401(k) Rollover in St. Louis County, MO. Starting a new job is an exciting time that can present you with new challenges and opportunities. However, many St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County,MO
There are a few different ways to handle your 401(k) rollover in St. Louis County, MO, and oftentimes it takes knowledgeable 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 we work in your best interest to make sure your money is working for you as you want it to. 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. Louis County, 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), many St. Louis County, MO 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. Louis County, 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. 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 transfer 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 impact 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 daunting to manage several different retirement plans with several different custodians. 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 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 job in St. Louis County, MO also offers a 401(k), most of the time they will let you roll over your 401(k) savings 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, advice, or loan options. Also, required minimum distributions may be delayed even 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 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 stands for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account used to move savings from an old employer’s 401(k). If you already have an IRA, you can consider moving the money 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, you maintain your tax status with the money you have contributed.
Traditional IRA
Money deposited into a Traditional IRA are considered to be pre-tax money. the pre-tax money you contributed to 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 withdraw required minimum distributions regardless of whether or not you are still in the workforce.
Roth IRA
Contributions to Roth IRAs are made with money you already paid taxes on, so there is no immediate tax benefit. The benefit is that Roth IRA money grows tax-free. Money you contributed to a Roth 401(k) account is often rolled into a Roth IRA. At any time you can access the money you’ve invested without tax consequences, 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. 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 open an IRA with many banks or any brokerage firm in St. Louis County, 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 the best fit for you.
4. Cash Out.
This last 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 savings 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 St. Louis County, MO
There are two ways to rollover your 401(k):
- Direct rollover — In a direct rollover, the custodian holding your 401(k) funds will send a check directly to your new retirement account with instructions to put the money into the account you are rolling your funds into. Each firm runs differently, 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 funds from your account, and then you deposit the funds directly into your IRA or new 401(k). This is also referred to as 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 typically not a good idea unless circumstances dictate you need money now. Your St. Louis County, MO financial advisor will help you understand what the best way to proceed is.
Avoiding Common 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
Even for St. Louis County, MO residents with a good understanding of their finances, deciding what 401(k) rollover options is best for you isn't easy. The most common mistakes you should avoid include:
- Not considering a rollover — If you like some 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 offer other benefits your current plan doesn't.
- 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 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 lost $7.7 billion in retirement savings in 2015. A lot can come with moving to a new job, but accidentally leaving behind your retirement funds could significantly reduce what you have available for your golden rules.
- Neglecting 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 assets with it and deposit those new assets into a new account. If you do that, you would have to pay property tax, 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% penalty tax on any excess amount.
- Not consulting with a retirement planner — Financial advisors deal with investment, tax planning, and other 401(k) rollover considerations every day.
Other services we offer in St. Louis County, MO include:
- 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 people in St. Louis County, 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 wealth 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 decide how to best manage your 401(k) rollover. Call 877-930-4015 or reach out to our financial advisors in St. Louis County, MO today.
