May 21
 

 

With all the options out there, why is a 401k such a popular retirement plan option? This is a good question that really points out the many benefits of these accounts. They’re easy to set up and maintain, they have tax benefits, and perhaps most importantly is the contribution match from your employer.

A 401k is set up through your employer. They hire a company that will handle the account and things are mostly taken care of for you. Your employer sets up a couple of different plans for you to choose from that will invest your money in bonds, stocks, money market accounts, and other investment opportunities. The plans will usually vary from the amount of risk you’re looking to take–some will offer lower risk and lower returns, while others will have more risk but higher returns. Over the years you have the option of reviewing your choices and making adjustments as you deem necessary.

The contributions to the account are taken from your income before taxes are taken out. You decide how much of your income you would like to invest. This happens automatically and doesn’t require anything from you.

Because your contributions are taken out of your income before taxes are taken out this will lower your income level as far as the federal government is concerned, which may lower the tax bracket you fall into, lowering the percentage of your income that is owed for taxes. You will be paying taxes on this income when you reach retirement age and make withdrawals, but hopefully your income level will be lower at that time and you’ll owe less money.

The biggest benefit from a 401k plan is your employers match. Many employers will offer to match your contribution up to a certain percentage of your income. So if you contribute three percent of your income to your 401k, they will also contribute that amount. This may seem like a small amount of money but over time (and with that money being invested and earning returns) it really ads up and helps you grow a respectable nest egg.

With all of these benefits it’s easy to see why a 401k is such a popular retirement plan option.

Knowledge is power, become more informed about all your options by visiting 401k or IRA for all the information you need, including information about retirement balances, cashing out, and the 401k penalty for early withdrawal.

After spending her post college years climbing out of debt, Jennifer Quilter has spent a great deal of time reading up on finances. She now combines that knowledge with her love of writing and helping other people understand the complicated world of finances.

 


 
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Sep 29
 

 

Author: D. Karlson
Many people are not aware that they can roll their 401k over in to a self investing IRA and then invest it in real estate. A self-directed IRA gives you the control to decide what and where and how much you want to invest.

Now, why would you want to be investing 401k money in real estate? Let us say you are contributing up to four percent of your paycheck into your company’s 401k plan. You are investing in whatever your company’s plan invests in; therefore, you have no control. Most of this money is not allowed to be self-directed because of the limitations the company places on the amount of contributions you can personally self-direct.

A self investing IRA is better than a 401k because the 401k plan may have a limit on how much of it can be used to purchase an investment. A self-directing IRA does not have a limit on how much can be used to purchase an investment.

Many smart investors are investing 401k money in real estate by rolling it over into a self investing IRA. This is something more people should be doing but many are still afraid of making a change. In addition, people do not want the responsibility of looking after their own investments. However, there are still a large number of people who are looking for control over where their money is invested.

Having complete control over your self investing IRA is an exciting feeling. A traditional IRA has limitations, however a self directed IRA allows you to invest in real estate.

There is no limit either with a self directed IRA; you can use the entire amount to invest in real estate. There are a couple of important points to note at this time. You may have been losing money in your company’s plan, switching to a self investing IRA means you have complete control to invest in real estate, but now the tricky part is, with whom do you invest it and how do you invest it?

Investing 401k money in real estate can open doors to increased wealth that you never knew existed. Once you have made the decision to go ahead with this change in your investment plan, you need to find a company that offers a turnkey investment opportunity and one that takes care of all the required paperwork. A good custodian will make this decision that much easier for you.

Darren is an active participant of a national network of professional writers who advocate socially conscious real estate investing through the use of retirement vehicles such as IRAs, 401Ks and other retirement assets. For more information, or to get involved, please visit http://www.theselfdirectedira.com

 


 
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