Sunday, February 16, 2014

Choices Regarding 401K Retirement Plans

By Krystal Branch


401K retirement plans obtained its title from the section related to the tax code that governs it. This investment system was introduced during the 1980s to act as a supplement to pension funds. It is a retirement savings option which is sponsored by employers.

Prior to 1980, employees were usually offered a pension fund by their employer. This type of fund was generally managed by the company of employment and a regular amount was paid to the employee during their retirement. This option may still be available to those who work in government departments or belong to the unions. The costs related to the maintenance of pension funds are what have prompted the move to 401K plans.

The option of 401K plans allows workers to save and invest a portion of their wages before it is taxed. Tax is levied when the money is withdrawn from the plan. The worker has some form of control over the investment aspect of the funds. Most of the plans spread the money across money market, bonds and stock investments. One of the most popular investment options is target-date funds. This is normally made up of a combination of bonds and stocks that are geared to become more conservative as the retirement age is reached.

There are distinct benefits linked to 401K retirement plans. The first is the tax advantage. You will not be taxed on the interest, dividends and capital gains until the amount is withdrawn. During this time period, you will have the benefit of gaining compounded income from your account. If you join a plan at a fairly young age, this can make a huge difference to your total savings.

The other benefit is the added contribution made to the plan by your employer. The amount invested by your employer may vary. Many employers opt to invest as much as six percent of your wages to the fund.

A benefit of this type of fund is that you are able to transfer the full value from employer to employer. You could also choose to leave the invested amount in the fund of your past employer, however, this option could incur fees which would affect the final amount you receive. An alternative would be to transfer the available funds to the plan offered by your new employer. You may only be able to do this if you have another job offer prior to leaving your current employer.

The decision to choose a rollover depends on the investment options available with the new plan. If you are not satisfied with the options available to you, you could opt to roll the funds over to an individual annuity. In the event that you do not wish to, or do not have the options to rollover, you can choose to withdraw the proceeds. At this point, you will be required to pay taxes and a penalty fee.

The options related to 401K retirement plans and the method of investment varies from one plan to another. You should consider your options carefully when you move from one employer to the next. Your main aim should be to hold onto as much of the funds as you are able and to find a re-investment plan that matches that of your retirement goals.




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