who is offering the most competitive roth ira rates?

This article mentions that there is a bill which would signifigantly increase the AGI limit on Roth conversions.

Does anyone know the status of this bill or the bill number?

Why didn't Congress just use the same limit for starting a new Roth for the conversion??? My life would be much simpler.

-----------------------------------

http://www.rothira.com/reymann.htm

"There is some support for increasing AGI caps for conversion IRAs. The Medical Health Bill proposed to increase the $100,000 AGI conversion limit to $145,000 for single filers and $290,000 for joint filers, and in doing so was projected to raise of revenue was $2.4 billion over 5 years. This increase of revenue generated by conversion makes it a possible addition to spending bills which need additional revenue in order to be balanced. "

We rec'd a MCSO but the noncustodial parent is our 'ee and not enrolled in our health plan. The insurer says it will not enroll the child only, but the MCSO does not say that the 'ee must enroll in the health plan. What are we supposed to do in this situation?

Our state statutes prohibit withholding employee-funded pickup contributions of nonunion employees unless "The employer is required to do so by law." Do you know whether an ordinance enacted by a special district applying only to its employees in a state with such a statute qualifies as such a "law"?

over the past ten years i made non deductible contributions to my ira and did not file the req 8606's. in 98 i converted the non deductible dollar amt to a roth. ques. what is the avenue for correcting my oversight?

My wife and I own shares in a mutual fund earmarked for the downpayment on our first home. We don't expect to buy for five years. Question: does it make sense to transfer some of that money to a Roth IRA (understanding we will pay long term capital gains on the withdrawn amount), in order to realize some tax-free growth on at least part of our home fund? We already have Roth IRAs dedicated to retirement. Thanks for your input.

------------------

Gregory Bell

What are you doing with "fractional people"? I've got 8 employees. 20% of them is 1.6 people. Do I have 1 or two people making over $80k and Top 20%?

Is it necessary for governmental plans to submit for a qualification letter? Is it true that governmental plans are considered "Qualified" until not qualified? What are the benefits of tax qualification?

I am looking for a check writing program to use for distributions from 457PST plans. I need to be able to export the data from Quantech and load to the check writing program. I heard a rumor that a company in Florida was successfully using a program but I was not able to get the name. Any suggestions?

I have opened ROTH IRA account in 1998. I found now that my MAGI is > 50,000.00.

What are the option do I have now?

Since, my company has 401k plan I can not open regular IRA. Can I open regular

mutual fund and transfer the money?

What do I need to do to report to IRS?

Any extra IRS form need to fill out?

Now that I have your attention.....

Have you ever longed for a Crystal version of theADP /ACP test? I'm giving away one such version at the next Southern Users Group meeting being held Friday April 30,1999 in Atlanta.

(Details on the report below)

Souther Users Group Agenda:

8:00 - 8:30 Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 Business Meeting

9:00 - 10:30 Document Update, emphasis on safe harbor plan. Instructor is Robert Richter from Corbel

10:30 - 12:15 Quantech 5.0 Update, instructors: Tom Poje, Lorraine Dorsa

12:15 - 1:30 Lunch, sponsored by Manulife

1:30 - 4:00 Autodoc Update and training, Instructor: Beverly Jackson

The group is planning on dinner afterwards.

The group has reserved rooms at SWISSHOTEL in Buckhead. 149.00 a night, call (800) 253-1397 for reservations. Rate is guaranteed through April 12. Hotel is accessible by MARTA from the Airport to the Buckhead stop.

Nearby Hotels: Holiday Inn $99 per night. (404) 264-1111 (next door to Swisshotel

Marriot $109-$119/night (404) 869-0818 (across the street from Swisshotel

............

membership is $50 annually (per firm)

future meetings this year:

Orlando, FL Aug 6-7 (2 day)

Columbia, SC Nov 13

nonmembers who wish to attend (or those who want to become members) should contact:

Maggi Heffernan (770) 641-1429

Hey, last year we had 2 people from Seattle attend!

..............

Anyway, no guarantees on my ADP report, but this is a Crystal version, it sorts alphabetically, and will tell you who is excludable on the ACP test.(but does not do statutory exclusions at this time)

There is also a version for plans with no match contribution.

Report seems to be working fine, but one never knows what exceptions might arise.

Anyway, I'll bring that and a bunch of other reports to share.

By the way, I will be at the hotel Thursday night, if someone wants to hash out some Qtech questions.

Hope to see you there![my e-mail is lda@leading.net ] thats the letter l not the number 1.

We have come across a situation where a participant/shareholder has named his company as beneficiary of his MP/PS benefits. There is no QJ&S issue and my question is does anyone feel this prohibited by Erisa.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Who has implemented an integrated disability management program? What does your pprogram look like and what results have you had? Anyone willing to share their experience, I would like to hear from you.

------------------

joy_howse@hotmail.com

I am looking for examples of excellent communication material, most particularly consolidated annual statements. Anyone willing to share samples or exchange on this subject, I would like to hear from you.

------------------

joy_howse@hotmail.com

Other than by going directly back to the stock prices for your IRA on the date of the reconversion, is there another way to calculate the taxable amount given the information only on the Form 5498? They report only the total of the distributions and I've heard the IRS wants a letter enclosed that tells them how you calculated the taxable portion. Do I simply say in the letter "That's how much those funds were worth on the date of the last(and in my case only)reconversion."? Seems too simplistic given that if that's the only way to calculate the taxable portion it will be the content of all letters. I guess I should say that mine is not a partial conversion.

Thanks for any help,

------------------

mallo

------------------

mallo

Company A buys three different Physician Practices, B, C and D. All 3 practices had their own plans. B terminated/distributed its plan. C froze its plan. D merged assets into Company A's plan. A, B, C and D are an affiliated service group (B, C and D are participating employers in A's plan).

Which plans (if any) should be aggregated with A's plan for top-heavy? I'm hung up on the whole "sponsored by the employer" thing, since B, C and D's plans were never sponsored by A and really wouldn't be considered A's plans. My thinking is that you would include D (since the assets are now part of A's plan anyway), but not B and C. Am I totally crazy, or is there something else I should consider?

Now what's this I hear that if a plan provides for 59 1/2 distributions, the plan is not required to make RMD's?! Please tell me this isn't so! I've never heard of this until this morning!

I was told that if I was participating in my company sponsored 401(k) program that I could not open an IRA as well - that it had to be one or the other. Is this true?

Existing profit sharing excluded employees paid by commission only. In 1997 profit sharing amended to add 401(k)/401(m)provisions effective 1/1/98. Plan topheavy, therefore TPA inorms employer that commissioned people must get top heavy minimum even though excluded from profit sharing. Employer gives top heavy minimum. In December 1998 plan is amended to exclude commissioned people from both Profit Sharing and 401(k) effective 1/1/99. However, inadvertently, employer continues to make salary deferral contributions on behalf of these employees for January and April.

How can the employees get back these deferrals? Must the employer make a 3% TH minimum contribution?, etc.

Thanks.

We currently provide eight weeks paid Maternity Leave (for child care purposes -- disability and heath verification is not required) to female staff members. Don't we also have to provide the same benefit to males (paternity leave)? The paid "maternity leave" runs concurrent with FMLA. Males who utilze FMLA to care for a new child are not paid for the first eight weeks as are females. Thank you.

------------------