Nursing homes are not permitted to confiscate your spouse’s 401(k) plans to pay for care. The 401(k) plan is considered a personal retirement account, a form of asset protection that generally cannot be used to pay for nursing home costs. The law states that nursing homes must first seek payment from Medicaid, Medicare, or your … Read more
A permissible withdrawal from a 401k plan allows participants to withdraw money without incurring an early withdrawal penalty. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including: age, disability, death, qualified expenses, and military service. Participants who withdraw funds for reasons other than those listed above may be subject to a 10% early withdrawal … Read more
Taking money out of your 401k before retirement is possible, but it can have financial consequences. Withdrawing funds early triggers income tax and a 10% penalty (if you’re under 59½). Exceptions exist for certain hardship situations, like medical expenses or a down payment on a primary residence. It’s crucial to carefully consider the long-term impact … Read more
If you exceed the 401k contribution limit, the overage is taxed at 6%, plus another 1% tax for each year it remains in the account. The excess contributions may also be subject to income tax and an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty if you access them before age 59½. To avoid these penalties, you should … Read more
Normally, withdrawing funds from a 401(k) plan before age 59½ triggers a 10% penalty tax. However, there are exceptions to this rule, including if the withdrawal is used to cover qualified expenses. One such expense is financial hardship. To establish hardship, you must demonstrate that you have an immediate and heavy financial need that cannot … Read more
QNEC stands for Qualified Nonelective Contributions. It’s a special type of contribution that employers can make to their employees’ 401(k) plans. QNECs are not subject to the annual contribution limits that apply to other types of 401(k) contributions. This means that employers can make larger contributions to their employees’ plans without having to worry about … Read more
QNEC, or Qualified Non-Elective Contribution, is a special type of contribution employers can make to an employee’s 401(k) plan. Unlike typical employee-elected deferrals, QNECs are made by the employer and are not subject to the annual contribution limit for elective deferrals. Instead, QNECs are subject to the overall profit-sharing limit, which is typically much higher. … Read more
Considering transferring your 401k funds into an indexed universal life (IUL) account? It’s important to fully understand the differences and implications. IULs combine life insurance with investment options, providing potential tax-advantaged growth and a death benefit. However, they typically have higher fees and lower investment return rates compared to traditional 401ks. Carefully assess your financial … Read more
The penalty for withdrawing funds from a 401k account before the age of 59½ is generally 10% of the amount withdrawn, in addition to any applicable income taxes. This penalty is imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to encourage long-term saving for retirement. However, it’s worth noting that there are some exceptions and circumstances … Read more
When calculating Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), 401k contributions are deducted. This means that the amount of money you contribute to your 401k each year is subtracted from your total income before taxes are calculated. This can result in a lower tax bill, as you are taxed on a smaller amount of income. It’s important to … Read more