Some financial experts say you must save 80% to 90% of your pre-retirement income. Others recommend paying off high-interest debt first and then maxing out your tax-advantaged retirement savings.
Whatever strategy you choose, the earlier you start saving, the better. Learn about the benefits of 401(k) plans and other savings strategies to help you reach your retirement goal.
401k Plan Basics
If your business offers a 401(k) retirement plan, you can make pretax contributions from each paycheck. You then choose from a small selection of investment funds to invest the money. The amount you save and how well the investments perform (known as your “asset allocation”) will significantly impact how much you’ll have in retirement.
If your employer matches your contribution to a specific level, you can continue contributing to your 401 (k). Money gives you an immediate return on your savings, and you should maximize this match.
Experts suggest you put aside 10%-15% of each paycheck toward retirement. Try to increase this percentage every time you get a raise. It will help you reach your retirement and savings goals sooner.
The fees that your 401(k) levies are something else to think about because they can reduce your returns. You may find lower costs through index or target-date funds, which automatically select a mix of stocks based on age. Doing your homework is still important, though, as hefty fees can drastically lower the value of your retirement account. Regularly reviewing the costs of your plan should become a habit.
401 k Match
Most employers match your contributions to a 401(k). The ideal situation would be always to take advantage of free money. Those who fail to do this forfeit a significant sum of their retirement savings.
Front-loading your 401(k), or maximizing your employer match, is the best way. It would be best to make a feasible contribution each year until your annual contribution cap expires. Its method allows you to use the 401(k) ‘s tax-deferred savings and compounding.
Saving 15% of your income before tax is recommended by experts. You’ll have a better retirement if you save more. In addition to 401(k) contributions, Fidelity suggests saving in a traditional pension plan and investing in annuities to help supplement retirement income.
Other saving goals are reasonable, such as paying off high-interest debt and allocating money toward emergency expenses. But ensure you maintain a baseline rate for your long-term retirement savings, and keep increasing it each year when possible. Take your time with unexpected retirement costs. If you cannot immediately hit the 15% goal, consider auto-escalating your contributions by 1% each year.
401 k Savings
If you need to be saving more in your 401(k) to meet your long-term goals, it’s time to consider how much you can save. Calculate your contribution using an online calculator. Many financial experts also recommend establishing an emergency savings account that can cover six to 12 months of living expenses, so you have funds available for life’s curveballs, such as a new car or medical bill.
Remember, the money you contribute to your 401(k) isn’t taxed while it’s in the account. When you withdraw cash, it is taxed. Pretax contributions can be made to the 529 College Savings Plans, tax-advantaged plans for educational costs sponsored by state and education institutions.
Whenever you get a raise or wind up with extra cash, use that to increase your contribution percentage. And allocate at least half of any bonuses to your retirement plan account.
A 401(k) offers the best chance to grow your wealth through market returns, but you must be willing to accept some risk. Aim for investments with higher expected returns, such as stocks, relative to their volatility. You can also reduce your risk by investing in lower-risk options like bonds and cash. These have less potential for losses, but their return rates are also lower.
401 k Withdrawals
Withdrawals from your retirement plan can be expensive. You’ll pay taxes on the distribution and face a penalty if you’re under 59 1/2. Leaves can also quickly reduce your investment account balance, especially if the withdrawal rate is higher than the expected annual rate of return.
To avoid the triple whammy of taxation and penalties, you should try to withdraw money from your 401(k) only in the event of an emergency or after you retire. It’s important to sketch out a financial plan before retirement and ensure you can afford the annual cash needs of your actual retirement. It will help you avoid a significant withdrawal that could force you into a higher tax bracket.
If you must withdraw funds from your 401(k), consider taking Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP). This option removes trim over your lifetime and avoids the early distribution penalty. SEPPs can also supplement Social Security benefits during retirement, providing an income stream you can’t outlive.
If you’re moving to a new job, consider rolling over your 401(k) into an individual retirement account (IRA). You can find various investment options with an IRA and use employer-sponsored features like match programs and contribution rate escalation.
