Welcome

Beneficiaries

I’m sure most of you are glad the tax filing deadline has come and gone, although I suspect there are plenty of you that have postponed the inevitable with an extension.  Either way, just getting through the April deadline seems to remove much of the anxiety surrounding taxes in general and can allow us to

Why Do an In-Service Rollover?

Spring Has Sprung The experts will tell you that springtime began on March 20th for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s the day each spring when the Sun shines directly on the equator and the day is evenly divided between day time and night time. Another way to think of this

Roth 401k vs Traditional 401k, Which is Best?

Recently, there has been renewed discussion about whether employee investors should make traditional pre-tax contributions into their employer-provided 401k plan or take advantage of the Roth 401k option.  Over the past several years, many employers have added a Roth 401k option to their retirement plan offering, which is the basis for the increased discussion. What

ISR - What is it and is it for you?

Recently, I have been working with a USPFA member discussing and evaluating one of these transition times for many of us in regard to our retirement planning. The top of mind topic for these members was the In-Service Rollover (or ISR). Many people are not aware that once you reach the age of 59 ½, you have the ability to transfer a portion of your retirement plan assets (401k, 403b or similar retirement plan vehicle) into a self-directed IRA. This transfer can be completed while you are still working for your employer and while you continue to participate in your employer provided retirement plan. Each retirement plan has specific rules and processes but typically, this transfer can be up to 80% of your 401k balance.

Who is the beneficiary of your 401k or IRA?

This oversight could cost your loved ones dearly.

Something seemingly so easy as to declare the beneficiary of your 401k has caused heartache for many unsuspecting heirs, who are unintentionally left with nothing.

Take the case of Ben Langford, who worked at a privately owned company for 25 years. He named his wife of 38 years the beneficiary of his 401k account in the event he died before her. As it turned out, however, she died first.

Consequently, Ben smartly updated his account, naming his three grown children as the co-beneficiaries of his account.