When you reach retirement, and if your company provides a pension program, you will be offered a number of payout options. Typically, they will be the Single Life and the Joint Survivor payout options.

Some qualified retirement plans include the option for qualifying participants to a take a loan against their retirement account balance. Many people borrow from their retirement plan to pay off high-interest debt or to make a major purchase.

Many people feel the need to withdraw funds from their 401(k) plan due to hardship or other emergency.

Compensation for a self-employed individual (sole proprietor or partner) is that person’s earned income. The starting point to determine the individual’s earned income is the net profit amount from the Schedule C (or Schedule K-1 for a partnership).

Consideration of NUA strategy is important if you are distributing highly appreciated employer securities from your prior employer’s qualified plan, such as 401(k). Cost basis, the value of the employer contribution on your behalf is subject to ordinary income tax upon distribution.

By naming a beneficiary on your IRA account it will provide the beneficiary the opportunity to “stretch” out the IRA proceeds over his/her life expectancy. This gives the beneficiary more time to take advantage of tax-deferral status of the IRA assets.

Many factors can affect your eligibility and contribution limits to either the Traditional IRA or Roth IRA – tax filing status, your current earned income level and whether or not you participate in a retirement plan at work.

Your retirement income can vary widely depending on what type of IRA holds your savings and what assumptions you make about return and tax rates during the accumulation and withdrawal periods.

Roth IRA is a great way for clients to create tax-free income from their retirement assets. Yet, keep in mind that when you convert your taxable retirement assets into a Roth IRA you will generally pay ordinary income tax on the taxable amount that is converted.

It may surprise you how significant your retirement accumulation may be simply by contributing regularly to a qualified plan.

Current tax law specifies that once you reach age 70 1/2, you must begin taking RMDs annually from your IRAs and other retirement plans. Generally, the RMD amount is determined based on your prior year’s IRA balance of all of your IRA assets divided by your life expectancy.

Current tax law specifies that once you reach age 70 1/2 you must begin making taxable withdrawals from your Traditional IRAs and many other retirement plans. These minimum distributions are calculated annually based on your age, account balance at the end of the previous year, marital status and spouse’s age.

You’ve spent a long time accumulating funds in your retirement account. When you retire and take distribution of your funds you have many options to consider.

The goal is to reach the IRS limit while at the same time maximizing your employer’s matching contribution and thereby maximize take-home pay.