Browsing: 401k

Why is a Roth IRA better than a 401k? When it comes to saving for retirement, you’ve probably heard about Roth IRAs and 401ks. Both are ways to save money for the future, but they work a bit differently. It’s kind of like choosing between two video game consoles that have their own unique games and features. Let’s break it down so it’s easy to understand, especially if you’re just starting to think about saving for retirement. Understanding the Differences Between Roth IRA and 401k A 401k is something your job might offer you. It’s a way to put some of your paycheck into a savings account before taxes are taken out. This means you…

There are many benefits of a direct 401k rollover into a Roth IRA. A 401k retirement plan is severely limited in the different amount of options that investors can choose to invest in, but that is not true for a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs provide investors with an incredibly large array of investing choices. This has made direct 401k rollovers to a Roth IRA incredibly popular for investors who want more options, control, and tax benefits. A direct rollover from a 401k to a Roth IRA skips your handling of the money and ensures that you will not be penalized by delaying the deposit of money into your Roth IRA account. 3 Reasons to do…

Planning for retirement has become an integral part of financial well-being, and your 401(k) plan contributes to the process. The flexibility of the 401(k) contribution modification enables you to redesign your savings plan to correspond to your changing financial goals and life circumstances. Whether you decide to increase your savings to take advantage of employer matching, make adjustments in the wake of a change in income, or alter your investment strategy, financial education is key to modifying your 401(k) contributions. This writing aims to clearly understand the 401(k) contribution changes flexibility features, such as the rules and when and how they are made.  How often can I change my 401k contribution? Many 401(k) plans provide…

Navigating the seas of retirement planning, you might find yourself wondering how to move 401k to gold without penalty. It’s a quest many embark on, seeking the stability and security that gold offers against the backdrop of economic volatility. This journey doesn’t have to be fraught with peril. With the right map and compass, you can transfer your 401k into gold, diversifying your retirement portfolio without incurring penalties. Understanding the Basics What is a Gold IRA? A Gold IRA is a self-directed Individual Retirement Account that allows you to invest in physical gold and other precious metals. It’s a fortress for your retirement, safeguarding your savings against inflation and economic downturns. Why Move Your 401k…

If you’ve changed jobs and still have a 401k balance with that former employer, you should know that you have options for what you can do with your money.  One of the best choices you can exercise is to make a 401k rollover to IRA account where your money can continue to grow tax free just as it did inside the old 401k account. When you consider an IRA vs 401k, there can be a lot of advantages to switching your money from one to the other. Here are a few things you need to know about making the rollover. Making a 401k Rollover to IRA: Here are the basic steps to getting your rollover started:…

“Never, ever, ever resort to borrowing from 401k funds. Ever.” If you have a 401k account through your employer, you have probably heard those words over and over again. Although the option for you to take out a loan on your 401k exists, most financial advisors will tell you that taking one out is a really bad idea. After all, you are trying to use your 401k funds to secure your financial future after you retire. Some people will even tell you that taking out a 401k loan is like stealing from yourself, since you won’t be earning anything on the money you have out. Certainly, taking out a loan on your 401k is not encouraged; however, there…

One of the biggest changes to hit retirement planning in the last 30 years has been the shift of defined benefit pension plans to 401k employer sponsored plans.  Basically the difference between the pension vs 401k was that it shifted the responsibility of saving and planning for retirement from the employer to the employee. This transition started around the 1980’s after 401k plans were created and started gaining more popularity.  As you can guess, this was a huge cost save for employers because they no longer had to administer and maintain the plans of their employees and retirees. Despite whether you think one is better than the other, this shift in plans has been met…

Even though they may appear similar, the amount of money you can effectively contribute to a traditional vs Roth 401k can be quite different. The IRS states that you are allowed to contribute up to $17,500 to one account or the other each year. But when you take a closer look and consider how taxes influence those contributions, you’ll discover that there are benefits in using the Roth over the traditional. As you probably know, the major difference between a Roth vs traditional 401k is this: So if we assume that you’ll be in the same tax bracket later as your are now, then there doesn’t really seem to be a lot of difference on the surface.  But let’s…

Before you go putting too much money into your employers retirement plan to try to hide it from Uncle Sam, it may help you to understand the 401k withdrawal rules and what is involved with getting your money back. For example: It’s Always Your Money: The first thing you should know is that when it comes to putting your money into your employer’s 401k retirement plan is that the money is always yours (not your employers)! This is a very common misconception for people are unfamiliar with how a 401k works. They sometimes mistakenly think that if they put their money into this plan and then lose their job or get fired, then they lose it. This is…

It can be tempting. You spend years and years building up a stockpile of money that just sits in an account and doesn’t seem to do anything for you in the present. Sure you know your savings is for retirement. But that seems so far away. What about my problems and needs for today? Can I borrow against my 401k and use the money to tide me over for a little while? This line of thinking is exactly the rationale that gets many people into trouble with their retirement savings.  Sometimes when you’ve got a decent chunk of money stashed away in your IRA or 401k, it can be very tempting to think that you should…