How To Make More Money With My 401k

Benefits Of A Roth Ira

The major benefit for a Roth IRA is apparent to people that are generally younger because as we age, typically we start to make more money as we progress in our careers and receive higher pay. That higher pay leads to being in higher tax brackets. If we pay taxes on our income and then contribute to a Roth IRA, we will be able to withdraw that money later when we could be in a higher tax bracket, tax-free. A Roth IRA is designed for people that see themselves paying fewer taxes now than later.

The Government also recognizes this fact and limits the amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA annually. For 2019, the max contribution for a Roth IRA is $6000 per year . That means if you want to contribute $10,000 per year, only $7000 can be contributed to a Roth account and the other $3000 will have to be invested in a Traditional IRA account.

In the above example, $4284 was invested in a Traditional IRA but if that investor wanted to, he/she could have invested it all into a Roth IRA.

When You Retire You Have To Decide What To Do With Your 401 Money Generally Speaking You Will Have Some If Not All Of The Following Five Choices: Leave Your Money Parked In The Plan Take A Lump

Keep in mind, not all employers allow retired workers to remain participants in their 401 plan, but if yours does, here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of the various distribution options:

Lump-sum distribution

If you need a wad of cash right away, this option will serve that purpose. There are two key downsides: you forfeit the benefits of tax-deferred compounding by cashing out all at once and you’ll have to pay income taxes on your distribution for the tax year in which you take it, which can be a big bite out of your nest egg all at once.

Leave the money as is

Financial advisers often recommend retirees tap taxable accounts first in order to keep as much money growing tax-deferred as possible.

So if you’re retiring and have money outside of your 401 that you plan to live on, you may leave your account untouched until you’re 70-1/2. That’s when Uncle Sam requires all retirees to begin taking mandatory annual distributions from their 401s and traditional IRAs.

Of course, if your plan’s investment choices are very limited or have performed poorly relative to their peers, you might be better off rolling the money into an IRA.

Rolling money into an IRA

This is the option often recommended by financial advisers since an IRA offers greater investment choice and control, and is especially recommended if your plan has few investment options and not very good ones at that.

There are two advantages your 401 has over an IRA.

Periodic distributions

Annuities

Proofreading Can Be A Gold Mine

It can be hard to find a work-from-home, low-stress job that pays well. Luckily, there are plenty of options! One of the best ways to make that extra cash is by doing proofreading, which you can do from anywhere. Its not very demanding physically or mentally because you will be checking other peoples work for mistakes and typos.

You might not believe it at first, but its very rewarding once you start getting into it. You will feel like a professional who other people rely on and the money isnt bad either.

Although this type of job seems like something only for those with a keen eye while they read, youll be happy to know that anyone can become a competent and successful proofreader with a bit of practice. You can even find online proofreading courses that will teach you everything from getting started finding proofreading jobs.

Recommended Reading: What Is Ira And 401k

When Can You Withdraw From Your 401k Without A Penalty

Wondering when can you withdraw from 401k? 59 and 1/2 is the current age when you can take money out of your 401k without incurring a penalty. However, the money you take out is still taxed as income. At the age of 70, you will be forced by the IRS to start taking distributions from your retirement accounts.

How We Use Your Personal Data

How we use your information depends on the product and service that you use and your relationship with us. We may use it to:

• Verify your identity, personalize the content you receive, or create and administer your account.
• Provide specific products and services to you, such as portfolio management or data aggregation.
• Develop and improve features of our offerings.

To learn more about how we handle and protect your data, visit our privacy center.

Recommended Reading: Can I Transfer My 401k To Another Company

What If You Can’t Meet Your Employer Match

If you aren’t yet in a position to contribute enough to meet your employer’s match, and thus not enough to reach the desired 15% savings rate, aim to boost your retirement contributions by 1% to 2% each year. If you opt in to do so, some companies will automatically raise your contribution rate annually, so it’s worth making sure you are signed up for what is called an “auto-escalation” feature.

Ivory Johnson, a CFP and founder of Delancey Wealth Management, recommends increasing your contribution rate as you get pay raises until you max out the limit. There is a limit to how much you can contribute annually to your 401. In 2021, the standard annual contribution limit is $19,500 for 401 plans. And those over age 50 can use catch-up contributions to add an extra $6,500 in their 401 account. Employer contributions don’t count towards those specific limits.

Lynch reminds retirement savers to be strategic with the magic number they would like to contribute to their 401 before automatically trying to max it out, however.

“Situations can arise where you may need to prioritize your cash savings in your emergency fund or save for a different reason, such as for a down payment on property or a vehicle,” she adds. “$19,500 isn’t a small chunk of change.”

Keep in mind that although you don’t pay income taxes on the money you set aside in a 401, you’ll have to pay taxes later on when you eventually withdraw the funds in your nonworking years.

Extra Benefits For Lower

The federal government is so hot to promote retirement savings that it offers another benefit for people who have lower incomes, and it’s not all that low. Called the Saver’s Tax Credit, it can raise your refund or reduce the tax you owe by offsetting a percentage of the first $2,000 that you put into your 401, IRA, or similar tax-advantaged retirement plan.

This offset is in addition to the usual tax benefits of these plans. The size of the percentage depends on the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the year.

The income limits for the Saver’s Tax Credit go up in 2021. For single taxpayers , it’s $33,000 , and for married couples filing jointly it goes up to $66,000 in 2021 from $65,000 in 2020, and for heads of household it maxes out at $49,500 in 2021, up from $48,750 in 2020.

Don’t Miss: How Do I Get My 401k When I Retire

Complete Your Plan Enrollment Form

This is the form youve been waiting for! Its the one youll use to officially commit a percentage of your paycheck for retirement. But there are a couple of other things about this form you dont want to miss:

• Pre-tax or Roth: Whats the difference between a traditional pre-tax 401 and a Roth 401? A pre-tax 401 allows you to make contributions from your pay before taxes are taken out. But when you contribute to a Roth 401, your contributions are made after taxes are taken out. We always recommend the Roth option since you wont have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw from your Roth 401 in retirement. Pre-tax contributions will lower your taxable income now, but youll pay taxes on withdrawals in retirement.

Your Action Step: Contact your 401 plan manager to find out if you have the option to choose pre-tax or after-tax contributions. If you can, take advantage of the Roth option with your next paycheck!

Your Action Step: Again, your 401 plan manager can tell you if your plan offers an automatic rebalancing feature for your investment selections. Tip: call the plan manager and speak with an actual person.

What You Should Know Before Rolling Over Your 401

Those are just a few important things to remember before you open your account.

Bonus:

You May Like: What Percentage Should I Be Putting In My 401k

How Much Should You Have In Your 401k By Age

Now that we have established that you need a 401k in your life and explained how much you can contribute, lets talk cash. Aside from investing enough to meet your employer match, how much should you have in your 401k, really?

One way to answer that question is to look at your age.

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, How much should I have in my 401k? there are some best practices you can keep in mind to guide your efforts. Yes, while you should start investing in a 401k as soon as possible, some people might not get that opportunity right away and thats okay. The point is to do it when you can.

When you do finally start investing, there are a few good rules of thumb to help you make a sound decision on how much you should have in your 401k.

Diversify To Protect Your 401k From A Market Crash

There is no foolproof strategy that will keep your portfolio safe. However, you can mitigate your risks with basic moves like diversification.

The first strategy for protecting your nest egg is diversification. To explain, put your money in several places, so you do not lose everything.

For instance, invest in different stocks and U.S. Treasury Bonds. An example of basic diversification is 20% tech stocks, 20% finance stocks, and 20% energy stocks.

In addition, invest in several good dividend stocks so you will have money coming in. A great rule to follow is to have at least 50% of your 401K funds in dividend stocks.

Finally, having part of your funds outside of stocks will keep part of your money from a crash. Simply, having 20% of your funds in C.D.s or Bonds can ensure you will have cash.

Good diversification can be provided by using the Portfolio Correlation Functionality in Stock Rover.

Don’t Miss: How To Take Money Out Of 401k Without Penalty

How Much Should I Be Putting Into My 401k

Aim to save between 10% and 15% of your income toward retirement. Another piece of general advice is to put all of those funds into your 401k up until your employer’s matching contribution amount. Once that has been reached, maxed out your Roth IRA contribution. If there are funds leftover then consider putting those funds into your 401k.

Another way to determine how much you will need to save is to look at what income amount you will need in retirement. Fortunately, there are a lot of calculators out there that will help you figure out your magic number. Here are two of our favorites.

• Nerdwallet provides a great basic calculator that lets you play with different contributions and matching amounts.

• CalcXL makes a recommendation on how much you should be saving based on projected inflation. Tip: You should aim for a retirement income of roughly 80% of your current salary.

Try International House Sitting

Imagine spending a few weeks in a luxury condo in Singapore, a secluded beach house on the island of Roatan, or a restored castle in the French countryside. A growing number of people are getting paid to travel through house sitting websites.

Find out the best ways to get paid to stay rent-free in exotic locations youve always wanted to see.

Also Check: Can I Switch My 401k To A Roth Ira

Option : Transfer The Money From Your Old 401 Plan Into Your New Employers Plan

Moving your old 401 into your new employers qualified retirement plan is also an option when you change jobs. The new plan may have lower fees or investment options that better support your financial goals. Rolling over your old 401 into your new companys plan can also make it easier to track your retirement savings, since youll have everything in one place. Its worthwhile to talk with an Ameriprise advisor who will compare the investments and features of both plans.

Some things to think about if youre considering rolling over a 401 into a new employers plan:

What Is The Maximum 401k Contribution Amount

Starting in 2020 , you can contribute up to $19,500 each year to your 401k if you are under 50. If you are over the age of 50, you may be able to make catch-up contributions. This provision lets you invest up to an additional $6,500 in your 401k .

PRO TIP: You need to be behind in your 401k contributions to make catchup contributions.

When compared to a Roth IRA, where you can only contribute up to $6,000/year, this is an amazing opportunity especially since your pre-tax money is being compounded over time.

Read Also: How Do You Rollover Your 401k To A New Employer

Babysitting Seems Too Intense Try Pet Sitting Instead

Children can be a handful, and its safe to say that taking care of other peoples kids isnt for everyone. Pets, on the other hand, especially cats and dogs, are usually much easier to handle.

If you love animals and want to keep yourself busy during retirement , pet sitting might be perfect for you! There are many different jobs to work with cats, dogs and other pets, including daycare, boarding services and pet sitting.

Pet sitting is typically more low-key than other types of jobs. However, it does require that you take care of the pets needs for certain days or hours every day.

Boarding services usually come with more responsibility youll be there to take care of your clients pets 24/7 and make sure theyre happy and well-taken care of. However, as long as you enjoy spending time with dogs , theres nothing better than pet sitting.

So Whats Right For You

Use this chart to help see which options match your wants and needs.

Investment and Insurance Products are:

• Not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or Any Federal Government Agency.
• Not a Deposit, Obligation of, or Guaranteed by any Bank or Banking Affiliate.
• May Lose Value, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested.

The subject matter in this communication is educational only and provided with the understanding that Principal® is not rendering legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with appropriate counsel or other advisors on all matters pertaining to legal, tax, or accounting obligations and requirements.

Financial professionals are sales representatives for the members of Principal Financial Group®. They do not represent, offer, or compare products and services of other financial services organizations.

Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Co. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., 800-547-7754, member SIPC. Principal Life and Principal Securities are members of Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

You May Like: Should I Do Roth Or Traditional 401k

How To Make Money In Retirement: 14 Real And Really Easy Ways To Boost Income

Regardless of where you are in life, its always nice to make some extra money. And that is especially true in retirement. But, how to make money in retirement when youre supposed to be simply enjoying the easy life? The retirement gigs listed below wont be quite enough to cover retirement expenses, but they wont take up too much of your time, either. And, some options might even be fun!

Whether youre looking to subsidize retirement savings with a hobby or just want some extra spending cash, here are 14 ideas for how to make money in retirement.

How A Roth 401 Affects Take Home Pay

If you have the option of a Roth 401, your contributions will directly affect your take-home pay, because the contributions are made with after-tax dollars. The biggest advantage of the Roth 401 is that the earnings are not taxable. This can end up saving you a lot in taxes once you have hit retirement.

You should consider taking advantage of a Roth 401 if your company gives you the option. However, it does mean that the amount you contribute will be taken directly from the amount that you would otherwise take home, so you would need to adjust your budget accordingly

This is similar to a Roth IRA because the contributions will not reduce the amount you pay in taxes each year. However, the benefit of not paying taxes on your earnings can pay off once you are in retirement age. It is something to consider carefully if your employer offers a Roth 401.

• A Roth 401 allows you to avoid taxes on your investment earnings.
• This can be a good option if you are not worried about lowing your taxable income.

Also Check: How Much Will My 401k Grow If I Stop Contributing