401k and IRA Retirement Plans: Begin Today!
Savings for retirement in a 401K plan is a very smart idea and you should begin making contributions as soon as possible. 401K retirement contributions are made through your employer so if you are self employed you should start an IRA or Individual Retirement Account. Employees make contributions directly from their salary and this money is not taxed. Make sure you follow all IRA rules and 401k rules, as they have some variances. The IRS actually came up with the name 401K as it was from the code that originally created the retirement funds.
There are many advantages to using a 401K; such as making contributions before taxes are taken out you actually reduce the amount you will pay on your salary. All contributions to the retirement account are tax-free until they are withdrawn.
Additionally there are pension laws in place that protect the retirement account as it is viewed as a personal investment. You don't have the guarantee against loss like you would with a fixed annuity. Though these laws are designed to help.
A few of the disadvantages are that you cannot access the money in your 401K until you are 59 1/2. If your employer does contribute to your 401K then only your contributions will be going towards your investment, like is the case with IRA accounts. Also a 401K is not insured by the Pension benefit guaranty corporation. Like is often the case with a fixed annuity.
There are many different investments you can make in your 401K. It is suggested that when starting you invest in stock but you can also invest in money market funds, bonds, maturities and more. You have control over your investments and can change your investments every time another contribution is made. Financial experts suggest being more aggressive when you're younger and have a longer time horizon, as most individuals are too conservative. Towards the end of the 401K term you want to be a bit more selective, but to make money you need to invest in stocks. Stocks do very well when you are buying and selling in the long term.
There are rules for a 401K and they differ depending on your pay bracket. 401k rules state that you can make both before tax contributions and after tax contributions. There is a maximum before tax 401k limits and the money needs to be deposited in a specific amount of time, usually 7 days before the end of the month.
After-tax contributions have a different set of 401k or IRA rules and these funds can be easier to withdraw then pre-tax money. There are also additional rules for highly compensated employees and low-income employees. These laws were put into place so the top executives would not design a 401K that was only advantageous to them. The 401K from companies must be a good plan for the majority of the employees in the company. So highly compensated individuals actually have different rates.
It's important to note that retirement accounts like IRA's are individual accounts; so taking title is an easy choice. When evaluating your other accounts, especially joint ownership accounts, you should take a look at the many choices. It may be more beneficial to set up a joint tenancy or tenants in common account rather than a community property account, for example. The simple act of setting up title can have big implications.
The 401K differs slightly from the IRA account, but they share many similarities. You can take an IRA deduction, just like a 401k. Roth IRA rules differ in that you can't take an IRA deduction, but you get to withdrawal the funds tax free in retirement. It is possible to take a 401k loan for yourself, but there are some drawbacks. These 401k loans can be used to purchase a house, medical expenses or paying for education. - 23196
There are many advantages to using a 401K; such as making contributions before taxes are taken out you actually reduce the amount you will pay on your salary. All contributions to the retirement account are tax-free until they are withdrawn.
Additionally there are pension laws in place that protect the retirement account as it is viewed as a personal investment. You don't have the guarantee against loss like you would with a fixed annuity. Though these laws are designed to help.
A few of the disadvantages are that you cannot access the money in your 401K until you are 59 1/2. If your employer does contribute to your 401K then only your contributions will be going towards your investment, like is the case with IRA accounts. Also a 401K is not insured by the Pension benefit guaranty corporation. Like is often the case with a fixed annuity.
There are many different investments you can make in your 401K. It is suggested that when starting you invest in stock but you can also invest in money market funds, bonds, maturities and more. You have control over your investments and can change your investments every time another contribution is made. Financial experts suggest being more aggressive when you're younger and have a longer time horizon, as most individuals are too conservative. Towards the end of the 401K term you want to be a bit more selective, but to make money you need to invest in stocks. Stocks do very well when you are buying and selling in the long term.
There are rules for a 401K and they differ depending on your pay bracket. 401k rules state that you can make both before tax contributions and after tax contributions. There is a maximum before tax 401k limits and the money needs to be deposited in a specific amount of time, usually 7 days before the end of the month.
After-tax contributions have a different set of 401k or IRA rules and these funds can be easier to withdraw then pre-tax money. There are also additional rules for highly compensated employees and low-income employees. These laws were put into place so the top executives would not design a 401K that was only advantageous to them. The 401K from companies must be a good plan for the majority of the employees in the company. So highly compensated individuals actually have different rates.
It's important to note that retirement accounts like IRA's are individual accounts; so taking title is an easy choice. When evaluating your other accounts, especially joint ownership accounts, you should take a look at the many choices. It may be more beneficial to set up a joint tenancy or tenants in common account rather than a community property account, for example. The simple act of setting up title can have big implications.
The 401K differs slightly from the IRA account, but they share many similarities. You can take an IRA deduction, just like a 401k. Roth IRA rules differ in that you can't take an IRA deduction, but you get to withdrawal the funds tax free in retirement. It is possible to take a 401k loan for yourself, but there are some drawbacks. These 401k loans can be used to purchase a house, medical expenses or paying for education. - 23196
About the Author:
If you are in one of the nine community property states you'll want to consider the way you take title. This is one of those personal finance issues that should always be considered.
posted by X - Men @ 4:07 AM
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