401(k)s have become one of the most popular retirement savings vehicles in America. But many people, including those who have been participating in a 401(k) plan for many years, aren’t clear about all the details when it comes to how their 401(k) plan works. David Lerner Associates has prepared this brief primer that answers six of the most common questions many people have about their 401(k) plans.

1. David Lerner Associates: 6 Common Questions About a 401(k)
401(k)s have become one of the most popular retirement savings vehicles in America.
401(k)s have become one of the most popular retirement savings vehicles in America.
But many people, including those who have been participating in a 401(k) plan for
many years, aren’t clear about all the details when it comes to how their 401(k) plan
works.
David Lerner Associates has prepared this easy to understand primer that
answers the most common questions
1. How much money can I contribute to my 401(k) plan this year? In 2014, you can
contribute up to $17,500 to your 401(k) plan, unless you’re 50 years of age or older. In
this case, you can make a special catch-up contribution of $5,500, bringing your total
maximum annual contribution up to $23,000 this year.
2. How soon can I start participating in my new employer’s 401(k) plan? This varies from
one company to the next. Some companies allow employees to start participating in
their 401(k) plan right away, while others require a short waiting period. Talk to your
company’s HR department to find out what the requirements are.
3. What’s the difference between a traditional 401(k) plan and a Roth 401(k) plan? With
a traditional 401(k), you defer paying taxes on the money you contribute until you
withdraw it during retirement. With a Roth 401(k), you don’t get a tax deferral — your

2. contributions are made on an after-tax basis. The tradeoff is that the money can be
withdrawn income tax-free in retirement as long as the withdrawals occur after age
59½ and you have held the account for five years or longer.
4. What is an employer match and am I eligible for one? Many employers match part or
all of the 401(k) contributions their employees make as an incentive to encourage
workers to participate in and contribute to the plan. Matching formulas vary from one
company to the next, but it’s not uncommon for employers to match 50 cents for each
dollar employees contribute, up to six percent of their salary. Talk to your company’s HR
department to find out if a match is offered.
5. What happens to my 401(k) account if I change jobs? You have several different
options to choose from. You can cash out your 401(k), but if you do, you may be
subject to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty and the money could be taxed at
your current ordinary income tax rate.
Or you can roll the balance over into your new employer’s 401(k) plan or an Individual
Retirement Account (IRA). You can also just leave the money in the 401(k), though your
employer might require that you cash it out or roll it over after a certain period of time.
6. Do I have to start withdrawing money from my 401(k) account at a certain age? You
generally must start making required minimum distributions (or RMDs) from your 401(k)
plan after you reach age 70½. But if you are still working after you turn 70½ and you
aren’t at least a five percent owner of the company, you can defer distributions from
your 401(k) account until April 1 of the year after you retire. If you miss taking an RMD,
you’ll be assessed a 50 percent penalty, so be careful not to make this mistake.
Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not
intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by
David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or
recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection
with the purchase or sale of securities. Member FINRA & SIPC