Saturday, March 23, 2019

Discovering Alternatives To 401k Retirement Plans

By James Bell


In some cases, people begin planning for retirement during their 20s and 30s. Whereas, others wait until there 40s and 50s. Regardless as to when an individual sets up a retirement plan, it should be noted that while 401k retirement accounts are the most popular, there are alternatives to 401k plans which can provide better results. For example, a CD incurs interest over a specific period of time during which individuals can not withdraw funds. Once the account matures, most people transfer the funds to an existing portfolio which includes other retirement accounts.

Starting in the 1980s, 401ks became the definitive retirement plans for Americans. The name 401k comes from the IRS code by the same name. In most cases, setting up this type of retirement is simple and straight forward.

The upside to this type of account is that most people can allow the account to run on autopilot once the plan has been established. For, by contributing a fixed amount on a monthly basis, most employers match that amount as long as the individual's salary never diminishes over time. In some cases, if an individual leaves a job, the company will allow the individual to withdraw the funds which were put into the account by the individual. Whether matched funds are also distributed is often based company policies and procedures.

As with all types of investment accounts, there are upsides and downsides to 401k plans. For one, while an account can run on autopilot, the individual must assure that deposits are being made as scheduled. Whereas, if the salary of the employee doubles, the increase puts the individual at a disadvantage and most likely in a higher tax bracket.

A good alternative to a 401k retirement plan is that of an Individual Retirement Account, also known as an IRA. In addition, if an employer does not offer a 401k, then individuals can join small business owners and the self-employed in setting up this type of retirement account. In most cases, these accounts offer tax advantages during retirement which vary depending on whether the individual opts for a Roth or traditional IRA.

In some cases, individuals have multiple types of retirement accounts in a portfolio. Depending on the value of the holdings, contributions may not be tax deductible when it comes to filing income tax. Although, when having more than one holding, monies in the portfolio will continue to grow on a tax free basis.

Other alternatives include a basic investment account or savings account. In either case, interest can increase the value of these accounts as long as money is left in the account. Whereas, when it comes to setting up an investment account, the individual provides a cashier's check of a certain amount to a broker whom manages and oversees the account.

The most important thing to keep in mind when investing in any retirement account is that the plan is for funds to grow over time. As such, individuals need to make deposits on an ongoing basis to any of these plans to assure the account continues to grow during years leading up to retirement. After which, individuals will most likely have enough in the account to accompany Social Security or other benefits to live a happy and healthy life during retirement.




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