What is a qualified employer?

[clabattaglia]

what does it mean required minimum distribution?

[Mike9241]

qualified employer or required minimum distribution (RMD)

RMD certain retirement a/c's require the beneficiary to take out a minimum amount each year after reaching a certain age.  there are sever penalties for failure though the first time you can usually get a waiver.

[FangxiaL]

Required minimum distribution (RMD) generally are minimum amounts that a retirement plan account owner must withdraw annually starting with the year that he or she reached 72 (70 1/2 if you reach 70 1/2 before January 1, 2020), if later, the year in which he or she retires.

However, if the retirement plan account is an IRA or the account owner is a 5% owner of the business sponsoring the retirement plan, the RMDs must begin once the account holder is age 72 (70 1/2 if you reach 70 1/2 before January 1, 2020), regardless of whether he or she is retired.

If an account owner fails to withdraw a RMD, fails to withdraw the full amount of the RMD, or fails to withdraw the RMD by the applicable deadline, the amount not withdrawn is taxed at 50%.  

@clabattaglia