RetirementThinkhttp://www.retirementthink.com/retirement-blog/Retirement Articles This Weeken-US2009-01-07T00:30:00ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)No MRD's For 2009...Here's An Exceptionhttp://www.retirementthink.com/retirement-blog/2009/1/5/no-mrds-for-2009heres-an-exception.htmlWise Owl2009-01-05T23:59:58ZRetirement Withdrawals Age 70 1/2
We've been getting a lot of inquiries on the new MRD rules for 2009 and received a frequent question. Fortunately, a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal provides the answer:

If I turned 70½  in 2008 and had planned to take my first withdrawal by the April 1, 2009 deadline, does the new law permit me to skip it?

A: No. The law suspends distributions only for 2009. Although first-timers are allowed to delay 2008's distribution until April 1, 2009, the withdrawal still counts toward your obligation for 2008, Mr. Slott says. So, if you turned 70½ in 2008 and decided to wait until April 1, 2009, to make your first withdrawal, that deadline still applies. To calculate this distribution, you would use your account balance as of Dec. 31, 2007.

]]>2008 Is Over, Thank You..Dow, S&P And Nasdaq Recaphttp://www.retirementthink.com/retirement-blog/2008/12/31/2008-is-over-thank-youdow-sp-and-nasdaq-recap.htmlWise Owl2008-12-31T23:41:49Z

]]>Your 401k May Have Some After Tax Contributions..Think About A Rothhttp://www.retirementthink.com/retirement-blog/2008/12/29/your-401k-may-have-some-after-tax-contributionsthink-about-a.htmlWise Owl2008-12-29T23:54:54ZIRA AccountsMost contributions that go into your 401k plan or 403b plan are "pre-tax" monies. Some plans allow deferrals above the limits and are ear-marked as "after-tax" contributions.  Plan providers will be able to tell you if there are any after-tax monies in your plan. Those after- tax monies may be eligible to be converted to the Roth IRA.

Kiplingers.com explains:

Not all retirement plans allow after-tax contributions. But if yours is among those that do, this is a great way to keep some of your retirement savings growing tax free without paying the usual price of admission to convert to a Roth IRA. Normally, you must wait to switch jobs or retire before you can move money out of your employer-based retirement account. But some plans permit in-service distributions, allowing you to roll over some or all of your 401(k) money to an IRA once you reach age 59 1/2 .

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