Are you one of the millions of workers without a retirement plan at work? Or perhaps you’re self-employed and don’t have an employer at all? In either case, it’s imperative that you take your retirement savings and investments into your own hands. Employer retirement accounts are great, but many businesses don’t take on the added […]
Category: Self-Directed 401K
The CARES Act Allows Savers to Cash Out Their 401K, But Should They?
Typically, the penalty for withdrawing from a 401K before the age of 59½ is 10% of the distribution, plus an automatic withholding of at least 20% for taxes. But with the passage of the CARES Act, that all changes for 2020. The $300 billion earmarked for direct payments is getting considerable attention, but the CARES […]
Owning and Operating a Self-Directed 401K 101
Ever heard of a self-directed 401K? It might be what you need. It’s not very common for employers to offer a self-directed 401K, more than likely you’ve been contributing to an employer-sponsored 401K. While there are similarities, they’re both retirement savings vehicles, and they follow the same rules, but the fundamental difference is that there’s […]
Self-Directed IRA Rollover Terminology Broken Down
Rollovers are the most common way to transfer funds within retirement accounts. Transfers and rollovers are transactions that allows for the movement of assets between IRAs and 401K plans. Let’s go over the basic terminology. Direct Rollover A Direct Rollover is generally used when moving funds from an employer plan (like a former employer 401K) […]
Qualified for Both? SEP IRA vs Solo 401K
Both the SEP IRA and the Solo 401K are self-employed retirement plans. They can be established by legal entities (in this context, often S corporations) or they can be established by individuals that have self-employed income. That self-employment income generally must come through a sole proprietorship or through a limited liability company (LLC) that is […]
The IRS Has Released IRA Contributions Limits for 2020
Each year, the IRS announces IRA contributions and their limits, Traditional IRA deduction income limits, and Roth IRA contribution income limits. Not only is there a maximum amount that Americans can contribute to their IRAs each year, but not everyone is eligible for both types of IRAs. The 2020 IRA Contribution Limit While there are […]
What is a SIMPLE IRA and Who’s Eligible to Open One?
The SIMPLE in SIMPLE IRA stands for “Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees.” This retirement savings plan is a type of traditional IRA that is geared towards self-proprietors and small business owners. Unlike SEP IRAs, where only the employer can make contributions, employees are allowed to contribute part of their pre-tax compensation to their SIMPLE […]
Self-Directed 401K Plans Broken Down and Explained
A self-directed 401K lets you invest as you see fit. You can choose your own mutual funds, stocks and bonds rather than sticking to the pre-made funds typically associated with a retirement savings account. You can even invest in more unconventional assets like real estate and commodities if your employer allows it. The types […]
Not your Average 401K: Self-Directed 401K Q&A
Put simply, a 401K plan is a retirement plan that meets the standards set by the Internal Revenue Code for tax-favored status. If offered by their company, an employee can contribute a percentage of their wages either Traditional before tax plan or a Roth after-tax plan, depending on the options offered by their employer. In some plans, […]
How to Navigate your First 401(k)/Retirement Plan
Whether you’ve just started your first corporate gig, or if you’ve just been thinking about securing your future, you’ve probably heard the term “401(k)” thrown around a lot, and how you should open one that’s being offered through your workplace. So what is a 401(k) exactly? 401(k) in a Nutshell Having the (k) in its […]