401(k) Rollover in Madison County, IL

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401(k) Rollover in Madison County, IL. Starting a new job is an exciting time that can present you with new challenges and opportunities. However, it’s often difficult for Madison County, IL residents to know what to do with their 401(k) with their previous employer. Managing multiple retirement savings accounts can be stressful without a team of expert and honest financial advisors.


401(k) Rollover in Madison County,IL

There are several options for handling your 401(k) rollover in Madison County, IL, and oftentimes it takes sound financial planning and a savvy financial advisor to know which option is best for you. Correct Capital is a privately owned firm with fiduciary advisors. 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 impartial, 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 314-930-401K or contact us online to learn more about 401(k) rollover options in Madison County, IL.

Generally speaking, you have four options to consider when considering a 401(k) rollover.


1. Keep Your 401(k) With Your Former Employer

If you have over $5,000 invested in your 401(k), the majority of Madison County, IL 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 Madison County, IL 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 move the funds any time you’d like.

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 take out “required minimum distributions” from those 401(k) accounts you have at old employers. It can also be a hassle to oversee 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 understand if sticking with your old 401(k) is right for you.


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2. Roll Over Your 401(k) to Your New Employer

If your new employer in Madison County, IL also offers a 401(k), most employers will allow you to roll over your 401(k) savings to their plan. This might be the best option if the new plan’s features are preferable to the previous plan’s, including lower fees, better investment options, opportunities, insight, 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 part of your previous 401(k) portfolio includes company stock, you may have 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. An experienced 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 stands for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account started to move savings from a former 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 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. When you turn 72, you will be obligated to withdraw 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 you’ll need to wait until the money is withdrawn to see a tax benefit. The benefit is that Roth IRA money grows tax-free. Money you contributed to a Roth 401(k) account is usually rolled into a Roth IRA. At any time you can withdraw the contributions you make without having to pay taxes, and you will not pay taxes on your earnings if you are 59 ½ years old and wait at least 5 years to withdraw any funds. 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 Madison County, IL, however many of them vary when it comes to fees or other expenses. Our team of financial advisors at Correct Capital partners with several trusted financial custodians and will help you find the best choice for you.

4. Cash Out.

This final option is seldom 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 may result in a large amount of your funds 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 your pocket immediately.



Indirect vs. Direct 401(k) Rollovers in Madison County, IL

There are two ways to rollover your 401(k):

  1. 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 IRA or 401(k). Each custodian follows a different procedure, so the best first step is to reach out to your previous employer's 401(k) company for their process.
  2. Indirect rollover — In an indirect rollover, the funds are paid directly to you, and you deposit the funds directly into your new account. 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 usually not advisable unless circumstances dictate you need money in the short term. Your Madison County, IL financial advisor will be able to help you determine which option is best.

Avoiding Common 401(k) Rollover Mistakes

For even the most financially literate Madison County, IL residents, deciding what 401(k) rollover options is best for you isn't easy. The most common mistakes you should avoid are:

  • Not weighing all your options — If you like many aspects of your current 401(k) plan, it may make sense to leave your savings there. 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 that are not offered by your current plan.
  • Not opening a new account first — If you do rollover your 401(k), it's important 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.
  • 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 lot can come with moving to a new job, but accidentally leaving behind your savings could significantly reduce how much you put away for retirement.
  • Neglecting the same property rule — The property your new account receives must be the property that was rolled over. Meaning, you can't take a cash distribution from your 401(k), buy assets with it and move those assets into a new account. The IRS considers that taxable income, and if you're under 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 a required minimum distribution. If you do, you will have to pay a 6% excess IRA contribution tax.
  • Not speaking to a retirement planner — Financial advisors are well-versed in 401(k) rollovers, proper procedure, and the advantages and disadvantages of each of your options.

We also offer a full range of other financial services in Madison County, IL:

401k Rollover Madison County, IL | Financial Advisors | Retirement Planning Near Madison County

Contact a 401(k) Rollover Advisor Today

What to do with your 401(k) from your previous job depends on your unique situation. Many residents of Madison County, IL 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 based on trust, honesty, and integrity.

Call us today at 314-930-401K, 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 314-930-401K or reach out to our financial advisors in Madison County, IL today.

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