A note to the reader: In this article, I will be using the term “401(k)” for the sake of simplicity. This article will also apply to you if your employer offers you a 403(b) or a 457 plan. The terms and conditions of these types of accounts are very similar.
A lot of what’s covered in this piece applies to Canadian too. Think Registered Retirement Savings Plan, RRSP, when reading 401(k). Same same but different.
Also, if anyone wants to download the Template to advocate for an SDBA at your employer try the link below.
To make your own copy just click on File on the top left and then make a copy
let me know if anyone has any issues
Also, thanks to @Malak_Kudaimi for putting this together!
Thank you for this! Do you have the links to the articles as well?
Assalaamu Alykum Eskay! Great question. Here are the three articles referred to in the email template. Let me know if that helps.
Umpierrez, A. (2021, April 8). What to know before adding an SDBA to your plan. PLANSPONSOR. What to Know Before Adding an SDBA to Your Plan | PLANSPONSOR
Carosa, C. (2022, February 23). 401(k) FAQ: Pros & cons of self-directed accounts vs. TDFs. Forbes. 401(k) FAQ: Pros & Cons Of Self-Directed Accounts Vs. TDFs
Pastor, R. (2021, March 9). Op-ed: Here’s how to capitalize on a self-directed brokerage account within your 401(k) plan. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/09/how-to-capitalize-on-a-self-directed-brokerage-account-within-a-401k.html
Salaam, this is what I was looking for, thank you!
Hi! I’m looking for authentic information regarding employer matching on shares bought by an employee. Is that Halal and can the profit earned through that be kept by an employee or should it be donated if that’s haram?
Walaikum Assalaam @annaam, welcome the our community!
I believe it comes down to whether the shares of the company are shariah compliant are not. Would the methods @Malak_Kudaimi describes here apply to your question?
Thank you for your reply. However, the article doesn’t exactly answer my question.
I’m wondering if, let’s say we assume this company deals with all its investments in a Halal manner, is share matching by definition a Halal concept? To me, it sounded like it might not be Halal because the return is somewhat fixed (for example: if I invest 500 USD, I can be sure I’d get at least 1000 USD out of the investment, disregarding how the value of the shares change over time). I understand from my research that fixed deposit funds, for example, are not Halal. So I drew a parallel here with share matching - am I correct in drawing this parallel?
I understand the aspect of evaluating if the company’s dealings are Halal or not and if not, in that case I understand that I will for sure need to purify my investment. But is share matching by definition Halal?
And similarly, what about when companies offer share options that can be cashed over a 3 or 5 year period after an employee signs the contract and starts working for them? Is it permissible in Islam for me, as an employee, to partake in? @Farhan
Salam @annaam!
If I may, to answer your first question, share matching from employers is Halal through a retirement scheme (so long as the investments themselves are Halal). The employer match is a perk or benefit offered by the employer as opposed to a direct return on the investment that you as an employee put in (so not the same as a fixed deposit, where your money is invested and you get a fixed interest rate return).
In regard to your second question, you might find this article useful: The Ruling on Employee Stock Options | IlmGate
Hope this helps!
May Allah reward you for this article. I have been so stressed out that my husband’s 401k is accruing haram earnings. I have been researching how to go about this for a whole week now and finally found this article which is has put me at peace. Now we need to figure out non compliant ratios and do the math with the help of Allah. May Allah protect grant us all halal rizq ameen.