This is a guest post written for playlouder.com by Rick Pendykoski, the owner of Self Directed Retirement Plans LLC, a retirement planning firm based in Goodyear, AZ. Rick has over three decades of experience working with investments and retirement planning, and over the last 10 years has turned his focus to self-directed accounts and alternative investments. Rick regularly posts helpful tips and articles on his blog at SD Retirement as well.
Please note that guest post opinions are of their author. They are not always in strict alignment with my own opinions. – Joe
Those of you who started saving for retirement really late in life, or have fallen behind with the contributions, can consider the following options to make the most of your investments.
1.Capitalize on Contribution Levels
Contributing towards a salary deferral or investing in an automatic plan is a great way to fund your retirement. You can make the maximum permitted contribution under yourIRAto maximize your long-term investment portfolio.
You should take full advantage of the matching contribution made by your employer till you are fully vested. To qualify for a matching contribution from your employer, you need to make the minimum required contribution.
2.Alter Your Existing Investment Plans for A Profitable Mix
Based on your investment’s tolerance for instability and the time-frame, you can determine an investment plan that allows for maximum growth. If you haven’t saved enough to fund your retirement, you can consider investing your assets in growth funds.
3.Consider Investing Outside Your Existing Retirement Plan
Opening an IRA can give you the benefits of tax-deferred income. IRAs can be classified into two categories: Roth IRA and traditional IRA. You can consult an experienced financial advisor to find out which IRA suits your specific situation and best fits your financial needs.
If you are married, you can open separate IRAs and both of you can make maximum permitted contributions to fund your future needs. If you opt for a traditional IRA, you have the liberty to withhold a fraction or your total contributions from being taxed.
You can also invest in other tax-advantaged vehicles such as municipal bonds, minibonds, and annuities to fund your retirement. Be sure to consult a financial professional before you invest in any program to ensure that it is designed to meet your long-term financial goals.
4.Make the Most of the Available Tax Incentives
The maximum traditional and Roth IRA limits have been raised. You can now make more retirement saving contributions to support your golden years.
5.Participate in Salary Deferral Plans
From 2020, your plan allows you to contribute up to $19,500 towards your401(k), 457, or 403(b) account.
If you have surpassed the age bracket of 50, you are eligible to put in an extra $6,500 to your existing retirement account over and above the contribution of $26,000.
Contribution limits may vary with the employer and hence you need to check with your company for specific changes in terms of pre-tax, after-tax and inflation adjustments.
6.Contribution Limits of a Simple IRA Plan
The contribution limit for those under 50 is set at $13,500. Those above 50 years of age can make a catch-up contribution of $3,000 which will raise the total contribution to $16,500. These limits are adjusted for inflation and are likely to increase in $500 increments.
7.Traditional and Roth IRA Limits
From 2020 onwards, the contribution limit for those under the age of 50 is set at $6000 with a catch-up contribution limit of $7000 for those who have crossed the age of 50.
8.Continue Investing Even After Your Retire
If you don’t use up all of your minimum distribution to fund your living expenses, you can reinvest the amount to make you more money. Investing a part of your annual distribution towards a regular taxable account will start making new money for you.
You can consult an experienced tax advisor or a wealth management professional to build a tailor-made investment strategy that fits your budget.
In Conclusion
If you couldn’t start saving early on in life, now is the time. A happy and secure retirement can be well within your reach if you get started right away. Let a financial advisor set the right savings target for you so that you remain covered for the rest of your life.
It is never too late to explore the opportunities that can increase the pace of your retirement saving goals. You can still rebalance your retirement portfolio and recover the time you have lost by getting on the right track.
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