off a 401(k) loan? … Clarification about withdrawals from
IRAs and 401(k) plans. |
| November 1999 |
November
1, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: How much should I contribute to my 401(k)? … I repaid my
401(k) loan early, why did my borrowing power decline? … My employer was bought by
another company -- why can't I combine the old and new 401(k)s? … My company is going
public. Can I sell company shares in my 401(k) plan right after the IPO? … Can I roll
money from a 401(a) plan into a 401(k) plan? … What are the fiduciary
responsibilities concerning self-directed brokerage accounts within a plan? |
November
8, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: Do I have to invest in the company if I'm in a money-purchase
plan? … What if I'm being "cheated" out of my company match? … What's
the difference between a 401(k) and a variable annuity? … What can I do if half the
year I'm in a 401(k) and half not? … If I'm on long-term disability, can I contribute
to my 401(k) plan? … There's no match to my 401(k), should I look for other ways to
save? |
November
15, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: What's the status of the Roth 401(k) bill? … What are the
rollover tax laws for people born before 1936? … Are there "catch up" rules
for 401(k)s? … I switch jobs frequently; how do I keep my 401(k) plan growing? …
Why are my 401(k) plan fund choices limited? |
November
22, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: How fast can I get my 401(k) money after I leave my job? …
Should I use a savings account or 401(k) to save for a house? … In a loan default,
when are taxes and penalties due? … Can I invest my 401(k) in venture capital funds?
… What should I consider if I want to move 401(k) funds out of company stock? …
How can I quickly repay a 401(k) loan? |
November 29, 1999
This Week, Ted Tackles: Can my company use my 401(k) as loan collateral? … What if a
company fails to remit 401(k) contributions for its officers? … I tried to switch
investment funds in my 401(k), but the move wasn't allowed. Who pays for my losses? …
My old employer says I have to wait five years to get my money. How can I get it faster?
… My employer isn't telling me about my plan, what should I do? … Does a company
have more fiduciary risk with fewer investment choices in its 401(k) plan? |
