How to read a 401k statement section by section: balance, contributions, vesting, fees and the income estimate, plus a check that the numbers add up.
What is a required minimum distribution? A plain guide to when RMDs start, how the IRS amount is figured, and the 25% excise tax, sourced to IRS rules.
401k hardship withdrawal rules explained: the seven IRS safe harbor reasons, how the plan decides, and the tax cost, with dated IRS sources.
401k early withdrawal penalty exceptions from the IRS list, which ones cover a 401(k) and not an IRA, and why penalty-free still means taxable.
Rollover vs transfer vs conversion, explained with IRS rules: which move is taxed, which has a 60-day clock, and which paperwork each one creates.
How to find an old 401(k) with your W-2, IRS transcripts and the Labor Department’s free Lost and Found database, step by step.
Direct vs indirect rollover 401k: how each moves your money, why indirect withholds 20%, and the 60-day deadline that follows, per IRS rules.
Catch-up contribution explained: who qualifies at 50+, the extra amounts the IRS allows for 2026, and how the new Roth rule for high earners works.
Find out exactly where the IRS publishes 401k contribution limits, how to confirm this year’s number on IRS.gov, and why the figure changes annually.
401k vesting schedule explained: understand cliff and graded rules so you know exactly how much employer match you keep if you leave your job early.