View Single Post
Old 04-20-2008, 07:33 AM
greta greta is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 713
15 yr Member
greta greta is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 713
15 yr Member
Default

One option is to just leave it where it is - you are allowed to do that since you've been contributing for awhile. The law says you may leave it there. In addition, now is probably not the best time to pull anything out. I just looked at my quarterly 401k statement and I lost over 10K in just 3 months. If you can let it sit awhile, it will recover.

Please don't make any sudden moves with this money - it can really cost you in the end. The penalties are huge if you withdraw before retirement age. Your best bet is not to touch this at all until you reach retirement. Forget you have it and leave it alone. You will lose an automatic 30% if you have to use it before you reach retirement (penalty plus taxes). I had to do it once and I was very sorry to have lost so much.

Short term might say that you want to have this money available - but long term....you don't want to be eating cat food when you're 60 years old.

This money has no effect whatsoever on disability. Disability is only based on if you can work or not - not how much money you have in the bank. Whatever you do, please don't withdraw it and put it in your checking account. If you do roll it into a fidelity account, and you want it to make any money, don't use a money market. A money market is fairly safe, but it won't even keep up with inflation. If you are prepared for some volatility then a mutual fund is a good bet. I like Vanguard - their fees are always low which is very important to me in the long run.

I may be preaching, but investing is very important to me. I've done it since my very first job and DH and I intend to retire at around age 50. Whatever you can do to let that money sit and grow for the next 30 years will really pay off in the end.

Quote:
Originally Posted by herekitty1960 View Post
I've recently had to leave my job of 15 years and apply for LTD.

I have been contributing to my 401K for years and need to roll it over into an IRA. If I just close out my 401K I will take a huge hit on penalties for early withdrawl. I was told by Fidelity that an IRA was my best bet because I can put the money into a money market account and have access to it while still keeping it safe in a conservative account. And no penalties for withdrawl - I will have to pay taxes on anything I take out, though.

My question is - can I qualify for LTD and subsequently SSDI if I have this money? Should I just withdraw all of it and put it in my regular checking account? I just plan on leaving it there for emergency use if I need it.

I've never been good at making financial decisions by myself - and this time is no different. Since I now need every penny I can get my hands on I don't want to do something stupid and lose any of it.

There's a lot of smart people on this board - I need your help!
greta is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
Kitty (04-20-2008)