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I'm 55 With $1.2 Million in My 401(k). Would Catch-Up Contributions Be Worth It?
Catch-up contributions are designed to help people save extra money in tax-advantaged retirement accounts once they hit age 50. For many savers who are behind on their retirement savings goals, catch-up contributions represent a not-to-be-missed second chance at securing a more comfortable retirement. A financial advisor can help you plan and save for retirement. Connect […] The post I'm 55 With $1.2 Million in My 401(k). Would Catch-Up Contributions Be Worth It? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Want to Convert $920k from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA. How Can I Reduce Taxes?
Transferring funds from a 401(k) into a Roth IRA lets you make tax-free free withdrawals in retirement, avoids rules on mandatory distributions and adds flexibility for estate planning. However, when converting a large amount of money, the potential tax bill becomes a major issue. Fortunately, strategies exist that can reduce the tax bill significantly and […] The post I Want to Convert $920k from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA. How Can I Reduce Taxes? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
A Successful Retirement May Hinge on Avoiding These Careless Mistakes
Deciding to retire can feel a bit unnerving. Retirees have plenty to potentially worry about – some of which they have no control over – like how the market will perform and how fast prices at the supermarket will increase. But regardless of the economic environment, simple mistakes can prove costly for retirees. Here are […] The post A Successful Retirement May Hinge on Avoiding These Careless Mistakes appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
My Dad Left Me $550k in an IRA, But I'm in the 32% Tax Bracket. How Should I Structure My Withdrawals?
If you inherit a tax-deferred retirement account, like an IRA or a 401(k), you’ll pay income taxes on the money when you withdraw it. Those withdrawals are subject to your marginal tax rate, not the original owners. This can reduce the value of your inheritance, potentially by quite a lot if you are in a […] The post My Dad Left Me $550k in an IRA, But I’m in the 32% Tax Bracket. How Should I Structure My Withdrawals? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm Going to Get $2,800 Per Month in Social Security. How Do I Reduce My Taxes on It?
One of the biggest surprises would-be retirees face when planning their retirement finances is the fact that their Social Security benefits could very well be subject to income tax. A financial advisor can help you plan for Social Security and potentially minimize your tax bill on your benefits. Connect with a fiduciary advisor today. One […] The post I'm Going to Get $2,800 Per Month in Social Security. How Do I Reduce My Taxes on It? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 70 Years Old With $1.2 Million in an IRA. Is It Too Late to Convert to a Roth IRA?
In retirement, it's not too late to convert your money into a Roth IRA. The IRS will let you convert qualified funds at any time, as long as you pay the associated taxes. It might, however, be too late to get real benefit from that decision. A Roth IRA works best when it has time […] The post I'm 70 Years Old With $1.2 Million in an IRA. Is It Too Late to Convert to a Roth IRA? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: I'm 44 With $1 Million in Retirement Savings. I Want a Backdoor Roth IRA, But I Don't Know Where to Start
I’m 44 with $1 million in my 401(k), IRA and Roth IRA. Since my total household is above the threshold for investing in a Roth IRA, I have been considering employing the backdoor Roth IRA tactics. I left $700,000 in a 401(k) at my old employer. I am trying to strategize on “distributing” the old 401(k) balance […] The post Ask an Advisor: I’m 44 With $1 Million in Retirement Savings. I Want a Backdoor Roth IRA, But I Don’t Know Where to Start appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Can a Nursing Home Take Our Savings? We Have $350,000 in IRAs
A $350,000 account could be exhausted in just a few years if both members of a couple required semi-private rooms in skilled nursing facilities. However, that's not necessarily what would happen. For one thing, most people don't run up nursing home bills of that magnitude. Also, you may be able to get government assistance to […] The post Can a Nursing Home Take Our Savings? We Have $350,000 in IRAs appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm Selling My House and Netting $480k. Can I Avoid Taxes While Downsizing for Retirement?
In most cases, when selling your primary residence you can exclude $500,000 of the gain if you file as a married couple. If that's your situation, and you meet conditions to have the gain qualify as a long-term capital gain, you likely won't owe any tax. If you file singly while still meeting long-term capital […] The post I’m Selling My House and Netting $480k. Can I Avoid Taxes While Downsizing for Retirement? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
What Should I Do With My 403(b) Once I Retire?
If you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, like a 403(b), leaving your job means you’ll need to decide what to do with your account. When retiring, you have three main options: You can retain your old 403(b) if the plan allows it, roll your money over into an IRA or a Roth IRA, o4 withdraw […] The post What Should I Do With My 403(b) Once I Retire? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 60 With $1.1 Million in an IRA. Is It Worth Converting $100,000 Per Year to a Roth to Avoid RMDs?
Required minimum distributions, or RMDs, are a problem for some retirees. If that's your situation, a Roth conversion may be able to help. The advantage to switching your money from a pre-tax portfolio, like a traditional IRA, to a post-tax Roth IRA is an end to RMD concerns. Since you've already paid taxes on the […] The post I'm 60 With $1.1 Million in an IRA. Is It Worth Converting $100,000 Per Year to a Roth to Avoid RMDs? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: I'm 60 With $65k in Pension Income and $100k in My IRA. Is a Roth Conversion Worth It?
I'm 60 and I would like to convert some money from my regular IRA to a Roth. I'm aware that the earnings are subject to penalty before five years but I won't need that money until at least age 70. Is it advisable to do so? My annual income from a pension is $65,000 and […] The post Ask an Advisor: I'm 60 With $65k in Pension Income and $100k in My IRA. Is a Roth Conversion Worth It? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm Getting Divorced This Year at 55 With $800k in a 401(k). How Do I Protect My Finances?
Like all family and property law, divorce is a highly state-specific process. How you will handle a divorce and protect your assets, and what constitutes individual vs. shared assets, will depend entirely on your jurisdiction. As a result, how retirement accounts are treated during divorce proceeds can vary widely from state to state. If you […] The post I'm Getting Divorced This Year at 55 With $800k in a 401(k). How Do I Protect My Finances? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: My Advisor Relies on a Sister Company to Manage My Account and Never Reaches Out to Me. Is This How He Should Act?
I’ve had a fiduciary financial advisor for over five years. He recommended a type of sister company working with him to handle my account. I never hear from him unless I email a question or ask to invest in a CD or stock. Is this the way a financial advisor should act? He lets the […] The post Ask an Advisor: My Advisor Relies on a Sister Company to Manage My Account and Never Reaches Out to Me. Is This How He Should Act? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: Can I Tell My Advisor to Mimic His Portfolio? We'll Both ‘Smell Like a Rose or Go Down Like the Titanic'
While I can understand that a financial advisor’s life is private, is there a “proper way” to ask your advisor to invest your money in the same things he or she invests in? My feeling is that either both you and the advisor will come out smelling like a rose … or both of you are […] The post Ask an Advisor: Can I Tell My Advisor to Mimic His Portfolio? We’ll Both ‘Smell Like a Rose or Go Down Like the Titanic’ appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 75 With $900,000 in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life?
Ensuring that your retirement savings last the rest of your life often requires balancing income with expenses over your projected lifespan. But suppose you have $900,000 in an IRA. You’d also want to consider whether you want to leave behind a financial legacy. And since all long-range forecasts are subject to change, you’d need to […] The post I'm 75 With $900,000 in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Bank Failures: How to Keep Your Money Safe From a Worst-Case Scenario
After a tumultuous 2023 that saw some of the largest bank failures ever, the U.S. banking system appears to have stabilized. More bank failures are inevitable, however, and depositors could risk losing money any time one occurs. The first line of defense, federal deposit insurance from the FDIC, has worked reliably to date. To avoid […] The post Bank Failures: How to Keep Your Money Safe From a Worst-Case Scenario appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Have a 401(k) From a Previous Employer. What Should I Do With It?
If you’ve changed jobs recently, don’t put off deciding what to do with your 401(k) for too long. While you have several options for your account when you leave a job, there’s an estimated 29.2 million 401(k)s that have been left behind with former employers, according to a 2023 analysis from Capitalize. Those accounts hold […] The post I Have a 401(k) From a Previous Employer. What Should I Do With It? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
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