- Is a Roth IRA a Qualified Retirement Plan?
The Roth IRA stands out among other types of retirement accounts due to its unique tax advantages and withdrawal rules. But is a Roth IRA a qualified retirement plan? While Roth IRAs offer significant benefits and are regulated by the IRS, they do not meet the technical definition of a qualified retirement plan, such as… read more…
- Retirement Planning Strategies for Teachers
Many teachers in the U.S. retire with pensions that provide a stable source of income during their golden years, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore retirement planning. In fact, teachers face unique retirement challenges, including the absence of Social Security benefits in some states. Education retirement planning requires a tailored strategy to optimize a… read more…
- 5 Ways to Maximize Your Social Security Survivor Benefits
Social Security survivor benefits provide essential financial support to eligible family members and help ensure stability during challenging times. Understanding eligibility criteria, benefit calculation and strategic claiming options can significantly enhance the financial security of survivors. Whether you’re a spouse, child or dependent parent, knowing how to maximize Social Security survivor benefits can make a… read more…
- Investment Options for Your IRA
When planning for retirement, one of the fundamental decisions you’ll face is how to invest within your individual retirement account (IRA). There are several approaches to selecting investments and managing your account. You could pick individual securities yourself, employ a robo-advisor or work with a financial advisor to construct your portfolio. From there, you can… read more…
- I’m Going to Get $2,500 per Month From Social Security. How Can I Reduce My Taxes?
Taxes can be a big concern in retirement because no matter how well you’ve saved and invested during your working years your challenge is to keep as much of it as possible. That means structuring your finances, withdrawals and income in a way that minimizes how much you fork over to the IRS. Take Social… read more…
- We’re 60, Have $1.3 Million in 401(k)s and Will Receive $5,100 Monthly From Social Security. What’s Our Retirement Budget?
At its most basic, creating a retirement budget is all about money in vs. money out. You figure out what kind of income you can reliably generate from your combined assets, then compare it against your household spending. If income surpasses spending, you’re set. If not, you need to make some adjustments. Need help creating… read more…
- I Have $640k in an IRA and Will Get $1,900 in Social Security. Can I Retire at 65?
How old are you? When it comes to evaluating your retirement options, this might be the single most important question in finance. Your age will determine how close you are to needing this money which, in turn, will change almost everything about how you evaluate your taxes, returns and other options. For example, say that… read more…
- Rollover IRA vs. Roth IRA
With a rollover IRA, you transfer money from a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored account into a new individual retirement account. You can structure this account as a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA based on your preferences. A Roth IRA, on the other hand, is a type of individual retirement account. With a Roth IRA,… read more…
- Understanding Safe Harbor 401(k) Rules for Matching
The safe harbor 401(k) is a retirement savings plan that satisfies IRS non-discrimination tests while promoting equitable employer matching contributions. As an employer, you may opt for a safe harbor plan to simplify administration, ensure compliance with nondiscrimination testing requirements, and provide employees with predictable retirement benefits. As an employee, you may want to contribute… read more…
- Is It Wise to Convert 20% of My 401(k) into a Roth IRA Each Year to Avoid Taxes and RMDs?
With retirement planning and taxes, there are often two ways to look at a question: First, can you do something, and then, should you do it? For example, let’s say we have a household planning for retirement. Would it be wise for them to convert their 401(k) into a Roth IRA 20% at a time… read more…
- Should I Take a $150,000 Lump Sum or $1,200 Monthly Payments for My Pension?
When companies offer a pension, it’s common to give retirees two options: collect the pension as a lifetime monthly payment or receive it as a lump sum at retirement. Monthly payments over time are the format that most people associate with pensions. However, a lump sum payment can, sometimes, be the better option. Depending on… read more…
- Amount of Retirement Savings By Gender
Men and women save for retirement differently. There’s a persistent and significant gender gap in the average retirement savings women have versus men, with women more likely to have nothing saved for retirement while men are over-represented among savers with the largest retirement account balances. Men and women have similar access to retirement savings plans,… read more…
- How Much Should I Have Saved By Age 45?
Saving for retirement is a project that spans around four decades, and progresses through multiple stages. It’s not necessary to have saved enough to fund a comfortable retirement by age 25. Nor is it feasible to wait until you’re about to turn 65 to start putting money away. Mid-way through this process, by around age… read more…
- How Getting Married Impacts Your Roth IRA
Getting married does not automatically impact your Roth IRA. Your portfolio and its tax status are unaffected by your marital status. However, in some situations, getting married can make you income-ineligible for Roth contributions. Additionally, getting married can mean making different plans around your Roth IRA. Here’s what you need to know. If you and… read more…
- How to Invest in a Socially Responsible Roth IRA
Environmental, Social and Governance, or “ESG,” investing is getting bigger. According to a 2022 analysis from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), “with a projected compound annual growth rate (CARG) of 12.9%, ESG assets are on pace to constitute 21.5% of total global [assets under management] in less than five years.” And, while one-fifth of all global investments seems improbably… read more…
- How Can I Reduce the Amount of My RMD Payments?
In the year that a required minimum distribution (RMD) is due from a 401(k), IRA or other pre-tax retirement account, you’re required to withdraw a certain amount and pay your taxes due to avoid a 50% penalty. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about this, and the associated taxes. With proper planning,… read more…
- I’m 65 and Retiring Soon. How Should I Structure My $1.1 Million Portfolio?
Your financial objectives and risk tolerance will primarily dictate how you structure your portfolio. But you’ll also want to consider taxes and fees, your potential lifespan, need for long-term care and desire to leave an inheritance behind. A financial advisor can help you identify the right portfolio construction strategy for your situation. Connect with a… read more…
- What Should I Do with My Roth IRA Once I Retire?
Retirement typically means shifting your focus from diligently saving your money over the course of years and decades to managing those funds and spending them responsibly. To learn about all the options for handling your Roth IRA in retirement, talk to a financial advisor. If you have a Roth IRA, you have several options for… read more…
- How to Avoid the Early Withdrawal Penalty on Your 401(k)
The IRS has strict rules regarding when you can withdraw money from a tax-deferred retirement account like a 401(k). Doing so before age 59 ½ can trigger an early withdrawal penalty on top of income taxes. However, the IRS has designated specific situations in which a 401(k) account owner can qualify for penalty-free early withdrawals,… read more…
- 6 Steps to Consider Immediately If You’re 55 With No Retirement Savings
When you find yourself later in life without any retirement savings, you can feel like you’ve made a mistake or that the amount you need to make up is too great to make a dent. However, there is plenty you can do to help your finances get back on track and help you maximize your… read more…
- I’m 60 With $1.2 Million in a Roth IRA. How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life?
Planning for a Roth IRA is a little different than with most other retirement assets. This tax-advantaged account generates entirely untaxed income, as long as effectively boosting the value of your withdrawals and your Social Security benefits. That changes your options compared to having a pre-tax 401(k) or other non-Roth account. For example, say that… read more…
- 8 Ways to Protect Your Retirement Income
You’ll spend decades – if not your entire career – saving for retirement. But saving enough money is only a piece of the retirement planning puzzle. Protecting your retirement income against the test of time and an ever-changing economic landscape is equally critical. Whether it’s optimizing annuitized streams of income like Social Security, planning for… read more…
- Can I Roll Over the Employer Match in My 401(k) to a Roth IRA?
If you want to roll over money from your 401(k) into a Roth IRA, there’s good news: any employer matching funds in a 401(k) can be converted along with your own contributions and investment earnings. However, you’ll owe income taxes on all the converted funds, which can be a significant issue when converting large balances.… read more…
- How Much Money the Average Person Has Saved at 50
The answer to this question will depend on your income, expenses and saving habits, among other factors. One reliable source to help you get an estimate could be the Federal Reserve. Here’s what the retirement account data shows and how you should use this benchmark for your retirement planning at age 50. If you’re falling… read more…
- We Have $1.2M in an IRA, Plus Another $750k and Social Security. Should We Shift Assets to a Target Date Fund or an Annuity?
Annuities and target date funds are popular assets for households who are either saving for retirement or already in their golden years. How useful each may be for you depends on your financial goals and where you are on your path to retirement. For example, John and Susan are both 67 and recently retired. They… read more…