When was the last time you checked your beneficiary designations for your retirement accounts that were established years ago?  Beneficiaries are the individuals or entities (such as a charity) that you name to receive these assets upon your death.  You may find that your designated beneficiary is not who or what you think it should be, especially if you have divorced, remarried or had children since your retirement plan account was established. more…

The IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement) is one of the more underutilized tools for retirement planning.  The primary benefit to an IRA is tax-deferred investing.  Income taxes are not paid until taxable distributions are made.  With limited exceptions, distributions made prior to age 59½ are subject to a 10% penalty in addition to income taxes. more…

Employers that maintain a qualified retirement plan must file IRS Form 5500–Annual Return/ Report of Employee Benefit Plan.  Qualified retirement plans include defined benefit, profit-sharing, money purchase, and 401(k) plans.  SIMPLE and SEP plans do not have to file this form.  Form 5500 is due on the last day of the seventh month following the end of the year.  For example, a December year-end would be due on July 31.

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A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) is a retirement plan that self-employed people should take a look at.  To adopt a SEP plan an employer needs to complete IRS Form 5305-SEP.  This form is not filed with the IRS; the employer merely keeps it on file. more…