Yes. You may make salary reduction contributions to your 403(b), and make contributions to a SEP-IRA. However, SEP IRA contributions are generally made by an employer. Therefore, you will need to have income from self-employment or from another employer in order to have contributions made to a SEP IRA on your behalf.

Yes. The Roth IRA has Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations. Singles earning up to $95,000 may contribute fully; ability to participate phases out at $110,000. Those filing jointly earning up to $150,000 may contribute fully; ability to participate for joint filers phases out at $160,000.

Generally, you may choose to reduce your salary by any amount that does not exceed the lesser of two limitations: If you are 50 or older on December 31 of a given year, you can contribute an additional amount as follows: For example, employees who are age 50 or older by the end of the year can contribute $20,500 ($15,500 plus $5,000 catch-up) assuming they make at least $20,000 in salary that year.

Supplement Retirement Income - Most employees of educational institutions and other non-profit organizations are provided with a pension upon retirement. Few pension plans, however, provide an amount equal to salary. A 403(b) plan can provide a supplement to help close that gap. Lower Taxes - 403(b) contributions are made on a pre-tax basis which can greatly reduce your tax bill.

If the SEP participant's modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for 2007 is under $52,000 (single filer) or under $83,000 (married, joint filer), then a full deduction for a traditional IRA contribution is also permitted. The amount that may be deducted is phased out over the next $10,000 in income.

The government sets the standards as to how much money can be contributed into a 403(b). The maximum amount any individual under the age of 50 can contribute is $14,000 for the 2005 calendar year. Any individual age 50 or older may contribute up to $18,000 for the 2005 calendar year.

In order to meet nondiscrimination requirements of the law, once a plan sponsor permits any employee to elect a salary deferral into the 403(b), the opportunity must be extended to all employees of the organization. This is known as universal availability. However, certain employees may be excluded.

Yes. Your employer must agree to make contributions to your 403(b) in accordance with a salary reduction agreement. This is an agreement between the employer and employee under which the employee agrees to take a reduction in salary or to forego a salary increase and the employer contributes that amount to a 403(b) for that employee.

The 403b is a tax deferred retirement plan available to employees of educational institutions and certain non-profit organizations. Participants contribute to either annuity contracts with insurance companies, or to mutual funds with mutual fund companies. Contributions and investment earnings grow tax deferred until withdrawal (assumed to be retirement), at which time they are taxed as ordinary income. Withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

You may contribute up to $4,000 on the Traditional and Roth IRA's. The Coverdell Education Savings Account has a contribution limit of $2,000.

A SEP allows a self-employed person to contribute more to a retirement account than the current limits on 401(k) and IRA. For a sole-proprietor, the maximum contribution is 20% of net operating income, up to $45,000. If a small business owner allocates a specific amount of cash flow to salaries, the maximum SEP contribution is 25% of compensation, up to $45,000. There is no upper age limit on participation in a SEP.

SEP stands for "Student Education Plan." For more information, please contact the Department of Counseling at 510-436-2475.

Unfortunately we were not able to include supplemental retirement account (403(b) and/or 457) information on this year’s statement. We hope to include this information in the future. If currently enrolled, questions may be referred to company: http://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/retirement/sra_providers.cfm