As with all employees at Next Generation Trust Services, Wittler is being cross-trained in all areas of the company’s operations; this includes learning about the wide variety of nontraditional investments allowed in self-directed retirement plans, IRS guidelines about investing in alternative assets, and the steps taken to complete client transactions.

“We make sure all our employees are able to answer clients’ questions promptly, can quickly refer them to someone who can help them, or provide resources for the information they seek,” said CEO Raskulinecz. “This cross-training is a key part of our company’s commitment to delivering superior customer service.”

Wittler’s work background includes property appraisals for an Essex County real estate appraisal firm and extensive customer service, bookkeeping, and cash management responsibilities for a high-end grocery chain. He feels that the attention to detail and experience with real estate and customer service in recent jobs will serve him well at Next Generation Trust Services, especially in the area of transaction support and account billing.

“I’m very detail-oriented and I see how important it is to follow a customer transaction from request to completion to ensure it is processed accurately and efficiently,” said Wittler.

With self-directed retirement plans, the account holders make all their own investment decisions, and may invest in a broad array of alternative assets that include real estate, precious metals, mortgages, unsecured loans, private placements, commodities, and much more. Next Generation Trust Services holds the assets, executes the transactions, and manages all the account administration and paperwork associated with the self-directed IRA.

Raskulinecz said that Next Generation Trust’s referral business has increased substantially over the last two years, which she attributes in large part to the high level of customer service her employees provide to the firm’s growing client base. “We are actively seeking to hire two more staff members to accommodate the large increase in business we’ve been experiencing,” she said. In addition to newcomer Wittler, she hopes to bring on a marketing assistant and another administrative assistant to keep office operations as efficient as possible.

For more information about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy, or to find out more about employment opportunities at Next Generation Trust Services, call (973) 533-1880, email Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.

Next Generation Trust Services (NGTS), headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, is a professional third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans. NGTS provides education, administrative support, and account maintenance to individuals interested in self-directing their retirement portfolios with a wide variety of investments that are not typically found in an IRA, such as real estate, precious metals, notes and mortgages, private placements, accounts receivables, limited partnerships, hedge funds, and much more. Next Generation Trust Services serves clients globally via its website, http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com. For more information on self-directing a retirement plan, call 973-533-1880, 888-857-8058 (toll free), or e-mail Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.

The hours will be Monday-Friday from 8:30 – 5:00 and on Friday from 8:30 to 2:30.  Regular hours will commence on September 3, 2013.

Hope you have a fun, happy and safe summer!

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) April 29, 2013

Account holders at Next Generation Trust Services will soon have access to much more detail about their self-directed retirement plans when the firm updates it online account portal at the end of May. The administrator of self-directed retirement accounts has continuously been updating its website and web-based customer service options over the past two years to accommodate its growing client base more efficiently.

In addition to a sleeker, more contemporary look, the customer service enhancements will allow account holders greater access to a broader range of pertinent account information regarding their self-directed IRAs. They will be able to view their account information in far greater detail than ever before, to sort their data along specific fields according to their preferences, and view long-term account history.

The new portal updates include the abilities to:

•     Print all pages of account reports in a printer-friendly format
•     Display account data in a grid format that can be grouped, sorted, and filtered
•     Split out and view all relevant account fees, contributions, and payee information
•     View performance return data, retirement portfolio balances, and transactions

“With self-directed retirement plans, the account holders make all their own investment decisions, and may invest in a diverse array of traditional and nontraditional assets,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust Services. “Since our clients are responsible for doing their due diligence and researching their investments, it is important to us, as their account administrator, to provide them with as much account information as possible to guide their investing process, 24/7.” The firm recently introduced complimentary one-on-one consultations about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy as part of its commitment to investor education and outreach.

Next Generation Trust’s clients invest in real estate, precious metals, commodities, hedge funds, loans, mortgages, private placements, and much more. Next Generation provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support for the self-directed IRAs.

When the new online portal goes live, clients will be prompted to update their account log-in information to provide additional account protections and to access all the new capabilities. Next Generation Trust will be sending emails out to its clients about the upcoming improvements and its staff is available during normal business hours to answer questions and assist clients.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) April 11, 2013

In response to client preferences, Next Generation Trust Services, LLC is now offering clients different ways to learn about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy. Effective immediately, the administrator of self-directed retirement plans is giving prospective and current clients the ability to schedule free one-on-one consultations with Next Generation Trust staff members in person, by phone, or with Skype.

“Investors may now receive personalized education about the many options and benefits of self-direction in the manner and at a time that is most convenient for them,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of the firm. “In addition to phone consultations, they may also make appointments for in-person meetings at our office or via Skype.” Rather than attend on-site seminars at its Roseland, N.J. office as Next Generation Trust had been offering, investors can get the information they need from wherever they are, at any time during normal business hours. All consultations are free, with times available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST.

Next Generation Trust Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement plans, in which individuals may invest in a broad array of nontraditional assets. Self-directed plans enjoy the same tax advantages of regular IRAs, but allow investors to build a more eclectic and potentially more lucrative retirement portfolio with alternative investments that are not allowed in typical retirement plans. These include real estate, precious metals, hedge funds, private placements, commodities, and much more.

All Next Generation Trust employees are cross-trained in order to respond quickly and efficiently to questions investors have about opening new accounts or about their transactions. With self-direction, investors make all their own investment decisions; however, as the account administrator, Next Generation Trust offers guidance about IRS regulations regarding allowed investments, disqualified individuals, and prohibited transactions as part of its full transaction support for clients. Last fall, the firm launched online Starter Kits, with downloadable forms to open various types of self-directed retirement accounts, for greater client convenience; many forms allow for electronic signatures as well to streamline the transaction process.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

In just one week from today, the deadline for filing 2012 individual tax returns and making all 2012 IRA (Traditional, Roth, ESA, HSA) contributions will arrive. This means any and all contributions intended for 2012 must be postmarked by April 15^th in order to be applied correctly. Anyone who currently holds a SEP IRA, your deadline for SEP-employer contributions is based on your company’s filing date including any extensions they may have received.

If you are one of the few running around like a chicken with your head cut off because April 15^th snuck up on you, not to worry! If you won’t make the April 15^th deadline, you are able to request an automatic 6-month filing extension for your personal return on Form 4868.

Any questions or concerns you may have regarding the April 15^th deadline or your personal tax return, please consult your financial planner, tax advisor, or CPA.

Although there are several perks to owning an individual IRA account, like having the interest, dividends, and capital gains grow tax-deferred, an inherited IRA must go through the process of being renamed or retitled to reflect the status change. Again, if this name change doesn’t take place, the beneficiary may face tax penalties.

However, these requirements do not just apply to IRAs, previous employer 401(k) plans are subject to the same rules as IRAs when it comes to retitling. Although most individuals rollover funds from their 401(k) to an IRA upon retirement, it is important to know what types of retirement plans the deceased held.

This knowledge is particularly important since the baby boomer generation is growing old. They are inheriting IRAs from deceased spouses and parents, and the number of tax issues related to inherited IRAs is steadily increasing. It seems that many people, including some financial planners, are unaware of the requirements the IRS has put on inherited retirement plans. For example, a surviving spouse does not need to retitle the deceased spouse’s retirement plan if they held a traditional IRA. Additionally, this will allow the surviving spouse to defer taking distributions until age 70 ½. Younger spouses who may need the money before age 59 ½ will face a 10% tax penalty for taking an early distribution. However, younger spouses can avoid the 10% penalty if they retitle the IRA to an inherited IRA. If younger spouses who retitle the account to an inherited IRA are smart, they can retitle the IRA again at age 59 ½ in order to defer any further withdrawals until age 70 ½.

Children and/or non-spouse inheriting the IRA are required to immediately retitle the IRA to avoid penalties are mandated to take a yearly distribution (known as a death distribution) based on the account’s value. If the beneficiary of the inherited IRA dies before depleting the account, their beneficiary must again retitle the IRA to avoid penalties, and so on.

Should you find yourself the recipient of an inherited IRA, your best choice is to immediately consult your financial planner or tax advisor to ensure that you follow IRS guidelines. Once an inherited IRA is distributed for neglecting to retitle, the process cannot be undone and the entire account balance will be distributed. For more information on inherited IRAs, check out the article by Post-Gazette.com, “Planning can help avoid tax penalties and ensure growth for inherited IRAs.”

The Basics:

In the year you turn 70 ½ is when it is time to take your first RMD. Every subsequent year following, you will be required to take a distribution from your IRA for as long as you live, or until your IRA funds are depleted.  In order to figure out what your RMD is for the year, you total the balances from all Traditional, SEP and/or SIMPLE IRAs as of December 31^st and divide by a life expectancy divisor provided by the IRS (to view the Life Expectancy Divisor Chart, click here). Although you can figure out your RMD annually, your IRA custodian or trustee is supposed to notify you every January if an RMD needs to be taken for that year and for how much. The reason the RMD is calculated annually is because your IRA balances and age will change on an annual basis! Why pay last year’s RMD amount if it no longer applies?

What Happens if I Turn 70 ½ this year?

Well, you have two options since this is your first RMD. First, you can take your RMD before year’s end (December 31^st) in the year you turn 70 ½. This will allow you to take your first RMD in a separate calendar year from your second one. You second option is to take your first and second RMDs in the same calendar year. You have until April 1^st to take your first RMD and until December 31^st to take your second in the year after you turn 70 ½. One disadvantage to choosing option two would be that you would cause yourself a double-dip of extra taxable RMD income. However, if you work with your financial planner or tax advisor, you will be able to develop a strategy best suited for you.

What Happens if I Turned 70 ½ in a prior year?

If you’ve made it past year one for your RMD, then you’re in the clear…just remember to take your distribution before the end of the calendar year (December 31^st).

What if I have multiple IRAs?

As stated before, your RMD is determined by the balance of all traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA accounts. Although the RMD is pulled from information from all accounts, there is no stipulation as to what account you must withdrawal funds from. You may take your RMD from one IRA, or spread it out over all three.

For more information on Required Minimum Distributions, please visit the IRS website or read this article by Bizactions.com titled, “Don’t Forget to Take IRA Required Minimum Distributions.”

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) March 28, 2013

Heather Lehne-Woolf has worked in New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong, but her latest assignment is in the Roseland, N.J. office of Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, a third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans. Lehne-Woolf will apply her vast experience in marketing services, real estate, and recruiting to her new position at the self directed IRA services company. She is one of several planned new hires for 2013 at Next Generation Trust, which has seen triple-digit growth in assets held within clients’ self-directed retirement plans over the past two years.

Lehne-Woolf joins Next Generation Trust Services as an administrative assistant and will be training on the transaction process for self-directed retirement accounts to support the client services team. All employees at Next Generation Trust are cross-trained in order to maintain the high level of customer service and efficiency with which transactions are handled for the firm’s clients. The firm provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement plans, in which investors make their own investment decisions. Self-direction allows for a broad array of alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, private placements, loans, hedge funds, and much more.

Lehne-Woolf has worked as marketing manager for the Australian office of global accounting firm, Deloitte Touche, and as marketing and advertising manager for two major legal recruitment firms in Hong Kong. She then moved to real estate and corporate relocations for expatriates moving to the bustling city. She is certified, trained, and qualified in dozens of software and management programs.

“Heather is certainly no stranger to acquiring new skills in new industries,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust. “As part of her role here, she will be learning our complete transaction process in order to help clients and our team, and will put her formidable marketing skills to good use in assisting with our firm’s marketing development.”

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Photo by Greg Foster via Flickr for Creative Commons

Now that a few months have gone by, and the Northeast continues to rebuild and recovery from the devastation left in Hurricane Sandy’s wake, there are a few things to keep in mind with the end of the tax season closing in. The IRS has provided some help for victims of the hurricane which may affect your current retirement plan(s).

First of all, the IRS has eased the rules a bit to allow company retirement plans to make loans and hardship distributions to Sandy victims (this rule does not apply to IRAs). They have also postponed certain tax-related deadlines, such as the 60-day rollover period, the correction of excess contributions, etc. These postponements apply to IRA and company retirement plans.

For those of you reading this that have not been victimized by Hurricane Sandy, there are some ways to use your IRA money to donate and make charitable contributions to those in need. Some of these avenues include the following:

• The IRS has agreed to expedite the review and approval process for new charities.
  • However, keep in mind that existing organizations may be able to administer relief programs more efficiently, as they have existing funding and guidelines in place.
  • The IRS offers helpful information in “Publication 3833, Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations.”
  • You may make a donation to a charitable organization with funds from your IRA.
    • Since Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) expired in 2011, and Congress has yet to renew them, any funds removed from the IRA must be taken as a distribution and will considered as such.
    • Anyone who wishes to donate this way and under age 59 ½ will be subject to a 10% penalty by the IRS for distributing early. Consult your accountant or financial planner to see if you can claim a tax deduction.

To read more about ways to contribute to Sandy victims, please check out this article by TheSlottReport.com titled, “Charities, IRAs, and Hurricane Sandy.”

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) March 15, 2013

Clients of Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, an administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, continue to enjoy improved customer service and account enrichment thanks to continuing updates to the firm’s website, http://NextGenerationTrust.com. In addition to recent innovations such as online starter kits for opening traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs, existing clients may now reach out to trusted resources through Next Generation Trust’s Professional Resources Directory.

The directory, which was launched in February, lists trusted professionals that have worked with clients of Next Generation Trust Services in the following areas: nontraditional asset appraisers, ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) attorneys, non-recourse lenders, and CPAs and financial planners. The directory is provided as a courtesy by Next Generation Trust, since the firm does not recommend or endorse any professionals.

“Our clients want as much convenience as possible; they spoke and we listened,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of the firm, which specializes in comprehensive account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement accounts. “As much as technology allows us, we will continue updating and adding to our website to enhance the customer service experience for our client.”

The Next Generation Trust website also offers a full set of downloadable forms for opening accounts and managing transactions for any type of self-directed retirement account the firm administers, and clients may pay certain fees online. The staff posts information about legislation, trends in self-directed investing, and videos and online presentations about various aspects of investing as well on the Investor Awareness Resources section of the site.

Self-direction allows for a broad array of alternative assets not allowed in typical retirement plans, such as real estate, commodities, hedge funds, loans, precious metals, and much more. Individuals make all their own investment decisions, often based on investments they might already be making outside of their existing IRA. At the Next Generation Trust office, all employees are cross-trained to be able to answer clients’ questions more efficiently and to guide them through the transaction process safely and securely. In addition, Next Generation Trust offers free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year about self-direction and alternative investments, often in partnership with trusted professionals in related fields.

“We pride ourselves on providing the best customer service, not only in the retirement industry in particular, but in the financial services industry in general,” said Raskulinecz. “Clients can always call us during regular business hours with questions or for help making their transactions if they don’t wish to use the online forms and services.”

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) February 27, 2013

Changes in economic legislation and overcoming lingering challenges in the nation’s economy will be some of the topics on the agendas at two conferences in March that focus on the retirement industry and investments. Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, a third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans, will have a presence at both.

The company will exhibit at the ABA Wealth Management and Trust Conference, sponsored by the American Banking Association, March 3-5 in New Orleans, La. The conference will offer strategies for working with high-net-worth clients, and draws financial industry experts, wealth managers, and trust bankers. Next Generation Trust’s CEO, Jaime Raskulinecz, will attend “Raising the Bar—Self-Directed IRA Conference” on March 20-22, 2013 in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Retirement Industry Trade Association (RITA), where she will be hearing the latest updates on issues that affect the self-directed retirement plan industry.

“This year’s ABA conference focuses on how to build financial planning and personal banking practices despite unpredictable market influences, and for certain savvy investors, investing in nontraditional assets through a self-directed IRA could be a highly effective wealth-building strategy,” said Raskulinecz. “As the popularity of self-direction grows, financial services professionals need to educate themselves about the options and benefits of this retirement strategy, so they can better guide their clients and answer questions they might have.”

Self-direction allows for a broad array of alternative investments including real estate, private placements, unsecured loans, precious metals, and commodities. The investment decisions are made by the individual account holder and the assets are held by third-party administrators such as Next Generation Trust Services. Raskulinecz noted that independent fee-based financial planners can earn commissions on those assets held by Next Generation Trust that they are advising their clients on.

The RITA conference will feature seminars about anti-fraud measures, compliance, best practices in the retirement industry, updates on IRA regulations, social media marketing, and a panel discussion on crowdfunding, one of the most important investment topics in 2013.

“It is critical in our business to stay abreast of all the regulatory practices, and investment updates and trends, so we can share this knowledge with our clients,” said Raskulinecz, who provides free educational seminars about self-directed retirement accounts to investors, financial advisors, and real estate professionals throughout the year. “RITA conferences provide administrators of self-directed retirement accounts with the information we need to help our clients, and to help us grow our businesses.” Next Generation Trust Services is a member of RITA, a professional trade association committed to the continued growth and expansion of self-directed retirement plan administration.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Should any client require our immediate assistance or have a time sensitive inquiry, please make sure you get in touch with a representative by Thursday, March 28, 2013. All representatives can be reached by phone at (973) 533-1880, toll-free at (888) 857-8058, or by email at Info@NextGenerationTrust.com.

Next Generation thanks you for your patience while we work to better serve our clients and their needs.

Later in the month, CEO, Jaime Raskulinecz will be attending Raising the Bar— a Self-Directed IRA Conference in Washington, DC. That event will be held March 20-22.

More details by CLICKING HERE

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) February 12, 2013

The IRS has increased the contribution limits allowed for retirement plans, and changes in tax structures could benefit many business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs who are saving for retirement. Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, an administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, is reminding them that now is a great time to consider opening a Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP).

A SEP plan provides employers and the self–employed with a simplified way to make to contributions toward their own and their employees’ retirement. The expanded contribution limits promote greater retirement savings and the potential for beneficial tax deductions. Contributions are made directly to traditional IRAs (SEP IRAs) set up for employees and owners. A business of any size can establish a SEP.

Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust Services, said that the new tax rates make it an attractive time to open a retirement account as a counter-measure to potential tax increases. She notes that many people make New Year’s resolutions about taking control of their retirement savings that they put off; she encourages people not to put this on hold any longer for several important reasons.

•     Tax deductions

“Self-employed and small-business owners who are looking for additional deductions to offset any tax increase will benefit from funding a retirement account, now and in the future,” she said.

The IRS raised the limit of allowed contributions for 2013 which provides additional retirement savings as well as a higher tax deduction. The IRS has widened federal income tax brackets and increased certain exemptions, deductions, and credits. Some itemized deductions are being phased out for high-net-worth individuals. There are also changes to how long-term capital gains and qualified dividends are taxed. Complete details on changes in the tax structure this year are available at http://www.irs.gov.

•     Social security insecurity

Raskulinecz said the talk of cutting social security benefits and/or increasing the retirement age to qualify is an important factor to consider.

“Working people today might see their future social security benefits cut as the federal government tries to balance the budget. Therefore, they cannot rely on receiving those benefits the same way their parents did. Making disciplined deposits into an IRA is the best way to ensure you have enough saved for retirement.”

•     Employee benefits

Employers who set up simplified employee pension plans provide an attractive benefit for employees (or for themselves, if self-employed) as well as a tax benefit for their companies.

Self-directed retirement accounts—including SEP IRAs, traditional and Roth IRAs, HSAs, 401(k) plans, and Coverdell accounts—allow for a broad array of nontraditional investments that are prohibited from the typical retirement accounts offered through financial institutions. In self-direction, the investors make all their own investment decisions, usually based on assets they know and understand, and might already be investing in outside of their existing retirement plan. More information about self-directed retirement plans is available at Next Generation Trust Services.

As an additional incentive to help small-business owners and self-employed individuals start saving for retirement, Next Generation Trust Services is waiving its set-up fees for SEP accounts opened now through April 15, 2013, the filing deadline for tax returns. Contact Next Generation for details.

“We do not give investment advice but we do provide guidance about retirement plans and self-direction,” said Raskulinecz. “I recommend that anyone—employer or employee—get started as early as possible on saving for retirement. Setting up automatic withdrawals from regular paychecks throughout the year is a great way to enforce saving, since not everyone can make a large lump-sum IRA contribution before the tax deadline.”

Next Generation Trust Services offers free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year to help investors and their trusted advisors learn more about the growing trend toward self-direction as a retirement strategy. The firm’s popular series, Self-Directed 101 and Self-Directed 201 continue monthly on Wednesdays; a full schedule of upcoming events is available at http://NextGenerationTrust.com/events.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

If you have any questions about self-directed retirement plans, please contact a Next Generation representative at Info@NextGenerationTrust.com or (973)533-1880.

Next Generation thanks you for your patience and understanding while wishing you a safe trip should you be traveling during this winter storm.

Check out the PDF version of the  Forbes Magazine Article here! As always, if you have any type of inquiry, you can reach a Next Generation representative by email at Info@NextGenerationTrust.com or by phone at (973) 533-1880 or toll-free at (888) 857-8058.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) January 29, 2013

Matthew Zidow, former manager of thinkorswim, Inc. by TD AmeriTrade, has joined Next Generation Trust Services, LLC as its operations manager. He brings his experience in financial operations, futures, team supervision, and retirement account processing and paperwork management to bear on his work with Next Generation Trust, a third-party administrator of self-directed retirement accounts.

Zidow worked with thinkorswim, an elite-level trading platform for options, trade equities, futures, and the foreign exchange market from its early startup days through its acquisition and incorporation as a TD AmeriTrade division for the past six years.

“Matt is a perfect match for us at this point in our evolution,” said Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust Services. “He comes to us with proven expertise in retirement account management and IRS compliance, alternative investments such as private placements and options trading, and all aspects of operations management. As our clientele expands—and with it, the types of nontraditional assets our clients are investing in—Matt will bring the needed operational guidance and organization to our company that will ensure more streamlined operations and excellent customer service.”

Next Generation Trust Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement plans, in which the account holders make all their own investment decisions. Self-direction allows for a broad array of nontraditional assets—including commodities, futures, and private placements—as well as real estate, tax liens, precious metals, loans, and much more. Next Generation Trust holds the assets and manages all the transactions for its clients to ensure transactions are done securely and in full compliance with IRS regulations.

Zidow joins the Next Generation Trust team as it prepares for its continued growth—it now manages assets of just under half a billion dollars, more than double the amount held a year ago—as well as changes coming to the retirement industry this year; these include the ending of limitations on 401(k) plan conversions from traditional to Roth 401(k)s, and the anticipated SEC approval of crowdfunding, which will enable average investors to invest in startups without the restrictions formerly placed on venture capital and private placements.

“My experience with futures and international markets, the entire range of retirement accounts, and staff supervision and development, will allow me to help Next Generation Trust reach new markets,” said Zidow. “We will continue to refine all the internal systems and procedures, to ensure each client transaction is as smooth as possible and meets government regulations.” Next Generation Trust has been steadily upgrading its office technology, website features, and customer service amenities over the past year.

Next Generation Trust Services offers free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year to help investors and their trusted advisors learn more about the growing trend toward self-direction as a retirement strategy. The firm’s popular series, Self-Directed 101 and Self-Directed 201 continue monthly on Wednesdays; a full schedule of upcoming events is available at http://NextGenerationTrust.com/events.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) January 18, 2013

As part of the budget legislation passed on January 1, 2013, owners of traditional 401(k) plans may now convert any amount of those funds into Roth 401(k) designations if these plans are offered by their employers. Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, which manages self-directed retirement plans, explained that this new bill will allow more employees to take advantage of tax-free earnings upon their retirement.

“Conversions to Roth 401(k) plans had previously been limited to certain funds and to plans that allowed the switches,” said Raskulinecz. “Any amount may now be transferred from existing 401(k) accounts into Roth 401(k) plans, which means more people will be able to withdraw tax-free dollars when they retire.” There are currently $5 trillion in employer-sponsored defined benefit contribution plans, with $3.5 trillion of that in 401(k)s.

In traditional 401(k) plans savings grow tax-deferred and taxes are paid on the income when the money is withdrawn. With Roth plans, investors pay taxes on the contributions up front and enjoy tax-free withdrawals later.

Raskulinecz added that in addition to dropping restrictions on the type of funds that can be converted, age limits are also eliminated; therefore, younger employees may wish to convert some of their 401(k) funds to Roth plans, and allow the money to earn tax-free interest over a longer period of time.

Next Generation Trust Service’s clients own self-directed retirement plans, in which the investors make all their own investment decisions and may invest in a broad array of nontraditional assets such as real estate, tax liens, precious metals, loans, and much more. Next Generation Trust holds the assets and manages all the transactions for its clients to ensure transactions are done securely and in full compliance with IRS regulations. Self-employed consultants, sole proprietors, and contractors may open self-directed single 401(k) plans for themselves.

“Just as we caution our clients with self-directed retirement accounts to do their due diligence and research their investments fully, we also caution employees with 401(k) plans to ask a lot of questions and make sure that converting funds to a Roth401(k) makes sense for them,” said Raskulinecz. “Individual circumstances and financial goals differ and we strongly recommend people consult their financial advisors before converting any funds.”

Next Generation Trust Services offers free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year to help investors and their trusted advisors learn more about the growing trend toward self-direction as a retirement strategy. The firm’s popular series, Self-Directed 101 and Self-Directed 201 continue monthly on Wednesdays; a full schedule of upcoming events is available at http://NextGenerationTrust.com/events.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Photo courtesy of Ben McLeod/Flickr, Creative Commons

Next Generation Trust Services CEO, Jaime Raskulinecz, will be appearing on Blog Talk Radio’s Small Business Forum, hosted by Tony Wilkins, at 7pm EST (4pm PST) on Friday, February 8.

In her 15 minute segment, Jaime will be discussing self-directed IRAs and non-traditional investments; so please do not hesitate to call in with any questions you may have!

For more information about where and when to listen, visit Blog Talk’s Radio website at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tonywilkins.

For a list of our upcoming events, please follow this link or visit the “Events” section of our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you for your patience and understanding while Next Generation works to bring you the best customer service experience possible.

Attention: All Next Generation TS Clients and Prospects…

Please be advised that significant changes have been made at the federal level, thus affecting FDIC insurance on non-interest bearing accounts.  As of last year, non-interest bearing accounts were completely FDIC insured. However, due to recent changes, funds are only insured up to $250,000 in those accounts.

What this means for clients and prospects…

Next Generation, or any other firm for that matter, will not be able to guarantee complete FDIC insurance on funds exceeding the $250K limit that are initially transferred into our deposit account. This means one of two things:

1. Clients may transfer funds in increments/installments of $250K.
2. Clients may transfer funds in excess of $250K, but risk them not being fully FDIC insured for about a 24 hour period until our office can move funds into FDIC insured accounts.**

**It is important to note that all client funds, after they are moved out of our deposit account, are fully FDIC insured without limitation on amount. For more information, please contact our office.

Moving Forward…

It is unknown whether or not the US Government will return to having non-interest bearing accounts infinitely FDIC insure funds. Community banks are fervently working to pass legislation that will lift the limitations on FDIC insurance for these non-interest bearing accounts. For the time being, though, please be advised that Next Generation is doing everything in our power to work with our clients and ensure your funds will be FDIC insured. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

• The maximum amount to contribute to Roth and Traditional IRAs is the smaller of:
  • $5,500 ($6,500 if you’re age 50 or older), or
  • Your taxable compensation for the year.

However, there are important rules to keep in mind when making annual contributions to your IRA, one of which is contributions after age 70 ½. If you hold a Traditional IRA, you can no longer make contributions from age 70 ½ or older even though you may contribute annually to a Roth IRA regardless of age. Rollover contributions, on the other hand, may be made to both Roth and Traditional IRAs regardless of age.
Another rule to keep in mind is to avoid contributing in excess. Excess contributions are taxed at 6% per year as long as the excess remains in the IRA. The tax cannot be more than 6% of the combined value of all your IRAs as of the end of the tax year.

• An excess contribution occurs when you:
  • Contribute more than the contribution limit.
  • Make a regular IRA contribution to a traditional IRA at age 70 ½ or older.
  • Make an improper rollover contribution to an IRA.

• You may avoid the excess contributions tax by:
  • Withdrawing the excess contributions from your IRA by the due date of your individual income tax return (including extensions); and
  • Withdrawing any income earned on the excess contribution.

For additional information on IRA contribution limits, tax on excess contributions, or IRS rules and regulations, please visit the IRS website.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) December 26, 2012

Representatives of Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, an administrator of self-directed retirement plans, will participate in educational programs, speaking engagements, and a national conference in January. The events are in collaboration with various strategic partners that Next Generation Trust has cultivated over the years, as a trusted resource in the retirement industry.

Attendees of these events will learn valuable insights about the many options and benefits of self-directed retirement plans, which allow for a broad array of nontraditional investments. These events are as follows:

• Next Generation Trust Services will exhibit at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., January 14-18, 2013. The annual event is the nation’s leading conference for estate planners, including attorneys, trust officers, accountants, insurance advisors, and wealth management professionals. New Accounts Specialist Jared Lopez will share insights into the alternative investments allowed within self-directed retirement and explain the types of prohibited transactions and disqualified individuals associated with self-direction.
• On January 19-20, 2013, Jared Lopez will address attendees at the FortuneBuilders Private Money Boot Camp at the Westin Gaslamp Hotel in San Diego, Calif., where he will present “Understanding a Self-Directed IRA and Raising Private Money.” Ranked by Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Inc 500 list for three consecutive years, FortuneBuilders is the premier real estate investment education company in the country, and educates and coaches real estate investors with a variety of online courses and tools, DVDs, and live events.

“We feel strongly about the word ‘trust’ in the Next Generation Trust Services name, and look to CEO Jaime Raskulinecz and her staff as our preferred sources for educational information and guidance about self-directed retirement plans,” said Paul Esajian, co-founder of FortuneBuilders Inc. “I know that boot camp attendees will walk away with valuable information about self-directed retirement accounts that they can put into action to build more creative, and potentially more lucrative retirement portfolios.”

Esajian, his brother JD, and Than Merrill—co-founders of FortuneBuilders—are a featured flip team on the popular A&E television series, “Flip This House,” where they have become familiar to millions of American households. Since first meeting Raskulinecz at a conference in 2005, the FortuneBuilders partners and team chose Next Generation Trust Services to manage their own self-directed accounts and refer their students there for self-directed retirement plans.

• Investors interested in learning more about single-member LLCs are invited to participate in a free one-hour webinar on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. titled “Investments into LLCs Using Your IRA.” The guest presenter is Mathew N. Sorensen of KKOS Lawyers. The webinar will explain how LLCs work as investments in self-directed retirement portfolios; why it is important to understand how to make investments in an LLC; IRS concerns and red flags; and why investors should have a knowledgeable ERISA attorney advising them. To register go to Next Generation Events Page and follow the instructions for the webinar.

“LLCs are the most misunderstood investments people are looking to make using their IRAs,” said CEO Raskulinecz, “and there is real potential for investors to inadvertently make prohibited transactions. As self-directed retirement plans become more popular, we understand how important it is to continue educating the public about the various aspects of self-direction.”

Next Generation Trust Services offers free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year to help investors and their trusted advisors learn more about the growing trend toward self-direction as a retirement strategy. The firm’s popular series, Self-Directed 101 and Self-Directed 201 continue monthly on Wednesdays; a full schedule of upcoming events is available at http://NextGenerationTrust.com/events.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) December 13, 2012

Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust Services in northern New Jersey, reports that her firm is closing 2012 with assets held of nearly half a billion dollars, about three times the amount held in clients’ self-directed retirement accounts this time last year. To support client activity and transactions within their self-directed retirement plans, Raskulinecz has promoted several staff members or expanded their areas of responsibility recently. Earlier this month, Tara Bartley, an accounting professional from Parsippany, N.J., joined Next Generation Trust Services to support the client services team and provide administrative assistance.

Bartley, who has extensive experience developing accounting office workflow systems and performing a wide range of bookkeeping duties, supports the client services team with administrative tasks, expedites clients’ transactions as needed, and works directly with new clients to help them open new accounts. All employees at Next Generation Trust Services are cross-trained to be able to deliver a high level of customer service by expediting transactions, answering questions themselves, or directing clients to another staff member who can help.

“We provide an environment for professional growth by cross-training our employees,” said Raskulinecz, “which also enables our firm to offer superior customer service. Self-direction can sometimes be confusing to even the savviest investor, so we make sure we are there to guide our clients any time, in any way possible. Our clients don’t get lost in voice mail or get shuffled around.”

Earlier this year, Next Generation Services introduced many upgrades to its office technology and website to help manage the growing number of inquiries about self-directed retirement accounts and the accelerated account activity of current account holders, which has brought assets held by Next Generation Trust from just under $200 million to nearly $500 million in the past year. These enhancements include a Live Chat feature and online, downloadable kits that streamline various account processes for clients.

In addition to the office upgrades, two employees hired earlier this year have already expanded their roles at the company and two long-time employees were promoted into supervisory positions. The company makes every effort to promote from within where possible to ensure a depth of knowledge and continuity among the staff, and better customer service over the long term.

With self-directed retirement plans, the individual makes all his or her own investment decisions, and may invest in a diverse array of alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, commercial paper, and much more. The accounts are administered by a neutral third-party firm such as Next Generation Trust Services, which holds the assets and manages all transactions on behalf of its clients. Next Generation Trust Services also offers free educational seminars about self-direction as a retirement strategy to investors and their advisors.

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) November 30, 2012

Next Generation Trust Services, LLC, a third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans, is sharing helpful tips online about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy. The firm has launched a YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/nextgenerationtrust, where individuals can watch presentations about various aspects of investing in alternative assets.

With self-direction, the investor makes all of his or her own investment decisions, usually based on what they already know and understand. CEO Jaime Raskulinecz said that many times, people open a self-directed retirement plan in order to invest in assets they are already investing in outside of their regular IRA. The self-directed retirement plan has all the same tax advantages of a typical IRA but allows for a more diverse array of alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals, commodities, and private placements.

Next Generation Trust’s YouTube channel hosts informative videos and presentations on topics related to nontraditional investing in a self-directed retirement plan, including:

•     Distressed debt
•     Tax liens
•     Performing and non-performing notes
•     Non-recourse loans
•     Real estate

Raskulinecz and her staff offer free educational seminars and webinars throughout the year about the many options and benefits of self-direction and have been adding content regularly to the company’s YouTube channel as a result. The presentations are for investors as well as financial planners, accountants, attorneys, and real estate professionals who may be advising clients on various types of investments.

“Self-direction as a retirement strategy has been growing in popularity and visibility, so it’s even more important to make sure all the right information is out there for the public to become as educated as possible,” said Raskulinecz. “Managing a self-directed retirement account is not for everyone but for certain savvy investors, this can be a great way to build a more lucrative retirement portfolio.”

For more information about self-direction or to open a self-directed IRA go to http:/www.NextGenerationTrust.com or call (973) 533-1880.

Our office is currently experiencing temporary phone difficulties. We are unable to receive any calls or voicemails. All technical difficulties should be resolved by 9am EST tomorrow. Anyone that needs to get in touch with a Next Generation representative should email Info@NextGenerationTrust.com with their inquiries.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation while we work dilligently to resolve this problem.

The end of the year is a busy time for all of us, both personally and professionally. We, at Next Generation, understand the desire to tie up loose ends and have all of your ducks in a row as the end of the year rapidly approaches. We also understand the importance of making last minute investments.

We are writing to you today to inform you of our last transaction day of the year, Thursday, December 27, 2012. This is the FINAL transaction day for this year. All documents must be delivered to our office no later than 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, December 26, 2012. Only those clients who turn in complete and accurate transaction documentation by this deadline will be considered.

Please note that depending on when your documents are received, rush fees may apply in order to process the transaction.  Any client needing to discuss their transaction with a Next Generation Account Representative should do so sooner rather than later.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Next Generation wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday and a Healthy New Year!

Very truly yours,

The Team

Next Generation Trust Services, LLC