West Retirement 401K

If you're sick of surfing around for West Retirement 401K information, you're definitely at the right place! This webpage is full of advice and explanations on how 401k's work plus there are all kinds of tips, tricks and frequently asked questions you can go over and hopefully learn from. We hope you find this page to be helpful and informative for you! Finding the correct retirement program can be tough if you don't have all the facts, so we've set this page up with as much 401 k information as we could get for you and made sure it's easy and painless for you. Here you go...

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Reasons why 401ks are a smart idea:

A company match can help your investments grow

Some companies offer a match as an incentive to join the company retirement plan. It means that the company will contribute a certain amount to your account for every dollar that you contribute, up to a certain limit. The match formula can vary. To receive the matching contribution, the plan may require that you work a specified number of years. It makes good sense to take advantage of a company match by setting aside the maximum amount required to qualify for a matching contribution. If your employer offers a matching contribution, your retirement savings have the potential to grow that much faster. In order to maximize an employer match, you might want to consider spreading your contributions throughout the year so you receive a match every month (subject to IRS limits).

West Retirement 401K Tips:

401k plans offer many benefits including the following:

Any business, whether a C Corporation, S Corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, self-employed can establish Plan.
The company sets the eligibility requirements, within certain guidelines, at the time the plan is established.
Employer can restrict individuals with less than 1 year service, union members, non US citizens, part-time workers, etc.,from being eligible for the plan.
Contributions to plan can come from voluntary employee salary reduction, from employer, or both.
Each individual employee can defer in 2008 up to $15,500 or 100% of compensation, whichever is less.
Participants age 50 and over can make additional "catch-up" contributions of $5,000.
Employees are immediately 100% vested with their own salary reduction tax deferred contributions.
Employee withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to 10% penalty.
Employees who retire any time during the calendar year in which they turn 55, or later, are not subject to the 10% penalty.
Employers can establish a vesting schedule, within certain guidelines, for the contribution the company makes to the 401k.
Employers are not required nor obligated to make any contribution to the 401k, although employer may have some obligation to contribute if plan is deemed top heavy.
Turnkey and Internet based plans are available.
Excellent range of investment options available for the plan sponsor to offer within the plan.
The investment choices in most plans range from 8 to 20 options. The average plan has about 15.
401k plans may permit "self-directed investment accounts" and company stock purchase within the plan.
Employee contributions to the plan are not subject to federal income taxes until a distribution from the plan is made. Any investment gains and earnings also enjoy tax deferral until distribution.
This type of plan can permit loans and hardship withdrawals.
Participants can start, stop contribution during course of year, as determined by the company.
The employer can receive certain tax benefits for contributions.
Plans are subject to top heavy and discrimination testing.
Typically the amount the owners and highly compensated individuals can contribute to a 401k is a function of the contributions of the other employers.
401k plans can be subject to IRS 5500 filings.
Generally, the vendor selected by the plan sponsor does all accounting, participant reporting, testing, and files 5500 reports with the IRS.
401k plans have proven to be popular with employees for several reasons. The tax deferral is obviously high on this list of reasons. Others include the increased portability of this plan, employer matching contributions, and the increased control associated with self-direction of investments.

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Important 401(k) Rules:

General Distribution Rules:
Minimum distribution. When the participant’s account balance is to be distributed, the plan administrator must determine the minimum amount required to be distributed to the participant each calendar year. Information to help the administrator figure the minimum distribution amount is included in Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income.

The required beginning date is April 1 of the first year after the later of the following years:

*Calendar year in which the participant reaches age 70½.
*Calendar year in which the participant retires.

However, a plan may require that the participant begin receiving distributions by April 1 of the year after the participant reaches age 70½, even if the participant has not retired.

If the participant is a 5% owner of the employer maintaining the plan, then the participant must begin receiving distributions by April 1 of the first year after the calendar year in which the participant reaches age 70½.
Distributions after the starting year. The distribution required to be made by April 1 is treated as a distribution for the starting year. (The starting year is the year in which the participant reaches age 70 ½ or retires, whichever applies, to determine the participant’s required beginning date, above.) After the starting year, the participant must receive the required distribution for each year by December 31 of that year. If no distribution is made in the starting year, required distributions for 2 years must be made in the next year (one by April 1 and one by December 31).

401 k explained:

A 401(k) plan is a retirement savings plan that is funded by employee contributions and (often) matching contributions from the employer. The major attraction of these plans is that the contributions are taken from pre-tax salary, and the funds grow tax-free until withdrawn. Also, the plans are (to some extent) self-directed, and they are portable; more about both topics later. Both for-profit and many types of tax-exempt organizations can establish these plans for their employees.

**Disclaimer** The information on this page is as accurate as we could get it but is meant for information purpose only. It's not meant to be legal advice in which you use to make financial decisions. For any legal or financial matters, you should seek out a certified 401k or investment company or individual.

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