A contract between an IRA holder and the financial institution that explains the provisions of the holder's IRA plan. Things you can find in an adoption agreement and plan document include items such as allowable investments, contribution limits, rules for deducting an IRA contribution, distribution rules and the rights of the IRA owner. An IRA is not considered "established" until the IRA holder signs the agreement.
Distributing the balance of a participant's retirement account under a qualified plan without the written consent of the participant, the participant's spouse or beneficiary. Involuntary cash-out usually occurs if the participant’s balance is no more than $5,000 and he or she is either no longer employed by the employer sponsoring the qualified plan, or has died. Effective Mar 28, 2005, a qualified plan must ensure either that cash-out balances between $1,000 and $5,000 are rolled to a Traditional IRA (by means of an automatic rollover), or that cash-outs will not occur if the participant’s balance is more than $1,000.
A client information form used by registered investment advisors and other asset managers that aids in determining the optimal portfolio mix for the client. An investment objective survey may come in the form of a questionnaire, where the investor will be asked things such as:-Current liquid and net worth -Risk aversion -Investing time horizon -Income levels -Expense levels -Planned bequeathments and/or charitable contributions -Restrictions on security selection An investment objective will typically not be completed by the investor until he or she has decided to use the services of the asset manager because this information is highly sensitive and is kept confidential. Portfolio managers will use the information obtained in an investment objective form to help create a customized portfolio within the client's risk profile. This form will be kept current as the client's goals change over the years, with new information being implemented into the client's portfolio and/or retirement plan.
An advisor who helps investors with their long-term investment planning. An investment consultant, unlike a broker, does more in-depth work on formulating clients' investment strategies, helping them fulfill their needs and goals. The idea behind an investment consultant is that they be part of the client's investment strategy for a long period of time. The consultant's job is to actively monitor the client's investments and continue to work with the client as goals change over time.
A pension plan that is tied to an individual's Social Security payments to determine the total benefit that the plan participant should receive.The actual amount sent to the recipient in a defined benefit integrated pension may be reduced by a dollar amount equal to all or a percentage of the person's annual Social Security payment. Some integrated plans have a specified total benefit in mind, and look for Social Security and pension funds to combine toward meeting that goal. In most cases, the pension amount can only be cut a maximum of 50%.
Something of individual value that cannot be touched or held. Intangible personal property can include any item of worth that is not physical in nature. Examples include a copyright, trademark or goodwill. A copyright does not derive value from the paper it is recorded on, but the property still has real value that the law recognizes and protects. The value in intangible personal property lies in its benefits and value recognition. Intellectual property is one of the most common forms of intangible personal property. This type property is sometimes taxed by some jurisdictions. The most common forms of intangible property for companies include goodwill, research and development, and patents.
An individual retirement account that is left to a beneficiary after the owner's death. If the owner had already begun receiving required minimum distributions (RMDs) at the time of his or her death, the beneficiary must continue to receive the distributions as already calculated or submit a new schedule based on his or her life expectancy. If the owner had not yet chosen an RMD schedule or reached 70.5 years in age, the beneficiary of the IRA has a five-year window to withdraw the funds, which will be subject to income taxes. A spouse who receives an inherited IRA can choose to roll it over into his or her existing IRA accounts with no penalties. This option does not exist for non-spouse beneficiaries.Tax laws surrounding inherited IRAs are quite complicated. Beneficiaries should seek the advice of a tax professional if they inherit an IRA. Because IRAs are relatively new, look for more changes in tax laws over time as the number of inherited IRAs grows.
A selection of eligible companies and investments, determined by local state governments, for institutions such as insurance companies and pension plans. These are generally low risk, low volatile investments that insure the well-being of investors in institutions where safety of principal is of concern.