minimum distributions

[Belgarath]

We've been having a little discussion here, without reaching an agreement. Say you have a person in a profit sharing plan, who is 73 years old. She has been taking minimum distributions from the plan monthly. Now she wants to take the remaining account balance and have the Trustee go find an insurance company and purchase her a lifetime Joint & Survivor annuity for her and her spouse. Can she do this, or must she get an annuity for a period certain not extending beyond the remaining life expectancy according to the joint life expectancy originally calculated when she started receiving minimum distributions? (or some other answer) Thanks.

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

The life expectancy used for the minimum distributions is used JUST for that purpose. It has no bearing on what form of annuity a participant can or cannot receive. Why would it?

Assuming the plan allows for a joint and 100% annuity distribution option and allows for in-service distributions, then the annuity would be based on current ages and life expectancies.