A 401(k) plan is a type of retirement plan offered by an employer under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. A 403(b) plan is a somewhat different type of retirement plan, which has many of the same features of a 401(k). Since Duke is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization and educational institution we can offer a 403(b) plan.

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.

You can generally move the vested portion of your account from one type of plan to another as long as the new plan accepts rollovers. Your after-tax contributions are only transferable between similar plans (for example, from a 403(b) plan to 403(b) plan), and you must move your money directly between plans.

Basically, the 401(k) is a tax-deferred retirement plan for private sector employees, while the 403(b) is a retirement plan of educational and certain non-profit organizations.

Yes. If you are a client and are actively participating in your company's 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan, we will provide guidance assisting you to choose among the available funds in your company plan without additional charge. As a quid pro quo, we ask that you consider our firm for asset management when you withdraw your assets from your plan.

Yes. If your employer(s) offer both a 403(b) and a 401(k), you may contribute to both. However, your aggregate contributions may not exceed the elective deferral limit. In 2005, this limits your total contribution to $14,000. If you are age 50 or older at any time during the year, your contribution limit increases to $18,000.

Duke offers plan participants a wide range of investment options. These include money market, bond, fixed investments, asset allocation funds, equity income funds and stock funds. There are over 300 funds to choose from. All of Duke's retirement plan providers provide automated toll-free telephone services to help you keep track of your retirement assets. You may also access your account on the Investment Carriers page.

Yes, we want to help our nurses plan for the future, so we offer the best 401(k) program in the industry. k) Safe Harbor Plan Eligibility: First of the month following 90 days of employment; must be at least 21 years of age. Company Match: 100% of contributions up to the first 3% of compensation plus 50% of contributions up to the next 2% of compensation Contributions: Employee may contribute up to $13,000; Age 50 and over may contribute up to an additional $3,000.

You set aside money for retirement on a pretax basis through a salary reduction agreement with your employer. The money grows tax deferred until withdrawal at retirement.

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.

Since an employer match can always be increased fairly easy, but could be difficult to reduce, there are many experts that advise an employer to start with no match or with a very low match. However, selecting a match depends on many considerations.

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.

Answer: IRS code section 403(b) allows all 501(c)(3) organizations, (churches, religious education organizations, health care, and charitable non-profit) to establish a pre-tax and tax-deferred employer sponsored retirement plan. The contributions may be made by just the employer, just the employee, or a combination of the two. *