Thursday, February 27, 2014

Choices Regarding 401K Retirement Plans

By Krystal Branch


401K retirement plans obtained its title from the section related to the tax code that governs it. This investment system was introduced during the 1980s to act as a supplement to pension funds. It is a retirement savings option which is sponsored by employers.

Prior to 1980, employees were usually offered a pension fund by their employer. This type of fund was generally managed by the company of employment and a regular amount was paid to the employee during their retirement. This option may still be available to those who work in government departments or belong to the unions. The costs related to the maintenance of pension funds are what have prompted the move to 401K plans.

Workers are able to save and choose an investment option of a portion of their earnings prior to taxation if they opt for a 401K plan. Tax is normally only applied once the funds are drawn from the plan. The worker is provided with some decision making regarding the investment of the funds made to the plan. The majority of the plans spread the funds across bonds, stock and money market investments. An extremely popular option for investment is funds that are target-dated. These are generally composed of a combination of stocks and bonds that lean towards conservatism as the age of retirement looms near.

There are several benefits of entering 401K retirement plans. The main one is the tax advantage. The worker does not pay tax on the dividends, capital gains and interest until a withdrawal of funds is made. This allows you to benefit from the compounding income in the account during this time period. The compounding can make a massive difference to the final payout if you join the plan when you are young.

The other benefit is the added contribution made to the plan by your employer. The amount invested by your employer may vary. Many employers opt to invest as much as six percent of your wages to the fund.

Another benefit is that you are able to transfer the fund from one employer to the next. You could opt to leave the amount in your past employer's fund, however, this may attract fees that could eat into your eventual payout. The alternative is to arrange for a total rollover to the fund of your new employer. This option may only be available to you if you already have another job offer before you leave your current employer.

The investment options that you can choose from for your new plan may be the deciding factor as to whether you choose a rollover. If the available options do not suit your plans, you have the options to transfer the funds to a suitable IRA. If you are dissatisfied with any of these options, you can opt to withdraw the funds you have contributed. This option will incur a penalty fee and tax.

The options regarding your investment options linked to 401K retirement plans are many. If you move from one employer to another, you should consider your options carefully. Your main focus should be to hang on to as much of your investment as possible and to follow a re-investment plan that is in line with your retirement goal.




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