2011 Q3 | Choosing the Right 401(k)

2011 Q3 | Choosing the Right 401(k)

Many companies offer employees a choice between two 401(k) plans. The version with which you’re probably most familiar As before, you can choose to defer some salary and defer the income tax as well. You’ll also defer the tax on any investment earnings. However, when you withdraw tax-deferred earnings and tax-deferred investment income, you’ll owe income tax. You’ll probably owe a 10% penalty on withdrawals before age 59 1/2, too. Another option you may have is a Roth 401(k). With this account, you’re not deferring income tax, so you’re contributing after-tax dollars. Again, you wont owe tax on any investment income inside the plan. After you’ve had a Roth 401(k) for 5 years and after age 59 1/2, all withdrawals

2010 Q4 | Year-End Tax Planning for IRAs

2010 Q4 | Year-End Tax Planning for IRAs

Through 2009, you could convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA only if your modified adjusted gross income (for the year was no greater than $100,000 on a single or joint tax return. The $100,000 cap came off in January 2010. Under current law, this change is permanent. Therefore, high-income taxpayers can convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs in 2010, 2011, 2012, and so on. For taxpayers who would like to convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, year-end 2010 presents multiple opportunities. Example 1: Wendy Ames has $200,000 in her traditional IRA that contains only pretax dollars. Wendy would like to invest in a Roth IRA because these accounts may permit tax-free withdrawals in the future, and