Borrowing money from your Solo 401(k) May 22, 2008
Posted by Jeff Nabers in : real estate, Self Directed IRA Solo 401k , add a commentSolo 401(k)’s most touted feature is its uniquely large annual contribution limits ($46k – $102k). A lesser known feature may be just as useful for some: participant loans.
What is a participant loan?
A Solo 401(k) participant can borrow up to either $50,000 or 50% of their account value with the following terms:
- To be repaid over an amortization schedule of 5 years or less
- Regular payments no less frequently than quarterly
- At a reasonable rate of interest… generally interpreted as prime rate + 1%
Such a loan may only be made in accordance with the Solo 401(k) plan documents. While most plan documents disallow this type of loan, the Unlimited® 401k offered by my company does allow it.
Under what conditions is this allowed?
Any. As long as the plan documents allow for it & the proper loan documents are prepared and executed, a participant loan can be made for any reason.
When is this useful?
This can be useful when (more…)
Checkbook Control 2.0 (for the self employed) May 13, 2008
Posted by Jeff Nabers in : Self Directed IRA Solo 401k , 28commentsWith tens of thousands of self directed IRA investors utilizing LLC structures to enjoy “checkbook control” authority of their self directed IRA investments, this post may serve as great news for those who aim to follow suit.
Solo 401(k) retirement plans can grant direct checkbook control without the use of an LLC or custodian.
The concept of custodian comes from Internal Revenue Code Section 408(a)(2) and is defined in Section 408(n). This entire IRC section 408 is devoted to Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs. The code basically explains that an IRA is normally a trust, and the trustee must be a bank. It then defines bank as a bank, trust company, or any company specifically approved by the IRS. This capacity of trustee to an IRA is known as “custodian”. This trustee role is simply that of investing the plan as directed by the accountholder.
A Solo 401(k) plan is a type of 401(k) that is designed for self employed individuals whose businesses have no full time employees. All 401(k) plans are qualified plans, and qualified plans do not have any special restrictions on who can serve as trustee.
So the significant difference is that with a Solo 401(k), the participant can actually be the trustee and handle (more…)
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