Solo 401k plans are employer-sponsored retirement accounts that offer self employed individuals with no common law employees other than a spouse the opportunity to establish a Profit Sharing Plan.
Many companies offer solo 401k accounts to their employees, but not many people understand exactly how they work.
Here’s what you need to know about your solo 401k before you get started:
You are the Employer and Employee of the Account
Although your solo 401k is an employer plan, it allows the business owner to be the Trustee of the plan, granting them access to make fiduciary decisions.
The Trustee will work with a financial institution to set up the account, and they will determine where to hold the funds, how much you contribute to the plan, and what investment to partake in.
Rollover of previous accounts into the Solo 401k
You may have pre-existing 401k plans or IRA’s that you may want to consolidate inside of your Solo 401k. As long as those funds are pre-tax they can be rolled into the plan.
If you are looking for a Roth Solo 401k, you may conduct “in plan Roth conversions” to convert your pre-tax funds to Roth.
You are not able to move Roth IRA’s or previous Roth 401k’s into your solo 401k. However, You are able to contribute to a separate Roth IRA if you have one while continuing to make contributions to your Solo 401k.
Taxes Advantages
By Contributing to your solo 401k and possibly to another Traditional IRA, you may be eligible to receive a tax deduction. This all depends on your modified AGI (adjusted gross income) in determining if you are eligible or not.
Keep in mind that Solo 401k accounts are retirement accounts and non-qualified distributions are subject to penalty and taxation. The Solo 401k does have an option to take a loan out but it is limited to 50% of the account balance.
If you’re looking to set up a retirement account, contact the experts at Quest Trust Company today. We offer Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401k plans for individuals looking to invest into alternative assets. Our financial experts can help you find an account that makes sense for your financial needs.