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Can I fund a new business by rolling over money from an existing IRA to my new corporation's 401(k)?
Is it wise and legal to buy a small new business by rolling over money from an existng IRA account into a newly established 401(k) sponsored by my new business? The new 401(k) would buy stock in my new business (a C-Corp--or should it be an S?) and that would fund my business.

Asked by martzberg
Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008  |  Found in Finance & Accounting


More answers by Nina Kaufman
Answer by Nina Kaufman
Any time you take money out of a retirement account (for whatever purpose), you need to be sure that you won’t get hit with penalties for early withdrawal. In addition, your plan to have the 401(k) plan buy the stock of your company seems overly convoluted if your company is not publicly traded and therefore does not have a market value.

The simplest solution is most often the most elegant one, and 401(k) rules as to how the plan gets established are very complex. You should definitely speak with a financial advisor or other retirement-plan specialist to make sure you don’t run afoul of the rules.
Nina Kaufman has a New York City-based boutique law practice and is president of Wise Counsel Press LLC, which produces legal information products for entrepreneurs. She writes the Making It Legal blog and the Business Law Advisor column for WomenEntrepreneur.com.

Note: This response is for your general information only. Be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your particular situation to get the advice you need.



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