We always talk about rolling an employer-sponsored retirementplan into an IRA, but we rarely talk about the reverse scenario.Although an IRA rollover has many benefits, it's not always thebest savings plan for your client's employees. Consider somereasons rolling IRA funds into their employer plan might make moresense for them.

Reason #1: You can't borrow from an IRA. Thoughwe hope participants won't need this option, it's sometimescomforting to know it's there. With an IRA, participants can onlytake withdrawals and, depending on when they take them, they couldbe hit with a penalty. In an employer-provided retirement plan suchas a 401(k) or 403(b), participants can often borrow up to half oftheir savings. For some, especially in a tight economy, this couldbe an important option to have available.

Reason #2: You'll have to wait longer to pullout your savings in an IRA. IRAs usually require you to be at leastage 59 1/2 in order to withdraw without a penalty. With anemployer-sponsored plan, employees may take penalty-freedistributions if they separate employment at or after age 55.

Reason #3: There may be opportunities to savemoney in an employer-sponsored plan that are not available in anIRA. For example, if an employer's plan is large enough, employeesmay be able to access institutional funds, or funds without a load.In an IRA, employees may have to pay a load or higher managementfees for the same funds.

Reason #4: Consolidating your retirement assetssimplifies things. For some participants, having all theirinvestments in one place is appealing since it makes managing andmonitoring their investments easier.

Reason #5: Guidance is part of the plan. If youoffer guidance or advice to participants as part of their employersponsored plan, play up the fact that they can utilize this serviceto help them choose and manage their investments. With an IRA, theywould have to hire an adviser or manage their money on theirown.

You can help your clients' Human Resources department byproviding knowledge on both retirement plans and IRAs, and at thesame time you may be able to increase the level of assets in theplan. Regardless of where participants are saving, they will wanttheir retirement to be the one they always dreamed of. Help them besure they're saving the best possible way to make that happen.

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