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Help with IRAs

Common questions about your Principal IRA and Roth IRA, and SimpleInvest IRA and Roth IRA

Principal has a variety of ways for you to save for retirement, including traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs, Principal SimpleInvest IRAs, and moving money from an existing retirement plan into an IRA (called a rollover). These questions and answers can help you find the information you need to manage and build your retirement savings.

General questions about IRAs, Roth IRAs, and completing a rollover

How do I make contributions to my retirement savings in an IRA or Roth IRA?

IRAs and Roth IRAs both have contribution limits based on income, as well as catch-up contribution limits if you are age 50 or over. As long as you meet the applicable IRA requirements, you can make annual contributions up to the limit, and once you鈥檝e met the limit can make catch-up contributions.

What is a rollover?

A rollover is simply when you move retirement savings from one account into another.鈥疘t鈥檚 an action you take, not an account called a rollover.鈥疘t鈥檚 often something you do after leaving a job, or if your previous plan requires small amounts to be moved.

If I am completing a rollover from a former employer鈥檚 retirement plan, how long does it take to transfer money?

It typically takes about seven to ten business days for an electronic transfer to be completed. Paper checks may take longer. (And the time may vary depending on your plan鈥檚 requirements.)

When can I withdraw money from my IRA or Roth IRA?

In general, you must be over age 59陆 to be eligible for withdrawals of IRA earnings. A Roth IRA must be open for 5 years and you must be over age 59陆 to be eligible for withdrawals of those earnings.

How do I check my beneficiaries or make changes to my beneficiaries?

In general, you can change your beneficiaries at any time. To get started, log in (view any Principal.com page and click on the button on the upper right corner). On your dashboard, look on the left side to find the account you want to update. Click 鈥淚 want to鈥 and scroll to 鈥淰iew account details.鈥 Under 鈥淥verview鈥 on the top menu, scroll to "Beneficiaries." If you're on the mobile app, click on each account, then on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner; you'll find "Beneficiaries" there.

Or, if your dashboard has a My Beneficiary tab, click and view a list of your current accounts. Click on each account separately to view current beneficiaries. Each account has its own beneficiary designations, so if you鈥檙e making a change, you must change each one separately.

Can I take a loan from my IRA?

No, you may not take a loan from an IRA. However, you may take a distribution from your IRA prior to age 59陆 without a 10% early distribution penalty to cover certain costs鈥攆or example, making a down payment on your first home (up to $10,000), paying for higher education, and for certain birth and adoption expenses. Taxes on the distribution may still apply.

Additionally, you can take money out of your IRA and return it within 60 days鈥攖his is also called a rollover鈥攚ithout paying taxes or penalties on the amount you put back into those savings. You can do this once in a 12-month period for any IRA.

Every plan is different, with varying allowable options. For more insight into how these exceptions or an early distribution could impact you, consult a financial professional or tax advisor.

Why do I need to withhold taxes when I withdraw funds from an IRA?

A traditional IRA is created with money that may be fully or partially deductible depending on your tax filing status, so you could have a tax advantage on both contributions or earnings. When you withdraw money from a traditional IRA, you must then pay the income tax on those funds, based on your current income tax bracket.

Why don鈥檛 I need to withhold taxes when I withdraw funds from my Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is created with post-tax money; you already paid income tax on the contributions in your account and your earnings have been growing tax-free. This means you don鈥檛 have to pay taxes on the money you take from a Roth IRA after age 59陆, assuming the account is at least five years old.

What is a required minimum distribution (RMD), and why do I have to take it from an IRA?

An RMD is the minimum amount you must withdraw per the IRS from your IRA each year upon attaining a certain age. You must begin taking RMDs for the year you turn age 73 and annually thereafter. If you withdraw less than your RMD, or miss the deadline, you may be subject to a tax penalty of up to 25% of the amount you were required to withdraw for the year.

Learn how your RMD is calculated and the deadlines to withdraw.

Is an RMD required from a Roth IRA?

No, it is not.

Questions about your 海角社区IRAs and Roth IRA

What are my investment options for a 海角社区IRA?

With a Principal鈥疘搁础, you can choose from a range of investment options such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds.

How do I add money to my 海角社区IRA or 海角社区Roth IRA?

You can contribute to all of your 海角社区accounts either through direct contributions from a bank account, such as a personal checking or savings account, or by rolling over or transferring funds from another retirement account. A transfer from a bank account typically takes several days to complete, while the time for a rollover varies. To get started,鈥痑nd click on the鈥淭ransfer Money鈥 tab. Review the detailed steps on making a contribution.

How do I take money out of my 海角社区IRA or Roth IRA?

from an online browser. On your dashboard, look for your IRA card on the left. Click into the card, and select "Redeem" from the Account Actions dashboard. If you don鈥檛 currently have a bank account on file and want the funds to be a direct deposit to your bank account, complete and return the鈥. The form is processed within three business days after receiving it. After a 15-day waiting period to ensure the safety and security of your account, the distribution request can be processed over the phone.

Remember: If you're under 59陆, your distribution may be subject to a 10% additional tax.

What is my 海角社区IRA RMD and how do I take it?

If you are required to take an RMD, watch for a notification from Principal. Not sure if you have to take an RMD? Consult a financial professional or tax advisor.

I need to talk to someone at 海角社区about my 海角社区IRA or 海角社区Roth IRA. Can I call or email?

Either one works. You may email advisedservices@principal.com or call+1-866-412-0770 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT.

Questions about your Principal SimpleInvest IRA

What are my investment options for a Principal SimpleInvest IRA?

With a Principal鈥疭impleInvest IRA, our automated investor will recommend a diversified investment mix of our mutual funds and ETFs based on your answers to a few questions (age, retirement goals, investment risk tolerance).

How do I add money to my 海角社区SimpleInvest IRA?

You can link a bank account like your personal checking or savings account to your Principal鈥疭impleInvest IRA at any time and then transfer money from your bank account into your IRA. It may take a couple days for the money to transfer. To get started,鈥痑nd click on the鈥"Transfer Money" tab.

If you have additional funding questions,鈥review our detailed funding instructions.

How do I take money out of my Principal鈥疭impleInvest IRA?

You may request withdrawals online. from a browser (withdrawals are not available via the 海角社区app). On your dashboard, look for your 海角社区SimpleInvest card on the left. Click into the account, and view the "Transactions"鈥痶ab on the dashboard.

If the withdrawal amount is $50,000 or more to be paid by check, is $100,000 or more to be paid by automated transfer, or is an amount that will bring your balance below the required minimum balance of $5,000, please contact us at +1-866-412-0770, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT.

What is my 海角社区SimpleInvest RMD and how do I take it?

If you are required to take a RMD, watch for a notification from Apex, your Principal鈥疭impleInvest account custodian. Not sure if you have to take an RMD? Consult a financial professional or tax advisor.

I need to talk to someone at 海角社区about my 海角社区SimpleInvest IRA. Can I call or email?

Either one works. You may email advisedservices@principal.com or call+1-866-412-0770 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT.

Questions about my 海角社区Bank鈥疘搁础

What are my options for a 海角社区Bank IRA or Roth IRA?

You may open an IRA or Roth IRA with 海角社区Bank. In addition to the standard features and tax advantages, 海角社区Bank鈥疘搁础s and Roth IRAs come with the added security of FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor. As with every IRA, earnings in a 海角社区Bank IRA grow tax-deferred until withdrawal after a five-year holding period, and certain contributions may be tax-deductible. You'll be taxed on the pre-tax savings when you withdraw it in retirement. To contribute to a traditional IRA, you or your spouse must have earned income in the year the contribution is made; find contribution limits here.

Why were my retirement funds from another employer鈥檚 retirement plan rolled over into a 海角社区Bank IRA?

Your former employer has an agreement in place with 海角社区Bank 鈥 to transfer retirement money and open an automatic rollover IRA on your behalf if:

  • You鈥檝e left a workplace and your previous employer doesn鈥檛 allow former employees with retirement plan account balances of $7,000 and under to keep their funds in its retirement plan. Rather than paying you the balance in cash, the law allows the employer to automatically roll over savings of $7,000 and under to an IRA.
  • The employer closes its retirement plan.

In both cases, you receive information about the options for the account, including applicable fees and a date by which you must decide what to do with the money. You may:

  • Convert your 海角社区Bank鈥疉utomatic Rollover IRA to a 海角社区Bank CD or money market IRA, or another product with Principal鈥痵uch as an annuity or mutual fund.
  • Keep the 海角社区Bank IRA. You can also make additional deposits to this account.
  • Roll over your money to an IRA at another financial institution or another employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.
  • Withdraw your funds. Keep in mind that if you are under age 59陆 you may pay penalties on the withdrawal.

If you don鈥檛 make a decision by that date, the retirement money is transferred via an automatic rollover to an IRA. (The account may be called a Safe Harbor or Plan Term IRA, a Money Market, 鈥赌痮r an Assured Savings.) Depending on your employer鈥檚 plan, it may say an account valued under $100 is to be distributed in cash.

How can I take money out of my 海角社区Bank IRA?

If you have a 海角社区Bank Automatic Rollover IRA (Safe Harbor or Plan Term IRA), a Money Market, 鈥赌痮r an Assured Savings, you can request a withdrawal online up to $25,000.鈥. If you would like to request a withdrawal of more than $25,000 or you have an IRA CD, 鈥赌. You can fax, mail, or email the completed form to 海角社区Bank.

Don鈥檛 have an online account yet? Go to Principal.com and click 鈥渓og in鈥 on the upper right corner on any page鈥痶o set up an online account.

How do I add money to my 海角社区Bank IRA?

You may be able to add money to your account and set up recurring contributions online.鈥痑nd select your 海角社区Bank account card on the left; then select 鈥淢ake a contribution鈥濃痶o get started.

Do I have to take an RMD from my 海角社区Bank IRA?

Yes; all traditional IRAS have an RMD beginning at age 73. To take your RMD from a CD, Money Market, or Automatic IRA, complete and return the RMD form. You can also elect to have your RMD automatically distributed each year.

Look for your RMD on your annual statement. If you elected to receive electronic statements, new statements are posted to your online account each January. If you haven鈥檛 signed up for electronic delivery of statements, we鈥檒l mail your statement to the address we have on file.

To sign up for electronic delivery,鈥. Go to鈥 鈥淢y profile鈥濃痑nd under鈥 鈥淧references鈥濃痵elect鈥 鈥淒elivery preferences.鈥

How do I contact 海角社区about my 海角社区Bank IRA?

You have four options:

  1. Phone: +1-800-672-3343, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CT
  2. Mail:
    • 海角社区Bank
      • regular mail
        PO Box 9351
        Des Moines, IA 50306-9351
      • overnight mail
        711 High Street
        Des Moines, IA 50392
  3. Fax: +1-866-431-8410
  4. Email: principalbankcustomerforms@principal.com. Please note: This is not a secure email address and is used solely to process forms, not for responses. Accepted formats for attached documents are PDF, PNG, TIF, and JPEG files.

Questions about 海角社区Funds IRAs

How do I add money to my 海角社区Funds IRA?

You can add to your IRA in three ways:

  • Log in to link your bank account and then add to your retirement savings.
  • Call us at +1-800-222-5852. However, you must have a bank account on file to add to your account by phone. If you don't have a bank account on file, go online to add one or complete and return the .
  • Print a and mail it with a check to 海角社区Funds. Checks can be made payable to: 海角社区Life Insurance Company, 海角社区Funds, 海角社区Financial Group, or 海角社区Securities.
    • Regular mail
      • 海角社区Funds
        PO Box 219216
        Kansas City, MO 64121-9216
    • Overnight mail
      • 海角社区Funds
        801 Pennsylvania Ave, Ste 219216
        Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
How can I take money out of my 海角社区Funds IRA?

To withdraw money from your account,鈥.鈥疧n the left side of your dashboard, click on the 鈥満=巧缜鳩unds鈥 account, then on 鈥淭ransactions鈥. Or, call us at +1-800-222-5852.

Your transfer is typically to a bank account. If you don鈥檛 currently have a bank account on file and want to do a direct deposit, complete and return the鈥. The form is processed within three business days after receiving it. After a 15-day waiting period to ensure the safety and security of your account, the distribution request can be processed over the phone.

How do I contact 海角社区about my 海角社区Funds IRA?

You may call us at +1-800-222-5852, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.鈥7 p.m.