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Is a Self Directed 401k Plan Right for You?

August 7, 2016 by Justin 10 Comments

self directed 401kWhat do you do if you’re self employed or you want more than what your employer’s 401k plan offers?  You apply for a self directed 401k.

A self directed 401k (also called a solo 401k) is the do-it-yourself version of a 401k retirement plan.

The major advantage to a self directed 401k is that you can control where and what kind of investments you want to put your retirement money into.

 

Who Can Participate?

To participate in a self directed 401k, you need to either be self employed or have an HR department that will give you the option of setting up your own plan. Fortunately, if the plan becomes available to one employee, then it must be offered to all of them.

Most of the time a self directed 401k is a good fit for the self-employed such as consultants, contractors, sole proprietors etc.

 

How Does a Self Directed 401k Work?

Just like a regular Traditional and Roth IRA or 401k, you can setup your self directed 401k to be either a Traditional type (money goes in before taxes, grows tax free, and then gets taxed upon withdrawal) or Roth (money goes in after taxes, grows tax free, and then does not get taxed upon withdrawal).

Note that you can split contributions between the two types of accounts.

 

How Much Can You Contribute (as of 2013)?

An employee contribution of $17,500 plus an additional profit sharing portion up to 25% of your compensation.  The total may not exceed $51,000.

These limits double if both you and your spouse take income from the business

There are also catch-up contributions of $5,500 for you and your spouse each

 

When Can I Take the Money Out?

Just like a regular 401k plan, you can’t withdraw your money from a self directed 401k until age 59 1/2.

If you withdraw your money early, you’ll have to pay the 10% early penalty on top of income taxes for the withdrawal.

The only way to avoid this penalty is if you plan to use the money to:

  • Purchasing your first home
  • Experience a sudden disability
  • Pay for higher education expenses
  • Prevent eviction or foreclosure.

The 10% penalty can also be waived for certain “hardship withdrawals” such as permanent disability or large out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Also similar to a regular 401k, you are allowed to take out a loan against yourself.  This amount may be up to half the total balance (but not exceeding $50,000)

The loan has to be paid back over a five-year period at least quarterly at a minimum prime interest rate (you have the option of selecting a higher interest rate). There is no pre-payment penalty.

 

Investment Options:

  • Cash (CD’s, money market)
  • Bonds
  • Mutual funds
  • Stocks
  • ETF’s (Exchange Trade Funds)
  • Real estate
  • Precious metals
  • Private investments
  • Peer to peer lending
  • Others

You cannot invest in collectibles such as rugs, works of art, automobiles etc.

Typical Brokers:

  • Vanguard
  • Fidelity
  • Charles Schwab

Make sure you find a provider who offers you a wide selection of investment choices.

Note that special setup and brokerage fees may apply for these unique types of accounts.  When you’re shopping around for someone to start your plan with, pay attention to these fees and expenses.

You can also expect to keep more documentation than a typical 401k for justification when you file your taxes.

 

Are My Investments Guaranteed?

No.  All investments carry some inherent risk; some more than others.  No matter if you are investing in a regular 401k, self directed 401k, or any type of investment, you should educate yourself on the general risks of each type of fund and carefully consider them before investing your money.

 

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Related posts:

  1. How to Max Out Your SEP IRA Contribution Limits
  2. SEP 401k vs SEP IRA – Which is the Better One for You?
  3. The Individual 401k Limits and Rules Explained
  4. Using the Solo 401k Contribution Limits to Maximize Your Retirement Savings

Filed Under: Self Employed Tagged With: 401(k), self directed 401k, Solo 401k

Comments

  1. Robt says

    May 22, 2013 at 2:26 am

    401k plans were never designed to replace pensions, but merely to provide supplementary income to retirees http://on-msn.com/QHm94Q. So it’s an option and it can be opted as per the individual’s long-term financial goals.

    Reply
  2. self directed 401 plans says

    September 27, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    You are correct. There are quite a few options out there for those looking to self direct their accounts. If you do find that a self directed 401k is right for you I would highly advise making sure you have it set up correctly and that you know all the rules pertaining to distributions. Depending on what your 401k is invested in can make a difference as to some of the rules you must follow. Talking to professionals about this if you aren’t one is important.

    Reply
  3. Investment Hunting says

    August 17, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    This is something that my company just started offering. I didn’t know this was an option in 401k plans, but I’m really happy it is. I’m only allowed to move 25% of my total balance over to a broker. I did this on day one. As a dividend investor, I really like the freedom of individual stock choice.

    Reply

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