Retirement Plan Required Minimum Distributions

Course: Retirement Planning
Lesson 5: Leveraging Nonqualified Plans for Small Business and Not-For-Profit Employees and Owners

Student Question:

Hi

I’m trying to distinguish when the required minimum distribution amounts are at 72 years old, versus when they are 70 ½.  IRA’s are now 72, correct?  Is a 401k plan and a 403b 70 1/2?

 Thank you

Tiffany


Instructor Response:

Hi Tiffany,

Great question! 

A client’s required beginning date depends upon her age, not the type of retirement plan.

For example, all qualified plans (such as 401(k) plans), 403(b) plans, 457(b) plans, traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SARSEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRA’s have required minimum distributions and a required beginning date. Roth IRAs do not have a required beginning as long as the original account owner is alive. 

However, a client’s required beginning date (RBD) varies depending upon when the client reaches age 70½. A client’s RBD is generally April 1 following the year she reaches:

  1. Age 72 if she reached age 70 ½ in or after 2020.
  2. Age 70 ½ if she reached age 70 ½ before 2020.

Let me know how fully this addresses your question Tiffany.

Onward and Upward,
Bruce