Portfolio rebalancing, how to budget your money, what’s an HSA and who needs one? Preparing for retirement is hard. From personal finance basics to retirement planning and everything in between, we’ve got a few ideas to make life a little simpler. Contact MCF with any questions.
Do you have retirement plan assets with a former employer’s plan that you’re not sure what to do with? Review the pros and cons of consolidating into your current employer’s retirement plan versus an individual retirement account (IRA).
Elective deferral contributions to a traditional retirement plan are contributed on a pre-tax basis and help lower your current taxable income. Roth elective deferral contributions, however, are much like a Roth IRA in that contributions are made on an after-tax basis.
You may be eligible for a valuable incentive, which could reduce your federal income tax liability, for contributing to your company’s 401(k) or 403(b) plan. If you qualify, you may receive a Tax Saver’s Credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly) if you made eligible contributions to an employer sponsored retirement savings plan. The deduction is claimed in the form of a non-refundable tax credit, ranging from 10% to 50% of your annual contribution.
Contributing to your Plan is a great way to take advantage of tax-deferred investing. Contributions to your Plan and all future earnings on those contributions are tax-deferred until money is withdrawn.
Personal savings and investments outside of a retirement plan, such as IRAs, are only part of the overall retirement income picture. That is where your retirement plan comes into play. To ensure a secure financial future, you should strive to defer the maximum amount to your Company Retirement Plan. If you are unable to do this today, increase your deferrals in small amounts every six months, or with every pay increase.