A Roth 401(k) is a feature that allows participants to contribute to their retirement on an AFTER TAX basis. As long as the money remains in a plan for at least 5 years, the distribution (even the earnings!) will be TAX FREE.

of this time, the IRS has not finalized regulations about Roth 401(k) contributions. Therefore, distributions (including hardship distributions and loans) will not be able to be made from Roth 401(k) money until the final rules are issued. We expect these rules early in 2006. Of course, a participant would still have access to his account balance from other money sources.

No, it is not a new type of plan. Designated Roth contributions are a new type of contribution that can be accepted by new or existing 401(k) or 403(b) plans. This feature is permitted under a Code section added by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2006.

Roth 401(k) contributions are added to regular (tax deferred) 401(k) contributions in calculating the maximum that can be contributed to a plan. The maximum contribution (both Roth 401(k) AND regular 401(k) contributions) for 2007 is $15,500 plus up to an additional $5,000 if the participant attains age 50 during the plan year.

Roth 401(k) contributions are treated the same as regular 401(k) contributions for purposes of a regular or safe harbor match.

No. Only monies from a participant's prior Roth 401(k) qualified retirement account can be rolled over into a participant's Roth 401(k) account within your Plan.

No, designated Roth contributions are treated the same as pre-tax elective contributions when performing annual nondiscrimination testing. Yes, a plan can provide that the highly compensated employee (HCE), as defined in section 414(q), with elective contributions for a year that include both pre-tax elective contributions and designated Roth contributions may elect whether excess contributions are to be attributed to pre-tax elective contributions or designated Roth contributions.

If you have enough money to contribute to your 401(k) plan and a Roth IRA, you may invest in a Roth IRA if your income level allows you to do so. Generally speaking, you should contribute to your 401(k) at least up to the amount that your employer matches your contributions. Beyond that level, it may make sense to invest the maximum allowed in a Roth IRA.

No. Employer sponsored 401(k) plans must offer Elective Deferrals as an available option to participants in order to allow for Roth 401(k) contributions.

Participants will need to access their individual accounts online and select the Contribution Summary link under Section Guide. Participants can then click on the button "Change Contribution Rate" to elect a contribution rate for their Roth 401(k) money source.

All Roth 401(k) contributions are to be included with the same payroll date and frequency as Elective Deferrals. A Roth 401(k) money source will be available in the Contribution Processing section via Plan Sponsor Access referencing participants that have elected Roth 401(k) contributions.

Roth 401(k) contributions are added to regular 401(k) contributions for ADP nondiscrimination testing.

You must first rollover your 401(k) into a traditional IRA. Once you've done this, you may convert your traditional IRA to a ROTH IRA. The rollover from a 401(k) into a ROTH IRA usually triggers tax-consequences since the taxation of ROTH IRA withdrawals is more liberal than 401(k) withdrawals..

A 401(k) plan is a defined contribution plan that is a cash or deferred arrangement. You can elect to defer receiving a portion of your salary which is instead contributed on your behalf, before taxes, to the 401(k) plan. Sometimes the employer may match your contributions. There are special rules governing the operation of a 401(k) plan. For example, there is a dollar limit on the amount you may elect to defer each year. The dollar limit is $11,000.

A 401(k) is a fairly simple plan. It is set up by your employer as a set contribution retirement agreement. That means you are the one who pays into the plan, although your employer and the plan provider who offers your 401(k) do just about all the work. Your 401(k) contribution is automatically deducted from your paycheck each pay period. This money is taken out and invested before your paycheck is taxed.

Participants in a 401(k) plan generally have a decent number of different investment options, nearly all cases a menu of mutual funds. These funds usually include a money market, bond funds of varying maturities (short, intermediate, long term), company stock, mutual fund, US Series EE Savings Bonds, and others.

Your 401(k) plan helps you start regular investing, and stick with it. Your contributions are automatically deducted from your salary before you receive your check. Since the money is deducted from your gross income, you will have a lower taxable income, which means you will pay less in annual taxes. The money you save will accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. This means you pay no federal or state taxes on your contributions or investment earnings until you start withdrawing money from the plan.

long as your 401(k) balance is greater than $2,000, you can take up to 50% of your account balance for purposes of a loan (minimum loan amount is $1,000). There is a $75 loan origination fee and the loan is paid back through payroll deductions (the interest charged is prime plus 2%). Participants are also charged a $50 annual loan fee. Loan requests are made through the Great West Life Annuity and generally take about 2-3 weeks to process all the necessary paperwork.