robs

Robs is the third-person singular present tense of the verb rob, meaning to take property from someone unlawfully, typically by force or threat. It is used in sentences such as “The thief robs the store.” In this sense, rob is a transitive verb that requires a direct object (what is being taken).

ROBS, written in all caps, is an acronym in the field of retirement planning and small business finance. It stands for Rollovers as Business Startups (also described as Rollover as Business Startups). This arrangement enables individuals to use funds from a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k), to invest in a new business without taking a taxable distribution or incurring ordinary loan costs. The process generally involves forming a corporation, directing the retirement plan to purchase stock in the company, and using that capital to fund the startup. While it can provide a source of capital, ROBS is subject to complex IRS rules and requires careful alignment with securities, tax, and corporate regulations. Improper setup or ongoing compliance failures can lead to penalties or disqualification of the retirement plan.

Outside of these uses, robs is primarily encountered as a verb form in ordinary English. It is not widely recognized as a distinct term with a separate definition beyond its grammatical role, although in practice context will often determine whether it denotes an action, a potential acronym, or (rarely) a name.