Taking a distribution from a tax-qualified retirement plan, like a 401(k) before age 59.5, is generally subject to a 10% penalty for early withdrawal. The exceptions to paying this 10% penalty are:

• Hardship distributions

• Rule of 55

Are you familiar with how the Rule of 55 works? If you want to retire early, this blog post is significant for you.

What is the Rule of 55?

The Rule of 55 is an IRS provision that allows employees who leave their job on or after age 55 to take penalty-free distributions from their retirement accounts. It’s a life hack! Typically, individuals would face a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if they access their retirement account before age 59.5. The 10% penalty and account accessibility are two of the reasons why people plan to work until at least age 59.5. 

If you are someone who is thinking about retiring early, the following Rule of 55 requirements are necessary:

1. You leave your job (voluntarily or involuntarily) in or after the year you turn 55 years old.

2. Your plan must allow for withdrawals before age 59.5.

3. Your dollars must be kept in your employer’s retirement plan. If you roll them over to an IRA, you lose the Rule of 55 protection.

4. You will likely want your plan to allow partial distributions when you are terminated.

Access to your retirement account at age 55 is available for all employees with an employer-sponsored retirement account. However, if you are considering retiring after age 55 and using funds from this retirement account, you must check whether your plan allows partial distributions. This feature is an opt-in feature for employers to select. We recommend that you work closely with your recordkeeper to ensure you can take advantage of the Rule of 55 in a way that benefits you.

3 Examples of the Rule of 55

Look at a few examples of employees with partial distributions compared to employees without partial distributions allowed in their plan.

Example 1: Partial Distributions Allowed

Danielle can take any amount from her PDX 401(k) account. For example, in October 2022, she can request $30,000. She doesn’t have to take anything out in 2023. She could take another $65,000 out in January 2024.

EXAMPLE 2: Partial Distributions Disallowed

Martin’s employer-sponsored retirement plan does not permit partial distributions. If he wants to access his retirement account at age 57 without incurring a 10% early-withdrawal penalty, he would have to withdraw the entire $450,000. This would result in reporting $450,000 of taxable income for the year of his distribution. Given the tax bracket optimization strategies that exist during retirement years, this may not be Martin’s best solution for accessing dollars before age 59.5.

A couple of alternative solutions for Martin are:

1. Ideally, Martin would have a cash-flow plan to support his expenses until he reaches age 59.5.

2. Initiate a direct rollover of his $450,000 retirement account into a IRA account. Then take distributions as needed but expect to pay a 10% penalty on these dollars. Before paying a 10% penalty on an early-distribution from a IRA, we would recommend that Martin review other cashflow options he may have.

Example 3: Partial Distributions Disallowed

Rebecca, age 56, has $67,000 saved in her most recent 401(k) account with ABC Company. She also has $700,000 saved in her previous 401(k) account with XYZ Company. Neither of these retirement plans allow for partial distributions.

Rebecca retired at age 56 from ABC Company, so she can take the entire $67,000 balance out in one lump sum distribution. She will not owe a 10% penalty on these dollars due to the Rule of 55.

If she were to access any of her $700,000 saved in her previous 401(k) account with XYZ Company before age 59.5, then she would incur a 10% penalty. Not to mention the $700,000 is sitting in a plan that disallows partial distributions so that would be significant taxable income to report in the same tax year. Similar to the example above, Rebecca may consider initiating a direct rollover of her $700,000 into a IRA account for more flexible distribution choices.

What About Other 401(k) Accounts from Previous Jobs?

To qualify for the Rule of 55, you must be terminated as an employee on or after age 55. Therefore, if you have multiple retirement accounts, the only ones that will qualify for a penalty-free distribution between ages 55 and 59.5 are accounts with your termination date reflecting that age range.

One consideration is to roll over a previous retirement account into your current account before you retire. We recommend speaking with your recordkeeper to confirm that your retirement plan features are designed so rollover sources can be accessible by partial distributions.

For example, if Danielle from above had another 401(k) account, she could have rolled that into her PDX 401(k) account before retiring. All the dollars in the account would be eligible for Rule of 55 distributions.

What if I Decide to go Back to Work but have Taken Distributions Already?

Going back to work after you have taken a Rule of 55 distribution should not result in a 10% penalty. If you go back to work for the same company, then you may lose the ability to access funds as an active employee. However, your distributions will not be impacted if you go back to work at another organization.

How are Rule of 55 Distributions Tracked for Tax Reasons?

Custodians and recordkeepers are responsible for providing a Form 1099-R. This tax form reports any distributions from a retirement account. If you take a distribution under the Rule of 55, you would expect to see code 2 in box 7 of your 1099-R form. Code 2 specifies the following:

2 - Early distribution, exception applies (under age 59.5)

If your 1099-R form includes Code 2 in box 7, you will not owe a 10% penalty. Before you initiate a withdrawal between ages 55-59.5, we recommend confirming your record keeper will issue the 1099 in this format.

What Other Resources do you Have?

Retirement is a transition that only happens once in life. You probably haven’t retired before, and you likely won’t retire again. Retirement transitions involve several financial planning considerations and we wanted to conclude this article with additional resources that may be helpful to you:

Your Pre-Retirement Checklist

The 3 Questions to Ask to Build a Solid Retirement Income Plan

Why an IRA Makes More Sense in Retirement than your 401(k)

While the articles are supplemental information, we believe the best way to prepare for your upcoming retirement is to collaborate with our team at Human Investing. Please use this scheduling link to meet with our team to review your unique financial landscape before you start planning your retirement celebration(s): Schedule here.

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Medicare is an important part of your retirement plan. We hope this overview is a helpful resource to know when to apply and how much it may cost.

Before you turn 65…

Most people turning age 65 should sign up for Medicare during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). During your IEP, which starts 3 months prior to the month you turn 65 and lasts until 3 months after, you can enroll in Medicare Part A (Hospital coverage), and Medicare Part B (Doctor visits). Medicare Part B pays 80% of most medically necessary healthcare services and the beneficiary pays the remaining 20%. You may also join a Medicare Part D plan (Prescription Drugs) within 3 months of when Medicare coverage begins to avoid any late enrollment penalties.

What if I’m still working past age 65?

If you are still working and have employer-based health insurance at a company with 20 employees or more, you can delay enrollment in Medicare until retirement. If, however, you work for a company with less than 20 employees, you will likely need to sign up for Medicare at age 65.

When your employment health plan coverage ends, you will need to add Part B within eight months of either a) the end of your employment or b) then end of your group health coverage. COBRA can help bridge the gap between employment coverage and Medicare. COBRA will end once Medicare begins.

If you are still working past age 65 and want to continue contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a high deductible plan, you will need to delay your Medicare Part A coverage.

What does Medicare cost?

Most beneficiaries will only pay the standard premium amount for Part B ($158.50 in 2022). They may be required to pay a premium based on their income represented in the chart below. Medicare uses the modified adjusted income from the beneficiary’s IRS tax return two years prior.

Typical cost for Part B is shown below with income ranges that increase Medicare premiums:

If you do not enroll in Medicare Part B when you are first eligible:

• Your Part B monthly premium will increase 10% for each 12-month period that you are not enrolled.

• You will pay a higher premium for the remainder of your life.

What if I need additional coverage?

Your IEP is also when you can buy Medicare Supplemental Insurance (also known as Medigap) from insurance companies. This is an additional policy that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Part A and Part B Medicare coverage. You are guaranteed the right to purchase this insurance without going through medical underwriting (i. e. you can’t be denied). This is critical if you have one or more chronic health conditions. Cost for Supplemental Insurance can typically range from $200 to $300 per month.

How do I sign up?

• Online (at Social Security) — It’s the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. (You’ll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits).

• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

• Contact your local Social Security Office.

Sources: medicare.gov

Medicare can be a complicated concept, but the help of a professional can make all the difference. Please reach out to our team if you could use some guidance as you approach retirement.

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Given the combination of low interest rates, soaring housing prices, and saving habits during the global pandemic, we have noticed more people are needing a strategy for their excess savings. Contributing to a Roth IRA account is strategic for individuals who have already funded their emergency account and have some extra savings. We are helping people plan for scenarios like these three examples below:

Michaela, age 29: “I have $15,000 of extra cash savings. I started to build this savings account with the intention of buying a home sometime in the next five years.”

Martin & Angela, age 40: “We are a dual-income house with two young children. We manage to pay our monthly bills, live within our means, and we need a plan for our extra money. We looked at high-yield savings accounts but are underwhelmed with the current return. Our main concern is wanting access to the dollars in case we need it in the coming years.”

Samuel, age 35: “I am currently leasing my car. The lease is up in 3 years, and I might be interested in buying the car at the end of the lease.”

All three of these examples include an element of uncertainty or unpredictability. Michaela hasn’t engaged with a realtor and isn’t certain if/when she will buy a home, Martin & Angela don’t have an immediate need for their excess savings, and Samuel may change his mind about buying his car in a few years. These three situations share these things in common:

• There is no specific timeline for the savings to be spent.

• These people are all seeking a way to grow their dollars.

• These people want distribution flexibility in the future.

Roth IRA Eligibility

In the year 2022, the maximum annual Roth IRA contribution is $6,000 per person. The annual contribution increases to $7,000 for people ages 50 and older. This $6,000 contribution amount is different than making Roth contributions inside a 401(k) account. All employees with a Roth contribution type available inside their 401(k) account are eligible to save Roth that way regardless of their income. Due to the tax-advantages of Roth IRA accounts the IRS has set the following income limits for Roth IRA eligibility:

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If your income is above these limits, then you are not eligible to make a Roth IRA contribution this year.

Roth Distribution

If you’re eligible, let’s review why this account has both tax advantages and distribution flexibility. Because Roth IRA’s are funded with after tax dollars, you are allowed to take out your contributions without taxes and penalties. Here is an example:

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In this scenario you can take up to $6,000 out of your account without penalties and taxes because you are withdrawing what you originally deposited into the account. If you take out the $800 of growth, then it will be taxed and subject to a 10% penalty for non-qualified distributions.

In this example, the account value increased overtime. Like any investment account, there is no guarantee that the account value will have appreciated at the time of the withdrawal. Be mindful that a Roth IRA account value could decrease below its initial contribution amount. 

better savings Compared to What?

In order to give Roth IRA’s credibility, let’s compare them to other accounts for excess savings. Here are some examples of common comparisons:

Roth IRA vs. 401(k) Accounts: Most 401(k) accounts have stricter rules on accessing your money before retirement age. The quick and easy distribution of principal contribution is not guaranteed in Roth 401(k) accounts.

Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Unless the distribution is for one of these reasons, early distributions from IRA accounts result in a 10% penalty and income tax payable on the amount distributed. For example, if Samuel from above (age 35), wanted to take out $5,000 from his Traditional IRA account he would owe a 10% penalty and income taxes on the $5,000 in the year of distribution. Not ideal!

Roth IRA vs. High-Yield Savings Accounts: High-yield savings accounts do offer principal production, but not an inflation-protected return. As an example, most high-yield savings are currently paying .5% APY and the average inflation rate is approximately 2.84%. This is not an ideal investment strategy if you are saving up for future purchases. The current interest rate environment means that high-yield savings accounts are not optimal for growing your savings. As an example, the current high-yield savings account is paying .5% APY meaning someone would only earn $30 a year on an account with $6,000.

Roth IRA vs. Brokerage Account: Brokerage accounts are Roth IRA’s fiercest competitor. To start, brokerage accounts are accessible by all savers because there are no income eligibility limitations for brokerage accounts. Brokerage accounts aren’t tax-sheltered. Let’s compare the same $5,000 distribution as above, but this time in a brokerage account instead of a Roth IRA.

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Ideally, Roth IRA’s are setup with long-term investment strategies and the dollars stay invested for a long period of time to serve you later on. However, the distribution flexibility outlined above is why Roth IRA’s can be a reasonable savings account for extra money that does not have predetermined utility in the coming years.

We hope that this article provides some clarity if you need a place to invest your excess savings. If you have any questions, please get in touch with our team at Human Investing.

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Full transparency: I am a Roth enthusiast.  

If you are reading this article, it’s likely that we have already spent some time reviewing the benefits of Roth together and you have sensed some of my fervor. While the excitement is real, the concept of saving dollars in tax-sheltered accounts like an IRA, 401(k), HSA, or 529 account is complicated to grasp. With that said, I am offering some written advice about Roth accounts for my fellow visual learners.

Before you read on, here is an outline of the two different ways to save Roth.

Roth IRA

• Contribution limit: $6,000 per year ($7,000 if you are ages 50 and older)

• Eligibility: Single tax filer with 2022 income less than $144,000 or Married filed jointly with 2021 household income less than $214,000

Roth 401k

• Contribution limit: $20,500 per year ($27,000 if you are ages 50 and older)

• Eligibility: All employees can contribute up to $20,500 regardless of your income and salary.

• Employer match: Employer contributions are always pre-tax. If you contribute Roth inside your 401(k) plan you will still receive your pre-tax employer contributions. This is important! People are commonly surprised to learn that 401(k) accounts have Roth inside them.

401(k) Account – two savings types under the same umbrella

In summation, if your annual income is less than $125,000 (single filer) or $198,000 (married filed jointly) then you could save up to $26,500 in Roth accounts for the year 2022. The math is here:

Hierarchy of Roth

What should you do if you have access to save Roth inside your 401(k) account but are also eligible to make Roth IRA contributions? Which account should you actively contribute to this year?

First, we recommend that you contribute enough to your Roth 401(k) account to receive your employer match (if applicable). For example, if your employer match is designed so that if you save 5% your employer will contribute 4%, then we recommend you meet the 5% savings rate to take advantage of the free money.

If you can still save additional dollars, use the Venn Diagram and these two examples to help formulate your decision.

Meet Michaela, age 29, single tax filer

Michaela, like many 29 year-olds, just started a job at her fourth employer in 8 years. Let’s imagine that she just enrolled in her current 401(k) plan which has a save 4%, get 4% employer match structure. She has also noticed her total savings and checking account balances have grown over the past year. As a result, she wants to set aside additional dollars to invest for the future, but also has some concerns about possibly needing access to the dollars in the coming years. Michaela could easily increase her 401(k) contributions to above 4%, but she decides to open a Roth IRA instead because of the flexible distributions. For Michaela, the hierarchy of her Roth savings is as follows:

Meet Martin, age 40, married, joint tax filer

Martin is busy juggling their full-time job, building a deck in their backyard, and spending time with their energetic family. They are currently saving 8% Roth into their 401(k) plan which equates to $7,500 annually. Martin is a great candidate for increasing their Roth 401(k) contributions since they still have $12,000 of potential savings into this account to reach the $20,500 maximum this year. Given their busy lifestyle, Martin will benefit by leaning into the automation of a 401(k) account.

Increasing your contribution rate is easier than opening a Roth IRA, making contributions throughout the year, and creating an investment strategy for that account. For Martin, the hierarchy of their Roth savings is as follows:

Since Michaela and Martin’s examples don’t speak to all situations, here is a Venn Diagram with additional considerations for you:

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There is good news for retirement accounts! The IRS has increased the contribution limits for the upcoming year. As you can see below, an important change for 2022 is that 401(k) elective deferrals increased from $19,500 to $20,500. That’s not all! Please see below for the applicable updates for the coming year:

How do these changes impact your savings in the upcoming year? Are there any changes you should be making? Use this link to schedule a time to meet one-on-one with our team. We look forward to working with you in 2022!

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Transitioning into retirement can be an exciting time. For many it can also be a daunting reality. We hope the following Pre-Retirement Checklist is a helpful tool as you intentionally prepare for your retirement years.

5-10 years out 

• Create a plan to pay down debt.   

• Maintain Emergency Fund – Emergencies still happen in retirement.  

• Familiarize yourself with Social Security, Pension, and/or Defined Benefit options.  

• Consider Long Term Care (LTC) options – LTC Insurance vs Self-insuring using other assets.  

• Maximize all tax-advantaged savings accounts – 2021 Contribution Limits.  

• Review your investment strategy to make sure your retirement accounts are in line with your risk tolerance and timeline.   

• Strategize how to divest from company stock.  

2-4 years out 

• Devise a retirement spending plan:   

  • Identify your retirement spending goals – basic needs, travel, one-time needs, etc.  

  • Take inventory of assets and consolidate as needed.

  • Retrieve Social Security estimates and create a strategy for taking your social security.

  • Determine and clarify your retirement paycheck replacement strategy.  

  • If you are retiring early, figure out how you will bridge spending needs prior to Social Security income, Medicare coverage, and accessing retirement accounts at age 59.5. 

  • Review deferred compensation distribution strategies.  

• Begin developing a plan for a fulfilling retirement (goals, purpose, health).  

• Practice being retired – take a long vacation in the location you plan to retire and live within your retirement budget. 

• Retirement Living Plan:  

  • Evaluate downsizing a home or relocation and the associated tax implications.  

  • If a mortgage is required, relocate while you still have the income to qualify for the mortgage preapproval process. 

• Formulate a plan to exercise your stock options. 

• Review insurance needs – potentially to cancel or lower life/disability insurance.  

< 1 Year out 

• Formulate a health care plan:   

  • Investigate Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage plans.  

  • Compare Individual Insurance policy or COBRA if you are younger than age 65.  

  • Enroll in Medicare 3 months before age 65.  

• Apply for Social Security benefits 3-4 months before you want benefits to start.  

• Determine how much monthly income you need from your portfolio to cover your expenses.   

• Analyze your retirement income plan.

• Consider a HELOC while you still have the income to qualify.  

• Update estate plan documents with retirement changes.  

• Take advantage of employer medical plans.   

Download this as a printable one-sheeter.

Planning for retirement should be exciting. Please reach out if our team of credentialed experts can help you navigate the road to retirement.

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Social Security is something we contribute to all our working years, so why don’t we know much about it? What sets it apart from other retirement benefits? I want to briefly share some of the characteristics that make Social Security unique and helpful for retirement planning purposes.

Social Security Includes Spousal Benefits

Social Security spousal income is a benefit provided to married couples. If you have a working income that is less than 50% of your spouse’s normal retirement age benefit, a spousal benefit will be added to your Social Security income to make it equal to 50% of your spouse’s income. Even with no working income (homemaker), 50% of the spouse’s normal retirement age income will be received.

To receive this increase in income, the higher-earning spouse must start their benefits before the spousal payments begin. Check your eligibility for spousal benefits here.

Two more things to note:

• There is no benefit to delaying spousal income after normal retirement age as it does not continue to grow.

• If the spouse with the higher income predeceases the spouse with the lower income, the surviving spouse will receive the higher of the two incomes for the rest of their life. For example, let’s say Joe has a social security benefit of $2,800 per month, and his wife, Shirley, has a benefit of $1,400 monthly. At Joe’s death, Shirley will receive $2,800 per month rather than $1,400 per month.

Social Security income is not fully taxable

If you are Married Filing Jointly and have a combined income below $25,000 in 2021, you will not owe taxes on social security benefits. If your income is between $25,000 and $34,000 in 2021, 50% of benefits will be subject to taxation. With income over $44,000 in 2021, a maximum of 85% of benefits will be taxable. Social security income is not subject to Oregon state income tax.

Social Security Income varies based on retirement age

You can start taking social security retirement benefits at the age of 62, but if you are able, it is best to delay taking benefits until normal retirement age (typically age 66). Furthermore, delaying benefits until the age of 70 is even more advantageous, as your income will continue to increase by a certain percentage (based on birth year) until then.

Remember: If benefits are claimed before normal retirement age, half of the benefits will be withheld if income is over $18,960. Benefits will be recalculated at normal retirement age, but it is more beneficial to delay taking social security if someone is planning to work. After reaching normal retirement age, unlimited earned income will not reduce your social security income.

Social Security Income is protected from inflation

Each January the IRS/SSA increases benefits by the amount of inflation experienced over the previous year. These cost-of-living adjustments (COLA’s) are credited even when delaying benefits to a later age. The most recent cost of living adjustment was 1.3% in January 2021. The average estimates over a long period of time are 2.6% annually.

Things to note when applying for benefits:

• Ensure you have Federal withholdings taken from your benefits, often at 12%.

• Remember, your Medicare Part B premiums ($148.50 per check) will be deducted from your benefit if you are over age 65.

• Apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov, by phone at (800) 772-1213, or in person at a Social Security office using the office locator. If you have any questions about social security benefits, please schedule a time to chat.

References:

www.ssa.gov

The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Social Security, Elaine Floyd, CFP®

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Saving for retirement can seem straightforward compared to the daunting task of converting your hard-earned savings into retirement income.

When building a retirement income plan knowing what questions to ask will potentially save you money, lower your overall tax bill, and provide you peace of mind. Here are three questions you should ask when building a retirement income plan, as well as some considerations:

Question 1: What sources are available to you?

There are many ways to fund retirement. Thus, no retirement plan looks the same. To begin to understand how you will fund retirement, give yourself a quick assessment. What sources are available to you and how much?

What you should consider: Simplicity in retirement. This can be achieved by consolidating retirement accounts such as your employer-sponsored retirement plans into an IRA. See - Why an IRA makes more sense in retirement than your 401(k)

Question 2: When do you plan on receiving income from your different sources?

There are a lot of unique planning opportunities regarding when to start receiving your sources of income. Knowing when to access these different sources can provide efficiency, lower taxes paid, and increase your retirement income.

 The IRS and Social Security Administration have imposed rules that coincide with specific ages. Familiarizing yourself with these key rules and ages associated with accessing popular income sources can help you begin to answer the question of “When?”. Here are some key ages to consider when building a retirement income plan around these popular sources -

Tax-deferred accounts (401(k)/403(b)/IRAs):

• Age 59.5 - you can’t access tax-deferred dollars without a 10% early withdrawal penalty before age 59.5. The IRS does highlight some exceptions to the 10% penalty for premature withdrawals.

• Age 72 (or age 70.5 if you were born before 1951) – The IRS requires that an individual withdraws a minimum amount of their retirement plans (i.e. an IRA) each year starting in the year they reach age 72. This requirement is known as a required minimum distribution or an RMD. Account-holders that do not take their full RMD will be faced with a stiff excise tax equal to 50% of the RMD not withdrawn.

Social Security:

Most Americans can begin claiming Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, or as late as age 70. Once you stop working, it can be tempting to claim Social Security as soon as possible to subsidize your income. However, it’s often strategic to delay Social Security as long as possible. The longer you delay claiming your Social Security benefit the greater your guaranteed inflation-adjusted monthly benefit will grow (up to age 70). Factors that should be considered when creating a plan around Social Security are life expectancy, other sources of retirement income, and spousal benefits.

What you should consider:

• Which sources you will draw first?

• Should you delay social security as long as possible?

• How long each source will last?

Question 3: What are the tax implications of accessing your retirement income sources?

Not all income sources are taxed at the same rate. Take the time to understand your applicable taxes and build a tax-sensitive retirement income plan to prevent paying unnecessary amounts to the government.

What you should consider:

• The tax implications of the aforementioned RMD’s. RMD’s can unknowingly force you to pay a higher than necessary tax bill once you are forced to take required withdrawals.

• A tax bracket optimization strategy that provides savings on your overall retirement tax bill. This can be especially beneficial in the early years of retirement. Learn more about Tax Bracket Optimization here.

The misfortune of not having a retirement income strategy.

Heading into retirement without an income strategy is financially precarious. To illustrate the benefit of creating an effective plan, we are sharing a hypothetical example.  Meet Charlie and Frankie:

• Charlie (age 61) and Frankie (age 60) live in Oregon and each plan to retire when they turn age 62.

• Charlie has $1,000,000 in a 401k/traditional IRA.

• Frankie has $250,000 in a 401k/traditional IRA.

• They have $150,000 in joint accounts.

• At age 67 Charlie and Frankie are eligible to receive $2,990/month and $2,376/month, respectively.

• Their annual income goal during retirement is $90,000.

In the following charts, we compare the impact of an efficient retirement income strategy to one that is not. The only thing that is different in the two scenarios is the consideration of when to draw specific sources and the associated tax implications. Unfortunately, when managed inefficiently the couple is only able to maintain their target annual income for 26 years. Additionally, the inefficient strategy forces the couple to pay an additional $129,000 tax over 30 years when compared to a more efficient strategy.

Assumptions: 4% investment rate of return on all accounts. No additional contributions are made to investment accounts. Taxes include both Federal and Oregon State income tax.

This is one of the most important financial decisions you can make.

Taking the time to thoroughly answer these questions can provide long-term value.

Engaging with a financial planning firm can be helpful if you are not fully confident in making a retirement income plan. Working with the right financial planning firm for your unique situation can be the difference between a carefree retirement and a stressful one. To learn more about how we think about serving clients through comprehensive financial planning, check out our services here.

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Oregonians are not saving enough for retirement. OregonSaves is a state-sponsored retirement plan for employers that that do not offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan for their employees.

This program is ideal for employers who wish to encourage employees to save for retirement, but do not currently sponsor a retirement plan. Since there are no employer fees involved in OregonSaves, the biggest commitment is designating time to initiate and complete the enrollment process. Overall, OregonSaves aims to lower the barrier of entry for employees and at the same time provide employers the opportunity to help champion their employee’s financial well-being.

The plan highlights

OregonSaves is designed to combine features of employer plans with Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s).

What It is

• Employee contribution and participation is voluntary.

• Self-employed individuals are also eligible for participation.

• The standard contribution rate is 5% of employees’ gross pay. These dollars are contributed directly from payroll into to a Roth IRA. Note that the 5% savings rate may be adjusted up or down and savers can also elect to make contributions through a bank account or a check.

• Employees first $1,000 will automatically be invested in the OregonSaves Capital Preservation Fund.

• Savings over $1,000 will automatically be invested in an OregonSaves Target Retirement Fund.

• There are three investment choices available through OregonSaves: Capital Preservation Fund, Target Retirement Funds, and a Growth Fund.

What It Isn’t

• Employee annual contributions are limited to $6,000 (or $7,000 for those 50 years and older). This program is not meant to replace or compete with employer-sponsored 401(k) plans.

• No employer contributions are permitted.

The Administration Considerations

One effective way to combat a saving deficit is to automate savings through payroll. Employers are responsible for syncing payroll with OregonSaves. Once the setup is complete, the ongoing maintenance includes updating employee lists and submitting employee saving elections.

Enroll Your Employees Today

If you think your employees would benefit from participation, then visit the OregonSaves website or consult our team with questions you may have.

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We frequently receive questions about which tax forms are required for a tax return. Generally speaking, most 401(k) retirement savers do not have to report anything special for taxes. Unfortunately, making generalizations about taxes is a slippery slope. We know taxes are confusing, so we have outlined some common 401(k) scenarios and their tax implications:

1. You made contributions to your 401(k) account this past year. You took no withdrawals or loans.

This scenario is true for most people. If your interaction with your 401(k) account was just saving money, then you will not receive any special tax forms for your 401(k) account. Your contributions (which are synced with payroll) will appear on your Form W-2 in box 12. Code D is for your pre-tax contributions and Code AA is for your Roth contributions. Ta-da!

2. You quit your job or were terminated during the year.

If your employment status changed, there are several ways this could impact your tax return. Here are the most common situations for employees: 

You did not move or make any transactions in your 401(k) account once you were terminated.

• If this is the case, then your tax filing responsibility is like scenario 1) above. The information that is important for your tax filing is included in Box 12 of your Form W-2. For those readers with an old 401(k) account (like an account you haven’t touched in 5 years), you should not expect to receive a Form W-2 from your ex-employer or report anything for your current tax return.

You (or your employer) cashed out your 401(k) account.

• If this is the case, then you will receive a 1099-R form. Additionally, your employer would indicate your gross distribution in box 2a and withhold 20% of your cashed out balance for federal taxes.

3. You took a withdrawal from your 401(k) account.

As discussed above, if you took money out of your 401(k) account then you will receive a Form 1099-R. Typically, a 401(k) withdrawal triggers income tax and a 10% penalty for individuals younger than 59.5 years old. However, the 2020 CARES Act eliminated the 10% taxation of distributions related to adverse financial consequences caused by the coronavirus. 

4. You completed a 401(k) direct rollover.

If you rolled an old 401(k) account to your new 401(k) account, you should receive Form 1099-R. Because this is not a taxable event, the form will indicate that your gross distribution is not subject to taxes. This will appear in box 7 with a code G (pre-tax) or H (Roth) for a rollover.

If you rolled an old 401(k) account to an IRA, then you will receive a Form 5498 for proof that your dollars were moved. Again, your income tax for such transaction is $0 assuming the rollover was complete within 60 days.

5. You have been paying down a 401(k) loan.

If you contributed to a 401(k) account without any late-payments or defaulting, then you do not have anything special to report for your tax return. This is similar to scenario 1) above.

6. You defaulted on a 401(k) loan.

In this case, you will receive a Form 1099-R and pay income tax on the outstanding balance. Additionally, you will pay a 10% penalty (if applicable).

7. You retired.

If you retired this past year, congratulations! There is nothing for you to report on your income tax return unless you took money out of your 401(k) account, in which case your taxable distributions would be included on Form 1099-R and included in your taxable income.

8. You turned 72 in the previous year.

If you turned 72, you need to research the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) rules.  For example, if you are 72 years old and still working then you don’t have to take a RMD (unless you are a >5% owner of the organization). These rules are important to understand because the financial penalties for missing a RMD are substantial. Lastly, the 2020 CARES Act waived RMD requirements for this past year.

Taxes are complex! Please reach out to our team if you have any questions about your 401(k) account and your taxes.

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Are you retiring from PERS soon? Provided below is a concise breakdown of the most common benefit options and what they mean.

Often it makes the most sense to receive a lesser monthly benefit while protecting your loved ones with a survivorship option. Comparatively, it is like paying insurance monthly to ensure there is income for your beneficiary if you should die prematurely.

There are many more factors to consider, but a written estimate and analysis in coordination with your financial plan will provide a platform for deciding the best option for you and your family.

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401(k) plans are powerful tools individuals can use to save and invest for retirement. I would argue that with high individual contribution limits, tax advantages, and employer contributions, a 401(k) is the best tool to save for retirement. In fact, we love 401(k)’s so much as a savings tool we wrote the book on it - Becoming a 401(k) Millionaire (actually Peter Fisher our CEO did).

While 401(k)'s have helped answer the question "How to save for retirement?", they do not answer "How to turn retirement savings into retirement income?". That’s where Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) enter the picture. IRAs provide flexibility in retirement that towers above 401(k) plans in three key areas: investment selection, distribution strategy (taking money out), and tax efficiency.

Building an Investment strategy for retirement

Utilizing investment options that align with your retirement goals and needs is important for a successful financial plan. According to Vanguard, the average 401k plan has 27.2 investment options for employees to choose from1. This is a positive for 401k investors to avoid choice overload, but not always optimal for distributions. Compared to a 401(k), IRAs provide for much greater flexibility on the types of investment options available. The flexibility of investment options in an IRA can help to build a customized investment strategy to align with someone's retirement needs/goals. The shortlist of investments an IRA can hold are Individual Stocks, Mutual Funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Bonds, US Treasuries, CDs, and Annuities.

Strategizing Distributions

Saving money in a retirement account is not a means to an end. There is a purpose to it, and for most the goal is retirement. We put money into a retirement account so that we may withdraw it someday when we are no longer receiving a paycheck. When building an efficient distribution strategy, flexibility is key.

While most 401(k) plans can administer distributions in retirement, there is often less control of how the money comes out of your account. As an example, let's assume you have two different investment options inside of your 401(k) account. One investment is geared for growth and the other for conservation (short-term needs).

With a 401(k), there is less flexibility than an IRA when choosing which investment you can choose to sell to take a cash distribution. Let’s say 50% of your 401(k) is in your growth investment and the other 50% is in your conservative. For every $1,000 you take out of your 401k, $500 will come from the sale of your Growth Investment and the other $500 from your conservative investment.

What happens when your growth investment loses 10-20% of its value due to normal market volatility? When you need your next distribution, your 401k will sell both the conservative investment as well as the growth investment (whose value has just decreased). By taking money out of a 401(k) during normal market volatility, you are violating the first rule of investing: buy low, sell high.

If 401(k) distributions are an entrée, an IRA is an a la carte. With an IRA you can choose which investment to sell to fund your distribution needs. If your growth investment has lost some of its value, you don't have to sell. You can use more of your conservative investment while you wait for the market to rebound. While in a good market where your growth investment increases in value by 10-20%, an IRA gives you the flexibility to sell high on your growth investment.

Tax efficiency

If not taken into consideration, taxes can squander someone's retirement account balance. It is important to withhold and pay the correct amount as you take withdrawals from your tax-deferred retirement account. Here is how 401(k)’s and IRA’s differ with regards to tax withholding:

For 401(k) distributions, the IRS requires a mandatory withholding of 20% for Federal Income Tax purposes. The account holder can request more to be withheld federally, but not less. The account holder can also withhold applicable state income tax. For example, say the account holder needs to withdraw $1,000 (net) from their 401(k). The plan provider will make sure there is 20% withheld for federal tax purposes. For every $1,000 needed, the account holder will withdraw $1,250 (The calculation: $1,000 ÷ 0.8 = $1,250). This mandatory withholding can be very convenient. However, what happens if taxes owed in retirement are less than 20%? The extra withholding will likely come back to you as a return once you file taxes. Unfortunately, there may be an opportunity cost. By withdrawing too much, the tax-deferred compounding growth on these dollars is lost.

An IRA provides flexibility to withhold (or not withhold) at a lesser amount to avoid selling unnecessary investments from a retirement account. If the federal tax owed is 11%, 11% can be withheld from the IRA. This saves the account holder 9% or $126 from being withheld, comparing to the 401k example above ($1000 ÷ 0.89 = $1,124). If this account holder withdrawals $1,000 each month, there is an additional $1,512 withheld each year. IRA’s provide a higher level of efficiency with the flexibility in tax withholdings.

Account Type Matters

Which account is right for you in retirement? Well, it depends. If you are you planning to retire earlier than age 59 ½, 401k plans offer some advantages (See "Rule of 55"). For most, however, an IRA makes sense. An IRA can provide superior flexibility to someone in retirement that cannot be matched by company-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k) plans. This is not a knock on 401(k)’s, rather a promotion of the benefits provided by an IRA. Consider the pros and cons of different account types to make sure they match up with your investment goals.

Sources

 1 The Vanguard Group, How America Saves Report - 2020.

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