If your employer is a retirement plan sponsor, you’ve probably received information about your retirement plan, including descriptions of all the investment options available to you. Why do retirement plans offer different options?
Many people have different options to save for retirement. Virtually anyone can open an individual retirement account (IRA) and start saving. Many other people have access to a 401(k) plan through their employers. So which option is best for you?
If your employer is a retirement plan sponsor that offers access to a 401(k) plan, you should be taking advantage of it to save for retirement. 401(k)s offer significant advantages to workers, such as the ability to save on a tax-deferred basis and often, employer savings matches.
Many people who are saving for retirement haven’t taken the time to figure out how much they may need when they retire. Financial planners who do pension consulting point out that saving without a goal could leave you in trouble when you reach retirement. After all, how do you know if you’re saving enough if you don’t know how much you may need?
For most people, a home is the biggest financial commitment they will make, so it’s important to carefully review your options when you’re thinking about making a change to your housing situation. Retirement plan consultants also note that your home will also generally be your largest asset when you retire, and that’s an important consideration for many people.
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Sometimes people are surprised to find out they owe taxes on investments in their “tax-free” retirement accounts. It’s not common, but pension consultants note that it can happen.
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Retirement is a whole new phase of life. You’ll experience many new things, and you’ll leave other things behind. One thing that won’t disappear, however, are taxes. If you’ve followed the advice of retirement plan consultants, you’re probably saving in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, like 401(k)s or IRAs.
Educating plan participants is one of the many duties of pension consulting firms, but many focus on accumulating and building wealth while plan participants are working. While that’s important, it’s also important for participants to consider what happens after they retire.
Frequently, the news about retirement is pretty pessimistic. Pensions no longer exist for most workers, we aren’t saving enough, and Social Security is going to disappear. However, things may not be as bleak as they are often painted. If you’re a retirement plan sponsor, you may be wondering how you can help your employees prepare for retirement.
A lot of people focus on things to do after they retire, but there are a number of things you should take care of before you hit that milestone. Retirement planning specialists, The Participant EffectSM, explain the steps that will help you better prepare for retirement and help make this transition successful.
Perhaps you’ve lost a job, faced an illness or have been delt a family crisis that emptied out your emergency fund. What are your next steps?
You’re eyeing center-hall colonials in your neighborhood and dreaming about the garden you want to plant in the backyard and all the holiday celebrations you’ll host. You’ve saved toward this goal and think you’re ready to pull the trigger. But the real question is: How much house can I afford?
Or is it?
Social Security’s financial cliff is coming closer into view. Experts project that the fund that pays for government retirement benefits through FICA taxes will be depleted within the next 15 years.
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