Changing Jobs? Check Your 401k Rollover Choices
One of the most popular pension plans in the U.S is the 401k retirement scheme which also features the 401k rollover options. The 401k allows employees to make contributions from their wages to a retirement fund which can then be cashed in when they retire. The advantage of this plan is that employers can also pay money in to this fund and the savings are free from tax. What happens if you choose to move jobs? This is the time that the 401k rollover options can be implemented.
There are several ways to handle a 401k rollover. The first choice is to transfer the existing funds into an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). This can be done by the administration department of your previous employer who send the money straight into the retirement account. The money is not taken out by you and so you will not receive any penalties or have to pay tax.
If you have stocks in your last employer’s company your contributions can be handled one of two ways. The first is that you can transfer the stocks directly into your Individual Retirement Account without the stocks being liquidated. The second option is that you sell the stocks and pay the rollover into your account within a 60 day period. If you fail to place the cash in the account within the 60 days then you will have to pay tax on it.
It is also possible to leave your 401k with your existing employer or transfer it to your new employer. The second option will mean that you will have to check what investment options your new employer is offering. It can be a difficult process too unless you have already arranged the rollover before changing jobs.
Finally, you could end your plan and cash in the funds from your 401k. This may result in you receiving less than you might think. Early withdrawal can mean that you have to pay income tax and an early withdrawal fee of as much as 10%. Employers are also obliged to hold 20% of the funds for tax reasons.
One of the big questions facing many people today is the options for self employed retirement plans. There are many more freelancers and self-employed people than there were ten years ago. There is a 401k option for self employed people so that they can save for their retirement too.
This plan, known as 401k (Solo) is not a well-known scheme but it has many benefits. Firstly you can contribute up to 100% of the first $15,500 in a year. You can then make contributions or deduct payment up to 25% over this initial amount. If you reach the cap amount of $225,000 in one year, it may be best to change self employed retirement plans as you cannot accrue any more savings after this threshold is reached. Another advantage of the 401k(Solo) is that you can pay less or nothing in the lean years. You can also borrow money from you account which does not count as a withdrawal which means there are no penalties.
401k rollover choices should be fully looked at if you are about to change employer. If it seems like a confusing task, employ the services of a professional financier to help you.
Be sure to check out Plan401kRetirement.com for comprehensive information on self employed retirement plans.
Tags: 401K, 403b, IRA, pension, pension plan, Personal Finance, retirement, retirement plan, rollover
