Many individuals who have accumulated large IRA or non-qualified annuity retirement plan assets will have leftover balances that they wish to leave to their heirs. Instead of receiving a taxable, lump-sum distribution, beneficiaries may receive payments of the inherited IRA/non-qualified assets over their life expectancy. As a result, beneficiaries can minimize immediate taxation and the assets within the IRA or non-qualified annuity will continue to grow tax deferred.
Are you considering leaving the rat race and retiring early to pursue other interests? Is your retirement nest egg tied up in tax-deferred vehicles that are subject to early distribution penalties? You may want to consider tapping into your IRA or non-qualified annuity before age 59½ and receive penalty-free income using section 72(t) or 72(q) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Have you thought about what you will do with your retirement plan assets when you retire or leave for another job? Are you looking for a way to avoid current taxation and continue the tax-deferred growth of your retirement plan assets? A rollover to an IRA is one approach to consider.