UnThreaded | Threaded | Whole Thread (6) | Ignore Thread Prev Thread | Prev | Next | Next Thread
Author: Hawkwin Big gold star, 5000 posts Old School Fool Add to my Favorite Fools Ignore this person (you won't see their posts anymore) Number: of 72278  
Subject: Re: Exiting 401K..now what? Date: 1/4/2013 3:26 PM
Post New | Post Reply | Reply Later | Create Poll Report this Post | Recommend it!
Recommendations: 0
Now that said, I just looked at her paperwork and see it is a "Safe Harbor" profit sharing account.

Then it really is nothing like a 401k beyond it being tax deferred.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profit_sharing

It is likely a private company (non-traded, non-public stock) so if she does contribute her own money (e.g. a combined plan), it goes to buy stock in the company. I assume the 80/20 comment means that 80% of the money she contributes buys stock and the other 20% goes to something more conservative like a bond fund.

If the above is true, then viewing the account online would be rather pointless since the value of the plan would be based solely on the value the auditors assign the private stock - which typically occurs about once a year.

Such plans can be very lucrative but of course, they can also be very risky due to lack of liquidity. She should look into whether or not she has options to liquidate while still employed. She should be able to request a plan document that gives her all the rules and restrictions of the plan. I would certainly do that before I made a knee jerk decision to opt out.

The fact that the company has not made any contributions to the plan in recent years should also encourage her to request the plan document to know her options - both while employed and if separated. Some of those plans have limited liquidity even after termination of employment. I know of one locally that will not pay you any money for five years after termination.
Post New | Post Reply | Reply Later | Create Poll Report this Post | Recommend it!
Print the post  
UnThreaded | Threaded | Whole Thread (6) | Ignore Thread Prev Thread | Prev | Next | Next Thread

Announcements

The Retire Early Home Page
Discussion on accelerating retirement day.
Invest Better Hub
Take advantage of our newest free service, Invest Better!
New Fool-Branded Credit Card Available!
How does your card compare to ours?
Post of the Day:
Berkshire Hathaway

Coolidge Lessons for Today
What was Your Dumbest Investment?
Share it with us -- and learn from others' stories of flubs.
Facebook Fool Fan Club
Be a fan of the Fool over on Facebook!
Community Home
Speak Your Mind, Start Your Blog, Rate Your Stocks

Community Team Fools - who are those TMF's?
Get the Fool Phone App
Save and share content, zero in on sectors, podcasts, and much more!
Contact Us
Contact Customer Service and other Fool departments here.
Work for Fools?
Winner of the Washingtonian great places to work, and "#1 Media Company to Work For" (BusinessInsider 2011)! Have access to all of TMF's online and email products for FREE, and be paid for your contributions to TMF! Click the link and start your Fool career.
Advertisement