Your 401(k) Offers You Valuable Benefits You Just Can’t Find Anywhere
In the midst of economic adversity, market volatility, geopolitical uncertainty and a host of other things (including a still-active pandemic, now in its third year), it can be hard to find a silver lining. However, there is one thing that keeps showing you some love every day – your 401(k)! Here are some tips to remind you why you got together in the first place – and help keep the romance alive.
Your Savings are Automatic
With your 401(k), you’re following the core financial planning principle of “pay yourself first.” Money is deposited from your pay to your account without you even having to think about it. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Tax Savings
You can defer paying income tax on up to $20,500 that you save in a 401(k) plan in 2022. A worker in the 24% tax bracket who saves this amount could reduce their tax bill by $4,920. Income tax won't be due on this money until it is withdrawn from the account. Workers who earn less than $34,000 in 2022 ($68,000 for couples) might additionally qualify for the saver's credit, which is worth between 10% and 50% of 401(k) contributions up to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples. The biggest saver's credits go to workers with the lowest incomes.
Tax Savings on Top of Tax Savings
Employees who are age 50 and older are eligible to make catch-up contributions to 401(k) plans. The 401(k) catch-up contribution limit is $6,500 in 2022. That means older workers can defer paying income tax on up to $27,000 in a 401(k) account. Someone in the 24% tax bracket could potentially reduce their current tax bill by $6,480.
Free Money Courtesy of the Employer Match
If you can't max out your 401(k), you can always save at least enough to get a full 401(k) employer match (subject to your plan’s vesting rules). A 401(k) match of 50 cents for each dollar you save in the 401(k) plan up to 6% of pay is a 50% return on your investment. A dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match doubles your money. That’s a pretty excellent return despite the market volatility occurring these days!
Your Money Goes Where You Go
If you leave your employer for any reason, you can take your vested balance (including the employer match) with you. It’s fully portable, and you can roll it into an IRA or a new employer’s 401(k) plan (if allowed).
Account Management Made Easy
Your recordkeeper provides you with comprehensive account access where you can view your balance, perform transactions and talk to a call center representative for guidance. On top of that, you can view retirement planning education materials and calculators, and likely even model various saving scenarios and assumptions to help gauge your progress toward retirement readiness.
The stock market will always have its ups and downs…but in the end, your 401(k) is your partner for life!
The above statement regarding rollovers is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to move money out of your prior employer's plan or personal traditional IRA account.
Heartland Retirement Plan Services are offered through Dubuque Bank and Trust Company. The information provided herein is general in nature and is not intended to be nor should be construed as specific investment, legal or tax advice. The factual information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. Heartland Retirement Plan Services makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by its use and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or reliance on, it. Products offered through Heartland Retirement Plan Services are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed and may lose value, unless otherwise noted.