About SEP and Roth IRA Services

 What Are Simplified Employee Pension Plan SEP IRAs?

A simplified employee pension plan (SEP) is a deferred-compensation arrangement that is similar to a profit-sharing plan. It can be set up by employers and self-employed individuals, as well as sole proprietorships and partnerships. Employers receive tax deductions for plan contributions made to employees’ accounts, and employees do not pay taxes on SEP contributions until they begin taking distributions in retirement. Thus, SEPs can be attractive to both the employer and the employee.

Companies that institute SEPs agree to contribute on a nondiscriminatory basis to IRAs maintained by employees. Employers are required to provide benefits to all employees who are eligible. Employees are eligible if they are at least 21 years old, earn at least $500 each year (indexed for inflation), and have been employed by the company for three out of the five years prior to the year for which the contribution is being made. Employers also have the option of selecting eligibility requirements that are less restrictive, but they must be applied to every employee.

Employer contributions are limited to the lesser of $46,000 or 25% of an employee’s compensation (in 2008). Contributions are made on a discretionary basis, which means that the employer can decide each year whether or not to contribute, as well as how much to contribute.

SEP contributions are made to separate IRAs for eligible employees. Employees are responsible for setting up their own traditional IRAs to receive employer contributions, which are immediately 100% vested, and employees direct their own account investments.

When participants start taking distributions from a SEP IRA, the rules are essentially the same as those for a traditional IRA. Distributions are taxed as ordinary income and cannot be taken before the age of 59½ without incurring a 10% federal income tax penalty, except in the case of extenuating circumstances. [For example, penalty-free distributions are allowed if an individual is unemployed, buying a first-time home ($10,000 lifetime max), or cannot pay medical expenses.] SEP IRA account owners must begin taking minimum distributions after reaching age 70½.

If you are a small-business owner or are self-employed, a SEP IRA may be a good option for you, because contributions may be tax deductible and this type of plan is easy to establish and administer. If you are an employee of a company that offers a SEP IRA, you can benefit by the potential to receive employer-paid contributions. If you are a business owner, always make sure to discuss your retirement plan options with a financial professional before deciding on a method.

For more information on how we can best assist your 401k rollover and IRA rollover needs, please fill out  the short contact form above or call us at 1-888-333-4641.


Cross Financial Management is a full-service financial planning and consulting firm dedicated to helping our clients build wealth and protect their hard-earned assets. We specialize in 401k plans, though provide an array of solid services. Our firm is completely independent, so our loyalty belongs exclusively to our clients -- not to a parent company.

Our independence enables us to establish working relationships with a number of industry-leading brokerage firms and insurance providers whose products we leverage to create customized client portfolios. We recommend only those products and services that can be tailored to suit our clients' unique needs


* The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, professional, legal or tax advice. To determine your individual tax situation and specific needs, please consult a professional tax advisor.

* Information contained in these sections merely highlight some benefits. There are risks involved with all investments that could include tax penalties and risk/loss of principal.

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