401(k) Rollover in Town and Country, MO. Changing jobs or careers is the start of a brand new, exciting chapter in your life. However, many Town and Country, MO residents wonder what the best options are for 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 Town and Country,MO
There are a few different ways to handle your 401(k) rollover in Town and Country, 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 a privately owned firm with fiduciary advisors. This means our only concern is making sure your financial future and planning needs are met. 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 877-930-4015 or contact us online to learn more about 401(k) rollover options in Town and Country, MO.
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 Town and Country, 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 Town and Country, 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 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 any time you’d like.
However, it is important to note 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 withdraw “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 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 Town and Country, MO also offers a 401(k), most employers will let you roll over your 401(k) savings 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, advice, or loan options. Also, you will not be required to withdraw required minimum distributions after you turn 72 if 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 a new employer. The 401(k) plan with your new employer may not contain all the benefits of your previous one. A trustworthy financial advisor will help you decide if a 401(k) rollover or sticking with your previous plan is right for you.
3. Open a Rollover IRA
IRA is an abbreviation for Individual Retirement Account. A Rollover IRA is an account started 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 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 your previous contributions stays the same.
Traditional IRA
Money deposited into a Traditional IRA may be tax-deductible. 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. Upon 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 until the money is withdrawn. 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 withdraw the contributions you make without having to pay taxes, and your earnings are not taxed if you keep your account for at least 5 years, and are at least 59 ½ when funds are withdrawn. Different from 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 start an IRA account with many banks or any brokerage firm in Town and Country, MO, however they often vary in terms of fees or other expenses. Our team of financial advisors at Correct Capital partners with several trusted financial custodians and will help you find what’s right for you.
4. Cash Out.
This final option is seldom advisable unless you are in desperate 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 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 Town and Country, MO
There are two different ways to actually move the funds in 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 plan you are rolling your savings into. Each firm 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 funds directly into your IRA or new 401(k). 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 typically not a good idea except under specific circumstances. Your Town and Country, MO 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 Town and Country, MO residents, a 401(k) rollover is not something most people have experience with. The most common mistakes you should avoid are:
- Not weighing all your options — If you like your current 401(k) plan, it may make sense to leave your savings there. 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 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 be surprised that people 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 neglecting to do anything about your 401(k) could significantly impact 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 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 — You are not allowed 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 retirement planner — Financial advisors are well-versed in 401(k) rollovers, proper procedure, and the advantages and disadvantages of each of your options.
Other services we offer in Town and Country, 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
Contact 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 Town and Country, 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 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 decide how to best manage your 401(k) rollover. Call 877-930-4015 or reach out to our financial advisors in Town and Country, MO today.
