Can a portion of a Roth or 403(b) be rolled-over? 2) Is there a way to determine what your total investment has been over the life of the investment?
When you leave your job, you can roll over your 403(b) or Roth 403(b) plan to a new employer’s plan (if the plan accepts rollovers) or to an IRA. You can roll over any portion of the account you choose. Options for the remainder of the balance include leaving it in your current plan, cashing it out (which can be expensive – taxes and penalties may be involved) or rolling it into a different IRA or employer plan. In the booklet Closing the Gap: Supplement Your Pension Benefits with a 403(b) or 457 Plan, there’s a chart showing rollover options for different types of employer-sponsored plans.
Rollovers of a traditional 403(b) to a traditional IRA or non-Roth employer-sponsored plan are tax-free. Rollovers from a Roth 403(b) to another Roth account are also tax-free. You may roll over amounts from a traditional 403(b) to a Roth account; however, the amount rolled over will be subject to ordinary income tax at the time of the rollover.
In answer to your second question, the periodic statements you receive from your 403(b) vendor show the amount of your contributions for each period. If you have lost track of your statements, contact your vendor. They should be able to tell you the total amount you have contributed.
Important Note: CTA does not give tax, legal or investment advice. You should meet with your tax, legal, and/or investment advisor to determine the best fit for your situation.