401(k) Rollover in Des Peres, MO. Changing jobs or careers is the start of a brand new, exciting chapter in your life. However, many Des Peres, MO residents wonder what the best options are for their existing 401(k) savings. Managing multiple retirement savings accounts can be stressful without a team of expert and honest financial advisors.
401(k) Rollover in Des Peres,MO
There are a few different ways to handle your 401(k) rollover in Des Peres, MO, and oftentimes it takes sound financial planning and a savvy financial advisor to know how to best deal with your savings. Correct Capital is an independent advisory firm whose advisors hold themselves to the fiduciary standard. This means any advice we give is based on what we believe is best for your financial needs. Our business is built on trust and your belief that we’ll do what’s best for you. We offer unbiased, expert advice, and will never try to convince you of something we don’t believe in ourselves. Call us today at 877-930-4015 or contact us online to learn more about 401(k) rollover options in Des Peres, MO.
Generally speaking, you have four options to consider when considering a 401(k) rollover.
1. Keep Your 401(k) With Your Previous Employer
If you have over $5,000 invested in your 401(k), many Des Peres, MO companies allow you to keep your accrued savings in their plan. The funds stay subject to the same rules, fees, investment plans, and withdrawal options. Many people in Des Peres, MO already like the benefits of their 401(k), such as their investment options, website, or any investing tools or guidance they offer. In this case, it may make sense to keep them where they are instead of a 401(k) rollover. If you leave your job between the ages of 55 and 59 ½, you may be eligible for penalty-free withdrawals. Additionally, per federal law, 401(k)s are generally protected against claims by creditors. If you keep your assets in your old 401(k), you won’t have to make any immediate decisions regarding your money, and you’re still free to roll over the funds whenever you’d like.
However, it should be mentioned that keeping your old 401(k) means you can no longer make contributions to it, which may have an effect on your retirement planning. After the age of 72, you will be required to take out “required minimum distributions” from those 401(k) accounts you have at old employers. It can also be complicated to manage several different retirement plans with several different custodians. Withdrawal options can be limited and have large federal withholding requirements. You would not be able to take out a 401(k) loan. Correct Capital's retirement consultants can help you decide if sticking with your old 401(k) is the best option for you.
2. Roll Over Your 401(k) to Your New Employer
If your new employer in Des Peres, MO also offers a 401(k), most of the time they will allow you to roll over your 401(k) assets to their plan. You may consider this if the new plan’s features are preferable to the previous plan’s, including lower fees, better investment options, opportunities, guidance, or loan options. Also, required minimum distributions may be delayed even after you turn 72 if you are still in the workforce.
If you have company stock in your previous 401(k) portfolio, you may require special financial planning needs when rolling over your 401(k) to the new account. The 401(k) plan with your new employer may also contain higher fees or less diverse investment options. A knowledgeable financial advisor will help you decide if you should stick with your previous plan or roll over your 401(k) to your new employer.
3. Open a Rollover IRA
IRA is an abbreviation for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account opened to move funds from a previous employer’s 401(k). If you already have an IRA, you can consider transferring the money there for your 401(k) rollover. Depending on which type of 401(k) you were contributing to, you may roll money to a Traditional or a Roth IRA. This way, the tax status of your previous contributions stays the same.
Traditional IRA
Contributions made to a Traditional IRA are considered to be pre-tax money. the pre-tax money you contributed to your 401(k) will likely be put into a traditional IRA. Withdrawals from this account may be subject to taxes and an early withdrawal penalty. When you turn 72, you will be required to take out required minimum distributions regardless of your status in the workforce.
Roth IRA
Contributions to Roth IRAs are made with after-tax money, so there is no tax benefit at the time the contributions are made. The benefit is that Roth IRA money grows tax-free. Money you contributed to a Roth 401(k) account is typically rolled into a Roth IRA. At any time you can access the money you’ve invested without having to pay taxes, and if you maintain the account for at least 5 years and are 59 ½ years old, you do not pay taxes on your earnings. Contrary to Roth 401(k) contributions, money held in a Roth IRA is not subject to required minimum distributions.
While you may roll pre-tax money from your 401(k) plan into a Roth IRA, you would be “converting” pre-tax money into after-tax money, which means you would have to pay taxes on the money received into the Roth IRA.
You can start an IRA account with many banks or any brokerage firm in Des Peres, MO, however many come with varying fees or other expenses. Our team of financial advisors at Correct Capital partners with several trusted financial custodians and will help you find one that suits your needs.
4. Cash Out.
The fourth option is typically not advisable unless you are in serious need of money now. You will be subjected to a 20% federal tax, and could face a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you take the money out before you are 59 ½ years old or if you separate before 55 years old. This could result in a large amount of your withdrawal going towards taxes and not into your back account. Additionally, the money won’t keep growing and it will no longer be tax-deferred. Therefore, a 401(k) rollover is preferable if you do not need the money in the account immediately.
Indirect vs. Direct 401(k) Rollovers in Des Peres, MO
There are two ways to rollover your 401(k):
- Direct rollover — In a direct rollover, your former 401(k) company will send a check directly to your new retirement account with instructions to put the money into your new account. Each firm follows a different procedure, so the best first step is to reach out to your previous employer's 401(k) company to ask them how to proceed.
- Indirect rollover — In an indirect rollover, you withdraw the savings from your account, and then you deposit the funds directly into your IRA or new 401(k). This is also known as a 60-day rollover because there is a 60-day time limit for when you can deposit the money, or else you could end up paying income taxes and early withdrawal penalties.
Like cashing out a 401(k), an indirect rollover is generally not advisable unless circumstances dictate you need money now. Your Des Peres, MO financial advisor will be able to help you determine which option is best.
Avoiding Common 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
Even for Des Peres, MO residents with a solid grasp of their finances, deciding on the best option for your 401(k) rollover can be complicated. The most common pitfalls people make when considering their options are:
- Not weighing all your options — If you like many aspects of your current 401(k) plan, you may be better off sticking with it. But you would be doing yourself a disservice not to consider how a rollover could allow your money to grow more, or have tools and resources your current plan doesn't.
- Not opening a new account first — If you do rollover your 401(k), make sure to open a new account first and inform your new custodian that they'll be receiving a rollover check. If they get a check by surprise, they may think it is a regular contribution that you might have to pay taxes on.
- Neglecting your old 401(k) — While you might think it's hard to lose track of their retirement savings, Americans accidentally abandoned $7.7 billion in retirement savings in 2015. A lot can come with moving to a new job, but accidentally leaving behind your savings could significantly reduce what you have available for your golden rules.
- Not taking into account the same property rule — The property your new account receives must be the property that was rolled over. Meaning, you can't withdraw cash from your 401(k), buy stock with it and move those assets into a new account. The IRS considers that taxable income, and if you're under 59½ you'll have to pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
- Rolling over a required minimum distribution — There is no way to roll over a required minimum distribution. If you do, you will have to pay a 6% excess IRA contribution tax.
- Not consulting with a financial advisor — Financial advisors deal with investment, tax planning, and other 401(k) rollover considerations every day.
We also offer a full range of other financial services in Des Peres, MO:
- Succession Planning
- Fiduciary Financial Advisor
- Company 401(k) Plans
- ESOP Advisor
- Self-Employed Retirement Plans
- 401(k) For Small Business
- Small Business Retirement Plans
- Tax Planning
Contact a 401(k) Rollover Advisor Today
What to do with your 401(k) from your previous job depends on your unique situation. Many in Des Peres, MO have found choosing Correct Capital as their financial advisors to be the best decision for them. Our financial advisors operate under the fiduciary principle, which means that we are legally bound to act in good faith and have your best interests at heart. As Registered Investment Advisors, we have access to a great amount of investment research that we’ll share with you. We’re based on trust, honesty, and integrity.
Call us today at 877-930-4015, contact us online, or schedule an appointment with our financial and retirement planning advisors to make the best decision for your 401(k) rollover. Call 877-930-4015 or reach out to our financial advisors in Des Peres, MO today.
