401(k) Rollover in Frontenac, MO. Changing jobs or careers is the start of a brand new, exciting chapter in your life. However, many Frontenac, MO residents wonder what the best options are for their 401(k) with their previous employer. Managing multiple retirement savings accounts can be complex and take more time than many people are willing to put in.
401(k) Rollover in Frontenac,MO
There are a few different ways to handle your 401(k) rollover in Frontenac, MO, and oftentimes it takes trustworthy financial planning and an experienced financial advisor to know which option is best for you. Correct Capital is a privately owned 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 confidence that we’ll do what’s best for you. We offer unbiased, expert advice, that we give free of the conflict of interest that can occur with public shareholders or parent company relationships. Call us today at 877-930-4015 or contact us online to learn more about 401(k) rollover options in Frontenac, MO.
Normally, 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), most, but not all, Frontenac, 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 residents of Frontenac, 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, federal law dictates that 401(k)s creditors cannot make claims against 401(k)s. 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 move the funds at some point in the future.
However, it should be mentioned that if you don’t rollover your old 401(k), you won’t be able to continue adding contributions to it, which may have an effect on your retirement planning. After the age of 72, you will be required to withdraw “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 numerous recordkeepers. Withdrawal options can be limited and large amounts of your money will be withheld. You would not be able to take out a 401(k) loan. Correct Capital's retirement consultants can help you understand if sticking with your old 401(k) is right for you.
2. Roll Over Your 401(k) to Your New Employer
If your new position in Frontenac, MO also offers a 401(k), most of the time they will permit you to roll over your 401(k) funds to their plan. This might be the best option if the new plan has better benefits than the previous plan, including lower fees, better investment options, opportunities, advice, or loan options. Also, you will not be required to withdraw required minimum distributions after you turn 72 as long as you are still in the workforce.
If you have company stock in your previous 401(k) portfolio, you may have special financial planning needs when rolling over your 401(k) to a new employer. 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 keeping your 401(k) funds where they are is best for you.
3. Open a Rollover IRA
IRA is an abbreviation for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account used to move funds from a former employer’s 401(k). If you’ve already opened an IRA, you can consider moving the savings there for your 401(k) rollover. Depending on how you contributed to your 401(k) plan, it may be best to roll money to a Traditional or a Roth IRA. This way, the tax status of the money you already invested is not affected.
Traditional IRA
Money deposited into a Traditional IRA may be tax-deductible. the pre-tax money you paid into 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. Upon turning 72, you will have to take out required minimum distributions regardless of your status in the workforce.
Roth IRA
Contributions to Roth IRAs are made with money you already paid taxes on, 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 tax consequences, and your earnings are not taxed if you keep your account for at least 5 years, and are at least 59 ½ when the money is withdrawn. Unlike Roth 401(k) contributions, there are no required minimum distributions in a Roth IRA.
While you may roll pre-tax money from your 401(k) plan into a Roth IRA, you will pay taxes on the amount received into a Roth IRA as you are “converting” pre-tax money into after-tax money.
You can open an IRA with many banks or any brokerage firm in Frontenac, 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 withholding rate, 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 potentially result in a large amount of your withdrawal going towards taxes and not into your pocket. 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 your pocket immediately.
Indirect vs. Direct 401(k) Rollovers in Frontenac, 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 the account you are rolling your savings into. Each custodian is different, so the best first step is to reach out to your previous employer's 401(k) company for their process.
- Indirect rollover — In an indirect rollover, the funds are paid directly to you, and you deposit the savings directly into your new account. This is also called a 60-day rollover because the money needs to be deposited into the new account within 60 days in order to avoid paying income taxes and early withdrawal penalties.
Like cashing out a 401(k), an indirect rollover is usually not a good idea except under specific circumstances. Your Frontenac, MO financial advisor will be able to help you determine which option is best.
Avoiding Common 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
Even for Frontenac, MO residents with a good grasp of their finances, a 401(k) rollover is not something most people have experience with. The most common pitfalls you should avoid are:
- Not considering a rollover — If you like your current 401(k) plan, you may be better off sticking with it. But you would not longer be able to contribute to it, and a new account may offer other benefits that are not offered by your current plan.
- Not opening a new account first — If you do rollover your 401(k), make sure that the new account is already open, and that your new custodian is expecting a rollover. If they get a check when they aren't expecting a rollover, they may mistake it for a regular contribution that you might have to pay taxes on.
- Forgetting about your 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 new job brings a lot of life changes with it, but neglecting to do anything about your 401(k) could significantly impact how much you put away for retirement.
- Neglecting the same property rule — Any savings that you roll over must be the "same property." Meaning, you can't take a cash distribution from your 401(k), buy bonds or another asset with it and move those assets into a new account. If you do that, you would have to pay property tax, and if you're less than 59½ you'll also be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
- Rolling over a required minimum distribution — There is no way to roll over an RMD. If you do, you will be subject to a 6% penalty tax on any excess amount.
- Not working with a financial advisor — Financial advisors will be able to help you choose the best plan for you and ensure the rollover goes as smoothly as possible.
We also offer a full range of other financial services in Frontenac, 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
Speak to a 401(k) Rollover Advisor Today
Your unique situation will dictate which 401(k) option is best for you. Many residents of Frontenac, 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 vast array of investment research that we’ll provide you with. We’re founded 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 decide how to best manage your 401(k) rollover. Call 877-930-4015 or reach out to our financial advisors in Frontenac, MO today.
