preview

Pros And Cons Of The Big 401k

Decent Essays

Rollover or Not? The Big 401K Question

goo.gl/yFOm70

According to the Investment Company Institute, 401K plan assets reached $4.8 trillion dollars at the end of the first quarter in 2016. That’s nearly 20% of total retirement assets in America (which was at $24.1 trillion).

For 401K plan holders heading into retirement, changing jobs, or leaving a company, a big question looms: what should be done with this type of retirement savings account? Essentially, investors have to choose whether or not to roll the money over into a new account.

Options for rolling the 401K over include putting the cash into a self-directed IRA or transferring it to a new employer’s 401K plan. If workers decide against a rollover, the other options are to leave …show more content…

Most investment professionals advise choosing an IRA, but it’s important for workers to also examine the quality of the new company’s 401K plan (if going to another job).

Pros of the Rollover into a Traditional IRA

Dr. Don Taylor, a retirement advisor and contributor at Bankrate, says that the rollover to a traditional individual retirement account from a former company’s 401K plan can provide “wider investment choices and potentially reduced annual fees and other expenses.” This flexibility makes the IRA an attractive selection, as investors can choose among mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds.

Like with a traditional 401K employer plan, money can continue to grow tax-deferred in a traditional IRA. That way, investors won’t have to worry about capital gains and dividend taxes each year.

This also allows workers to shop for plans with lower fees, and, if desired, select an IRA with more access to investing tools and management guidance. The IRA can also be withdrawn without penalty for specific purposes, like college tuition or a first-time home purchase (up to …show more content…

Because contributions are made after income taxation, investors have the ability to withdraw those contributions (not earnings) from the account without fees.

The Roth IRA does not have minimum required distributions after reaching age 70½, unlike 401Ks and Traditional IRAs. This makes it a potentially lucrative investment vehicle into old age and good option for those looking to set up future generations.

Since the Roth IRA rollover requires a tax payment before transfer, Dr. Don Taylor attests that a Roth IRA rollover makes sense only if investors can come up with the tax fees from a source other than the 401K funds and “expect to be in a lower tax bracket now than when (they) start tapping retirement funds.” This makes paying the taxes now financially beneficial in the long run.

Pros of the Rollover into the New Employer’s 401K Plan

Most employers offer new employees the chance to roll over their old company’s plan. Getting all retirement plans into one place can make saving much more convenient and

Get Access