Exam 13: Retirement Savings and Deferred Compensation

Riley participates in his employer's 401(k) plan. He turns 70 years of age on February 15, 2013 and he plans on retiring on July 1, 2015. When must Riley receive his first distribution from the plan to avoid minimum distribution penalties?

Dean has earned $70,000 annually for the past five years working as an architect for MWC Inc. Under MWC's defined benefit plan (which uses a 7-year graded vesting schedule) employees earn a benefit equal to 3.5% of the average of their three highest annual salaries for every full year of service with MWC. Dean has worked for five full years for MWC and his vesting percentage is 60%. What is Dean's vested benefit (or annual retirement benefit he has earned so far)?

Employee contributions to traditional 401(k) accounts are deductible by the employee, but employee contributions to Roth 401(k) accounts are not.

Participating in an employer-sponsored nonqualified deferred compensation plan is potentially risky because employers are not required to fund nonqualified plans. If the employer is not able to pay the employee when the payment is due, the employee usually becomes an unsecured creditor of the employer.

A taxpayer can only receive a saver's credit if she contributes to a qualified retirement account.

Which of the following statements regarding traditional IRAs is true?

The standard retirement benefit an employee will receive under a defined benefit plan depends on the number of years of service the employee provides, but does not consider the amount of the employee's compensation near retirement.

Qualified retirement plans include defined benefit plans but not defined contribution plans.

Sean (age 74 at end of 2014) retired five years ago. The balance in his 401(k) account on December 31, 2013 was $1,700,000 and the balance in his account on December 31, 2014 was $1,750,000. In 2013, Sean received a distribution of $50,000 from his 401(k) account. Assuming Sean's marginal tax rate is 25 percent, what amount of the $50,000 distribution will Sean have left after paying income tax on the distribution and paying any minimum distribution penalties (use the IRS table below in determining the minimum distribution penalty, if any). Age of Participant Distribution Period Applicable Percentage 70 27.4 3.65\% 71 26.5 3.77\% 72 25.6 3.91\% 73 24.7 4.05\% 74 23.8 4.20\% 75 22.9 4.37\%

Which of the following statements regarding Roth IRAs is false?

Scott and his wife Leanne (ages 39 and 37 respectively) earned $50,000 in 2014. Scott was able to contribute $2,400 ($200/month) to his employer sponsored 401(k). What amount of saver's credit can Scott and Leanne claim in 2014?

Kathy is 48 years of age and self-employed. During the year she reported $100,000 of revenues and $40,000 of expenses relating to her self-employment activities. If Kathy has no other retirement accounts in her name, what is the maximum amount she can contribute to an individual 401(k)?

Both employers and employees may contribute to defined contribution plans. However, the amount that employees may contribute to the plan in a given year is limited by the tax law while the amount that employers may contribute is not.

Katrina's executive compensation package allows her to participate in the company's nonqualified deferred compensation plan. In 2014, Katrina defers 20 percent of her $400,000 salary. Katrina's deemed investment choice will earn 7 percent annually on the deferred compensation until she takes a lump sum distribution in 10 years. Katrina's current marginal tax rate is 30 percent and she expects her marginal tax rate will be 35 percent upon receipt of the deferred salary. What is her after-tax accumulation from the deferred salary in 10 years?

Heidi has contributed $20,000 in total to her Roth 401(k) account over a six year period. In 2014, when her account was worth $50,000 and Heidi was in desperate need of cash, Heidi received a $30,000 nonqualified distribution from the account. How much of the distribution will be subject to income tax and 10% penalty?

Kathy is 60 years of age and self-employed. During 2014 she reported $100,000 of revenues and $40,000 of expenses relating to her self-employment activities. If Kathy has no other retirement accounts in her name, what is the maximum amount she can contribute to a simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA for 2014?

Which of the following best describes distributions from a defined benefit plan?

Just like distributions from qualified retirement plans, distributions from nonqualified deferred compensation plans are taxed as ordinary income to the recipient.

Daniela retired at the age of 65. The current balance in her Roth IRA is $200,000. Daniela established the Roth IRA 10 years ago. Through a rollover and annual contributions Daniela has contributed $80,000 to her account. If Daniela receives a $50,000 distribution from the Roth IRA, what amount of the distribution is taxable?

High-income taxpayers are not allowed to receive the saver's credit.