401(k) Rollover in St. Clair County, IL. Changing jobs or careers is the start of a brand new, exciting chapter in your life. However, many St. Clair County, IL residents wonder what the best options are for their existing 401(k) plan. Managing multiple retirement savings accounts can be stressful without a team of expert and honest financial advisors.
401(k) Rollover in St. Clair County,IL
There are several options for handling your 401(k) rollover in St. Clair County, IL, and oftentimes it takes trustworthy financial planning and a savvy financial advisor to know which option is best for you. Correct Capital is an independent advisory 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 belief that we’ll do what’s best for you. We offer impartial, 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 St. Clair County, IL.
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), many St. Clair County, IL companies permit you to keep your retirement savings in their plan. The funds stay subject to the same rules, fees, investment plans, and withdrawal options. Many residents of St. Clair 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 not roll over your 401(k), and to keep the savings where they are. 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. keeping your assets in your original 401(k) frees you from having to make rushed decisions about where to place your money, and you’re still free to move the funds whenever you’d like.
However, it should be mentioned that if you don’t rollover your old 401(k), you won’t be able to add to your savings, 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 oversee several different retirement plans with numerous recordkeepers. 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 choose whether you should stay with your old 401(k) or not.
2. Roll Over Your 401(k) to Your New Employer
If your new employer in St. Clair County, IL also offers a 401(k), most of the time they will allow you to roll over your 401(k) funds to their plan. This might be the best option if you prefer the new plan’s options to your 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 working.
If part of your previous 401(k) portfolio includes company stock, 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 trustworthy financial advisor will help you decide if keeping your 401(k) savings where they are is best for you.
3. Open a Rollover IRA
IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account used to move funds from a former employer’s 401(k). If you already have an IRA, you can consider transferring 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) is likely to be rolled over into this account. Withdrawals from this account may be subject to taxes and an early withdrawal penalty. After turning 72, you will be obligated to take out required minimum distributions regardless of your status in the workforce.
Roth IRA
Money deposited into 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 you do not pay taxes when you withdraw the money. Money you contributed to a Roth 401(k) account is often rolled into a Roth IRA. At any time you can take out the contributions you make 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 St. Clair 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 one that suits your needs.
4. Cash Out.
The fourth option is seldom advisable unless you are in grave 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 savings 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 St. Clair County, IL
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 plan you are rolling your funds into. Each custodian 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 savings 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 typically not a good idea unless circumstances dictate you need money now. Your St. Clair County, IL financial advisor will help you understand what the best way to proceed is.
Avoiding Common 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
Even for St. Clair County, IL residents with a solid grasp of their finances, a 401(k) rollover is not something most people have experience with. The most common pitfalls you should avoid include:
- 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 plan may offer other benefits your current plan doesn't.
- Not opening a new account first — If you do open up an IRA or new 401(k), it's important that the new account is already open, and that your new custodian is expecting a rollover. If they get a check by surprise, they may mistake it for a regular contribution that could be subject to taxes.
- Neglecting your old 401(k) — While this may sound strange, Americans accidentally abandoned almost $8 billion in retirement savings in 2015. A new job brings a lot of life changes with it, but accidentally leaving behind your savings could significantly impact what you have available for your golden rules.
- Not taking into account 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 deposit those new 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 an RMD. If you do, you will have to pay a 6% penalty tax on any excess amount.
- Not consulting with a financial advisor — Financial advisors are well-versed in 401(k) rollovers, proper procedure, and the pro and cons of each of your options.
We also assist St. Clair County, IL residents with:
- 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
What to do with your 401(k) from your previous job depends on your unique situation. Many people in St. Clair 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 built 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 St. Clair County, IL today.
