Individual retirement accounts held an estimated $4.7 trillion in 2010, which is just over a quarter of all retirement assets in the United States. Some 49 million Americans had at least part of their nest egg stashed in an IRA last year. How well you choose IRA investments and minimize taxes using these accounts will play a big role in how prepared you are for retirement. Here are 10 things you should know about your IRA.
[See 50 Best Funds for the Everyday Investor.]
Delay or pre-pay your taxes. Traditional IRAs allow you to defer paying taxes on up to $5,000 of retirement savings, or $6,000 if you are age 50 or older. Upon withdrawal, regular income tax is due on your savings and the interest. Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars and withdrawals in retirement from accounts that are at least five years old, including the earnings, are tax-free. Investing in both types of retirement accounts can add tax diversification and flexibility to your portfolio.
Later contribution deadline than 401(k)s. While you generally must make contributions to employer-based retirement accounts by December 31, you have until the date you file your taxes to make IRA deposits. If you make a contribution to an IRA between January 1 and your tax deadline, you should tell the financial institution which year the contribution is for. You can file a tax return claiming a traditional IRA deduction before the deposit is actually made, but the contribution should be in the account by the due date of your return.
Most IRA money is rolled over from 401(k)s. More than 10 times as many dollars are added to IRAs through rollovers than through direct contributions, according to an Employee Benefit Research Institute analysis of 14.1 million accounts containing $732.9 billion in 2008. Depending on their age, retirement savers can contribute up to $5,000 or $6,000 annually to an IRA, but there is no limit on the amount that can be rolled over to an IRA from a 401(k) or other retirement account after a job change or upon retirement. The average rollover amount was $74,785 in 2008, compared with an average individual contribution of $3,666.
[See the top-rated Vanguard, Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price funds from U.S. News.]
Older age for retirement withdrawals. Workers who leave their jobs at age 55 or later (or age 50 for public safety employees) can take penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals at age 55. If retirees roll that money into an IRA, they will have to wait until age 59½ to avoid the penalty. "If someone is 56 and they are retiring, they should roll over the part of the 401(k) they are not going to foreseeably need in the next few years and leave in the 401(k) what you need in the next few years," says David Hultstrom, a certified financial planner and president of Financial Architects in Woodstock, Ga.
Penalty-free early withdrawals allowed. There are several ways to avoid paying the 10-percent tax for taking withdrawals before age 59½. You can take penalty-free early withdrawals if you have unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, use the withdrawal to pay for health insurance after losing your job, become disabled, or are a military reservist ordered to active duty. You can also use the money to pay for higher education expenses or a first home purchase up to $10,000 ($20,000 for couples) without incurring extra charges. Setting up equal annuity payments from the IRA over your life expectancy or over the joint life expectancies of you and your spouse can also allow you to avoid the 10 percent tax.
You are responsible for shifting your investments. Almost half (46 percent) of IRA assets are invested in the stock market. The most popular IRA investments are equity mutual funds and individual stocks (39 percent), cash (22 percent), bonds (14 percent), and balanced funds (12 percent), according to EBRI research. Individuals must choose their own investments and are responsible for shifting those assets appropriately as they approach retirement. "Those who are younger and in the accumulation stage are more likely to be invested in equities," says Craig Copeland, a senior research associate at the Employee Benefit Research Institute and author of the report. "Older investors and those with bigger account balances are diversifying across many assets and focused on the preservation of income."
Reader Comments Read all comments (3)
Galicia Escobar of NY 3:10PM July 19, 2012
L Webster of OR 7:11PM July 17, 2012
Cindy of IN 1:17PM April 14, 2012