I'm thinking about cashing out my 401k to help start a business. I know I will pay a penalty, and that what I take out will be taxable income, but I expect my business to post a loss the first year that would offset most of (if not all) of this income. Would I still have to pay taxes on all of the 401k money? [more inside]
posted by wezelboy on Oct 1, 2009 - 8 answers

What to do with a 'leftover' 401k account? [more inside]
posted by bookdragoness on Aug 30, 2009 - 9 answers

How do you locate the safety deposit box and 401k/IRA of a deceased relative who you've had little contact with lately? [more inside]
posted by joshgates on Aug 16, 2009 - 8 answers

I moved to the UK in January of 2008 from the US. I've been paying into a pension since I started and there's now £10,000 in there. I (foolishly) assumed that it was like a 401k and now that I'm leaving the UK, I could take the money out. Wrong. Apparently I can't touch it until I'm 55. Please tell me that I haven't pissed away £10k and there's some way to get this money.
posted by cubedweller on Jul 13, 2009 - 7 answers

I want to do savings/401k right this time - how do i do that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 7, 2009 - 12 answers

Paying for graduate school out of your 401k. Stupid idea? [more inside]
posted by falameufilho on Jul 3, 2009 - 8 answers

I discovered today that I have defaulted on a 401K loan in the amount of $3,896.31 ... help me figure out what the penalties will be & if the confused-sounding rep at Fidelity really knew what she was talking about. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 2, 2009 - 3 answers

401(k) Question: I've been offered a job where new employees are eligible to enroll in what the company calls its "401(k)/Profit Sharing plan" after a year on the job. The firm has open enrollment for the plan twice a year - Jan. 1 & July 1. They've asked me to start working in the middle of next month, which means I wouldn't be eligible to participate in the plan until Jan. 1, 2011 - just under 1.5 years away. Is it worth asking if they can grant me slightly early eligibility for the July 1, 2010 enrollment date? [more inside]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell on Jun 25, 2009 - 18 answers

Is it a bad idea to use money withdrawn from a IRA for buying a house? I want to buy a home but I'm having trouble with the down payment and closing costs and I've got a 401K that's just kinda sitting there from my last job. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 12, 2009 - 6 answers

US Tax Filter: How do I report an asset transfer/rollover from an IRA into a 401k to the IRS so that we are not taxed for the amount? I know you are not my tax advisor. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 11, 2009 - 6 answers

Is this a hair-brained idea? You are not my financial adviser, trying to time the market is a bad idea, etc. but I've been entertaining making a change to the way the money in my 401K is invested. I've got about 12 years to retirement at 60, I have a defined benefit pension equal to 50% of my current salary and a portable pension that should be worth about $200K by retirement. So here's the Idea... [more inside]
posted by Carbolic on Mar 13, 2009 - 24 answers

Company was paying for grad school, but had to cut back. I can't put off finishing my degree, but I can't afford the out of pocket expenses either. They also cut back on my 401k. I'm considering a lot of options but none of them seem pretty. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by etherealclarity on Mar 13, 2009 - 12 answers

Where is my money doing me, and the world, the most good right now: going into a 401(k), or going into my wallet and getting spent? [more inside]
posted by logovisual on Feb 17, 2009 - 15 answers

Should I convert my Traditional IRA to Roth IRA now or ever? [more inside]
posted by gnash on Feb 9, 2009 - 10 answers

Does one reduce risk by investing in mutual funds held by different groups? If I invest in an S&P 500 index fund with both Fidelity and Vanguard is that better than just going with Vanguard? Or is the SIPC protection such that I need not worry about such things? [more inside]
posted by grouse on Feb 9, 2009 - 7 answers

Things got bad enough that I cashed out my 401(k) from Paychex recently. On the 19th of December I gave the order, and a check was sent on the 23rd. I never received it and had to wait fifteen business days before they would void it. I was then told that it would take five business days for them to void and then re-send the check. [more inside]
posted by josher71 on Jan 21, 2009 - 13 answers

I am trying to figure out how to invest money for retirement and otherwise. I am in my late 20s, earn $55,000 annually, have no debt, and about $90,000 in savings. I am currently putting 5% of my salary into a 403(b) which is the maximum amount my employer will match. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 - 11 answers

How should I evaluate prospective solo 401k providers? [more inside]
posted by gsh on Nov 17, 2008 - 2 answers

Cashing out my 401K without penalties? [more inside]
posted by ZackTM on Nov 11, 2008 - 13 answers

New to 403(b)s... should I do an IRA instead? [more inside]
posted by atayah on Oct 29, 2008 - 5 answers

A crazy financial question about the timing of my 401k rollover to and IRA in light of current economic events in the US. Is it even possible to time a rollover? [more inside]
posted by quadog on Sep 30, 2008 - 8 answers

A question about timing, my 401K rollover, and the Wall Street bailout plan. [more inside]
posted by mosk on Sep 25, 2008 - 8 answers

Given today's equity market conditions, when should I change my 401K investment strategy from active to passive? [more inside]
posted by shinybeast on Sep 24, 2008 - 6 answers

I've lost 5% of my 401K in THREE DAYS. What to do? [more inside]
posted by Kellydamnit on Sep 17, 2008 - 32 answers

I know you are not my broker. Despite my personal contributions and my employer match, my 401K has 7% less money in it now than it had a year ago, which is, in turn, is 6% less than it had at this time two years ago. I understand that I'm supposed to be in this for the "long haul" but at this rate I'm losing money faster than I can contribute it. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav on Sep 16, 2008 - 17 answers

Tax mavens: Is there a way I can contribute to a 401K this year w/o a job? [more inside]
posted by troy on Sep 8, 2008 - 12 answers

Financial / 401k advice for a 23-year-old engineer. Considering the state of the economy and the price of oil, what should I do with my stocks. Also, I have the option for a 401k but I have no idea what type of 401k to choose. [more inside]
posted by decrescendo on Jul 1, 2008 - 20 answers

I would like to know a few things about withdrawing (not loaning, but flat-out withdrawals) from 401(k) funds. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Jun 26, 2008 - 4 answers

Will opening a Solo 401(k) before year's end reduce my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)? I'm a 28-year-old freelance worker with a sole proprietorship, and I'd like to be able to fully fund my Roth IRA for 2008 [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 26, 2008 - 1 answer

I want to close out my 401k (and pay the necessary taxes) so I can pay off some debt. My 401k says I'm not allowed. Why not? Can I change anyone's mind? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 9, 2008 - 14 answers

Should my friend dip into her 401k to pay off credit card debt? [more inside]
posted by JPowers on May 24, 2008 - 12 answers

Please suggest publications or online resources you like for the purpose of monitoring the direction of financial markets. [more inside]
posted by beagle on May 7, 2008 - 2 answers

I'd like to cash out some beneficiary investment accounts. I'd like to know in advance what the taxes and penalties (if any) would be. In other words, what would be the cash remaining from this. [more inside]
posted by D-ten on May 6, 2008 - 2 answers

Aged 65, still working, have 401K, worried about it, can I move the funds to a self directed IRA money market fund?
posted by Freedomboy on Apr 28, 2008 - 5 answers

Is it a good idea to take out a 401k loan to pay off unsecured credit card debt, and how do these loans work?
posted by chickaboo on Apr 1, 2008 - 22 answers

Did my 401K just blow my IRA deduction out of the water? [more inside]
posted by kookywon on Feb 15, 2008 - 7 answers

Is our 401(k) protected through ERISA (or anything else) if the institution where funds are housed goes belly-up tomorrow? [more inside]
posted by quinoa on Jan 18, 2008 - 9 answers

Can a workplace (in PA) offer selective 401k benefits? [more inside]
posted by rinosaur on Jan 9, 2008 - 5 answers

How many people max out their 401ks? [more inside]
posted by rholly on Nov 19, 2007 - 4 answers

Using 401K & Roth IRA to purchase second property ?? Is this possible ?? Any suggestions. Thanks, ek
posted by endlessknot on Nov 18, 2007 - 13 answers

The new job I'm at offers a crappy 401K program--no matching at all!! Should I enroll in it or just keep my money and put it into an IRA when I have the minimum? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah on Nov 6, 2007 - 23 answers

401K survival??? What would you do under current regulations to move or shelter your 50G +/- or so just in case the economy really tanks in the next 90 days or so? Metals? Bonds? Euro based funds?
posted by Freedomboy on Nov 6, 2007 - 16 answers

I have tons of debt and am just not getting ahead nor falling behind, either, but.... I'd like to use my 401K to solve this problem. Of course, there's [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 2, 2007 - 8 answers

A tax question. Our family has experienced a drop in income and an emergency (not medical). I have a 40 thousand dollar 401K retirement fund and want to get 16K out of it. Our family makes 91K gross with two dependents. What will be the tax hit on the 15 k from the retirement fund (so we won't be surprised at tax time). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 21, 2007 - 6 answers

My 401k retirement plan through the company I work for is managed by Fidelity Investments. I have read recently that a "high-load" mutual fund will often return poorer yields than a "low-load" or "no-load" mutual fund. How do I find out if my plan is high-load, low-load, or no-load?
posted by doctorcurly on May 15, 2007 - 7 answers

I'm an employee at a small business. I need retirement fund ideas beyond the Roth IRA? [more inside]
posted by cschneid on Mar 1, 2007 - 9 answers

I have a 401(k) from a previous employer. What should I roll it into? [more inside]
posted by SpecialK on Feb 27, 2007 - 9 answers

How do I remedy over-contributions to 401k plans? Of course there is more.... [more inside]
posted by jcwagner on Feb 7, 2007 - 6 answers

My new job is a start-up, and they don't offer 401k. What are my investment options? I already have a Roth IRA to which I am contributing the max per year.
posted by xmutex on Jan 24, 2007 - 8 answers

No-nonsense 401k - I just wanted to get one up and running to take advantage of employer matching. So what does the following mean...? [more inside]
posted by The_Partridge_Family on Jan 18, 2007 - 12 answers