While beginning early is always important – like simply saving $25 a month in your 20s – it doesn't always work out where you're able to put money aside into retirement accounts early on. For some, setting money aside for more immediate needs first and then tackling retirement in your late 30s and early 40s happens. But how can you ensure you're putting enough in your retirement savings? Maybe you're asking, what retirement accounts work best for you and your retirement goals?
Whatever your retirement saving questions might be, in this article, we will not only discuss saving for retirement but how different retirement accounts work, such as the different types of individual retirement accounts (IRA), employer sponsored retirement accounts, and more.
Remember, every individual investment, 401 k or employer-sponsored plan needs one thing to grow: time. The more time your individual retirement accounts have, the more your money can grow. If you can, start saving early. Otherwise, the longer you wait, the more you will have to save yearly, making the challenge much more difficult. There are several things to keep in mind when getting started.
Get Started Saving for Retirement: Create A Budget
First, you must create a budget considering your current income and expenses. By doing this, you'll have an idea as to what you will need to save each month based on your retirement goals or be able to determine better what your retirement age will be. For example, if you only have a certain amount of dollars put away in your current retirement account, and it doesn't match your retirement savings goals or plans for retirement, you may need to work longer to have the retirement you hope to enjoy.
It will also help you determine if you're saving enough money each month. If planning for retirement or putting money in a retirement fund is essential to you, adding retirement savings as a line item in your budget, just like food and shelter costs, is a great idea. It can help ensure you set aside those funds from your monthly income.
It's also a good idea to budget what your estimated retirement expenses will be. By doing this, you'll know how much money you'll have going out each month versus how much money will be coming in each month with your current retirement savings. If you have too much going out compared to coming in, you'll want to consider additional ways to make your investment accounts work for your retirement plans. Don't forget to learn ways to help you reduce your expenses during retirement too.
Make Saving for Retirement Automatic
Make saving for retirement automatic and consider setting automatic transfers. By setting up automatic transfers between your checking account and your retirement account, it can help keep you from forgetting to save. By setting up transfers each payday, funds go automatically from your bank account into your investments. It also minimizes the risk of you spending that money instead of putting it toward a retirement account.
Also, as you create your retirement plan and are saving for retirement, consider creating an emergency account. Having a separate emergency account with about three to six months of salary will allow you to cover unexpected costs without interfering with your retirement plans or savings goals.
Pay Down Debt Before Retiring
Finally, as you work to save for retirement, consider paying down your level of debt. One goal for retirees should have is to be debt-free by the time they reach their targeted retirement age. Paying down debt includes credit card debt, especially the high-interest reward card kind, car and mortgage loans, and any student and/or other big loans. The reason for this is simple: you do not want to be entering your non-earning years owing money.
What Are The Different Types of Retirement Savings Options?
Setting aside money every month is, of course, the most critical part of retirement savings. But you will not reach your goal without investing it correctly into something that has a savings rate that benefits your investment accounts by helping them grow.
One reason to invest is it helps you to take advantage of the power of compounding, which is when gains grow on top of other gains. For instance, if you invest $1,000 in the first year and it goes to $1,100 the next year, your next year’s gains will be on top of the $1,100, not the original amount you put in. Over time, that compound growth can boost returns.
While there are many different investment options, choosing one that helps your investments compound year after year is critical. Losses can compound as well. However, fortunately, over time, the markets have climbed. How much you can save and understanding that you'll need to pay taxes on accounts in a different way can help you choose the type of account that works best for you.
What are the Different Types of Accounts You Can Use to Save for Retirement?
As you consider starting your journey toward retirement saving, there are several types of accounts you can use for to help you meet your savings goals. Below is a list of these and pertinent information differentiating each:
- A high-yield savings account is risk-free money inside of a federally insured savings account that does not get invested in stocks or bonds. You will make next to nothing on the funds in the account. Currently, the highest-yielding savings accounts earn under 1% on the dollars saved and have been trending down with the current Federal Reserve policy to keep its benchmark rate lower for longer. Your money should grow over time in a more traditional investment savings vehicle.
- A traditional individual retirement account (Traditional IRA) is a tax-advantaged investing tool for individuals to earmark their retirement savings. Depending on the individual’s employment status, IRAs can be of various types and have different tax liabilities. As the name suggests, it is an individual account that you open and contribute to yourself. One of the benefits of the traditional IRA is that contributions are generally, tax-deductible.For example, if you contribute $6,500, your taxable income will decrease by the same amount. In addition, this money can grow inside the account on a tax-deferred basis, which means you do not have to pay taxes on any investments until you make a withdrawal. That allows your money to compound faster than it otherwise would. You must pay tax on the amount you take out of the account, which is based on the withdrawal year’s tax rate.You typically earn little income in retirement. Therefore, you should be in a lower tax bracket, which means taxes on those withdrawals should be minor. It is important to remember there is usually a 10% penalty for withdrawing funds before you turn 59 ½. However, currently you can remove up to $100,000 tax-free if you have been negatively impacted by Covid-19. Review the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website to learn more about current taxation rates on retirement accounts.
- Roth IRAs are different than traditional IRAs in two meaningful ways. The first is that contributions are made with after-tax dollars, which means you do not get a tax deduction when you invest. The upside is that when it comes time to withdraw, you will not owe the IRS anything because your contributions can grow tax-free over time. Like the IRA, you can only contribute $6,500 a year or $7,500 if you’re over 50. One caveat: if you earn more than $138,000 or if you and a spouse earn more than a combined $218,000, your annual contribution room will be reduced. If you earn more $153,000 individually or $228,000 as a couple, you cannot contribute to this account. Learn more about what the IRS has to say about taxation and Roth Accounts.
- SIMPLE IRAs are an option for some. Many small businesses do not offer 401(k) plans, which can be expensive to set up and maintain. They are allowed to offer a SIMPLE IRA, which stands for Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees. These work in a similar way to a 401(k), in that both employees and employers can contribute funds, which reduce each side’s taxable income by the amount that each party invests. For 2023, the annual contribution limit for SIMPLE IRAs is $15,500, up from $14,000 in 2022. Workers 50 or that are 50 or older can make additional catch-up contributions of $3,500, for a total of $19,000. Employers can only contribute up to 3% of their staff member’s annual compensation. Contributions can grow tax deferred, until the age you have to withdraw.
Is a Traditional IRA the same as a 401 k?
A traditional 401 k plan is a retirement account offered by a company for its employees. Contributions into this account are pre-tax, which means that like the traditional IRA they can grow on a tax-deferred basis. You will have to pay the taxes when you withdraw those funds, but if you are in a lower tax bracket in retirement than you were during your working years, then that tax amount should not be too great.
There are several benefits to the 401(k). One is that the contribution limit is much higher than it is with an IRA. Workers who are younger than age 50 can contribute a maximum of $22,500 to a 401(k) in 2023, up from $20,500 in 2022, or $30,000 if you’re over 50. Employers are also allowed to match contributions, although the percentage of contributions they match and the amount matched per employee dollar does vary. For example, Vanguard Group reported that in 2019, the plans they managed had an average employee contribution rate of 7.0%, and average employer contribution rate of 3.7%. The limit for combined contributions made by employers and employees cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of an employee's compensation or $66,000 in 2023.
For people 50 and over, the catch-up contribution totals $73,500 ($66,000 + $7,500). There is also a lifetime contribution limit which is currently $330,000.
Another key feature is that money gets automatically deducted from your check and deposited into the 401(k), so you do not have to worry about transferring those dollars into the account yourself.
Similar to the traditional IRA, you will pay a 10% penalty if you withdraw money before you turn 59 1/2. However, currently, you may be allowed to remove up to $100,000 from a 401(k) if you or your spouse has lost a job or if you have been negatively impacted by Covid- 19 without the 10% withdrawal penalty.
Is A Roth 401 k the same thing as a Roth IRA?
A Roth 401(k) is an employer-sponsored account funded with after-tax dollars. Like the Roth IRA, contributions are not tax deductible, but you will not have to pay taxes when it is time to withdraw. Like a traditional 401(k), employees and employers can contribute, but there are limits. The maximum amount you can contribute to a Roth 401(k) for 2023 is $22,500 if you’re younger than 50. If you are 50 and older, you can add an extra $7,500 per year in catch-up contributions, bringing the total amount to $30,000. Contributions generally need to be made by the end of the calendar year.
You can split contributions between a regular 401(k) and a Roth 401(k), but your combined investments cannot exceed the maximum contribution amount. This account is ideal for those who think they may be in a high tax bracket in retirement, where they would then have to pay a potentially hefty federal tax bill. There are ways to roll the money over from one of the above accounts to another, such as from a traditional IRA to a 401(k) and vice-versa.
What is a Simplified Employee Pension Plan?
A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan may be the best option if you are a self-employed individual looking to save for retirement. A business owner can only open a SEP account with one or more employees or someone who earns freelance income. It's similar to a traditional IRA in that pre-tax contributions reduce your taxable income (or the company’s, depending on who contributes). Money can grow tax-deferred until you remove it in retirement.
For the self-employed and small business owners, the SEP IRA contribution limit was raised to $66,000 in 2023, up from $61,000 in 2022. You can also put money into an employee’s account. However, unlike a 401(k), which is more expensive to set up than a SEP, the staffer cannot contribute to his or her own SEP.
Take Advantage of Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
As mentioned above, there are different types of retirement accounts, like Roth IRAs, that can help you save for retirement. When you choose to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan when employee contributions are made, many plans have an employer match. This means the employer contributes to an employee's account up to a specific limit. Essentially, employer contributions are free dollars that can help you meet your savings goals and help to boost your retirement accounts.
Bottom Line
There are several steps you need to take to make the most of your retirement savings. From creating a budget and setting automatic contributions to paying down debt and choosing the right retirement savings account to help you save for retirement or meet your retirement savings goals.
Retirement accounts like a high-yield savings account or a traditional IRA are going to have different advantages and disadvantages, from having a different savings rate to tax advantages, be sure to do your research or talk to a certified financial planner or financial advisor who can help you understand how each account can benefit or detract from your retirement savings.
Not sure about working with financial advisors or financial planners? Consider becoming a member of Planning Made Simple. This one-of-a-kind community can help to answer your questions about everything from mutual funds to retirement planning. With other individual investors, as well as Planning Made Simple coaches, you'll have access to the guidance you seek whether you're making your retirement plan or have an advisor helping you navigate the process.