401 K Retirement Plan Benefits

Other Benefits Of A 401

If you need cash for an emergency or to pay down debt, your 401 plan may allow you to take out a loan and borrow up to 50 percent of your vested balance, but not more than $50,000. In most cases, you have to repay the money with interest within 5 years. While the interest payments go into your account which means you are paying yourself back rather than giving your money to a bank there are significant downsides.

When you make a 401 withdrawal, that money is no longer invested in the market, and therefore, you could miss out on gains if the asset prices continue to rise. Also, the original contributions to the account were made with pre-tax dollars, but the loan payments will be made with after-tax dollars. So, youre losing a key tax benefit here.

If you leave your employer, youll also have to repay your loan faster, generally when taxes are due for the current tax year.

Try to avoid taking a 401 loan if at all possible, though it may be better than taking an early withdrawal. Here are other alternatives to both of these approaches.

What Is Amazons 401 Plan

Like many major employers, Amazon offers its employees a 401 plan to help them save for retirement.

Under the plan, Amazon allows its employees to contribute between 1% and 9% of their salary to either a traditional or Roth 401, or use a combination of the two. Amazon employees can choose to invest their contributions in one or more of the following funds:

• Amazon.com Stock Fund
• American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund R6 Class
• American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund Class R-6
• Oakmark International Fund Class Institutional
• RIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class
• State Street Russell Large Cap Growth Index Non-Lending Series Fund Class C
• State Street Russell Large Cap Value Index Non-Lending Series Fund Class C
• Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares
• Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
• Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust
• Vanguard Institutional Total Bond Market Index Trust
• Vanguard Institutional Total International Stock Market Index Trust
• Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III
• Vanguard Target Retirement Trust Select
• Vanguard Target Retirement Income Trust Select

Full-time and eligible reduced-time Amazon employees are automatically enrolled in the companys 401 plan 90 days after hire unless they unenroll or actively enroll themselves. Employees who are automatically enrolled will have their contributions invested into a target-date fund. Employees can also choose their own investments from the provided options.

Also Check: How Do You Get 401k

What Is The Difference Between A Traditional And Roth 401 Plan

There are two common kinds of 401 plans: traditional and Roth. These plans have some similarities: They are subject to the same annual contribution limit and may offer the same investment options. However, traditional and Roth 401 plans differ in terms of the tax benefits they offer.

*Only if the distribution satisfies certain conditions, for example that it has been at least five years since the first Roth contribution, or that the participant is disabled.

IRS.gov. Data as of Dec. 2020.

A traditional 401 plan is sometimes referred to as a pre-tax 401 plan. You contribute to the plan with before-tax dollars. Because you dont pay taxes on the money you put into the plan, you must pay taxes when you withdraw it. This structure could be an advantage if youre in a high tax bracket today but expect to be in a lower one when retired.

With a Roth 401 plan, the opposite is true. You save after-tax dollars in the account. Because youve already paid taxes on what youre saving, your withdrawals are considered qualified distributions and wont be taxed as long as you meet both of the following criteria:

• Youve had the account for at least five years.
• You begin to make withdrawals either after youve turned 59½ or due to disability.

Read Also: Retirement Gift Ideas For Female Coworker

How Much Should You Contribute To Your 401

When it comes to how much of your pay you should contribute, everyone has different financial needs in retirement, but there are some general rules you can follow.

Contribute enough to take advantage of any matching dollars offered by your employer, says Catherine Golladay, executive vice president at Schwab Retirement Plan Services.

Whether your company match is dollar-for-dollar or something smaller, such as 50 cents on the dollar, dont pass up the match. Not doing so is like leaving money on the table, she says.

After saving enough to get the full employer match, Golladay suggests paying off high-interest debt and building an emergency fund. Then, go back and maximize tax-advantaged retirement accounts, either the 401 or retirement accounts such as an individual retirement account or Roth IRA.

About 60 million Americans invest in 401s and these retirement plans hold $6.7 trillion in assets, according to the Investment Company Institute, citing data as of Dec. 31, 2020. Plan participants can roll up substantial savings over the years of their working lives. Heres how much the average American has in a 401 by age.

Bankrates calculator can help you decide which tax-advantaged account to stash additional funds in.

Fortunately, while you can pick your own funds if youre the do-it-yourself type, you often dont have to decide how to invest completely on your own.

While target date funds meet many investors demands, they dont fit every individuals needs.

How We Make Money

You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout lifes financial journey.

Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.

Were transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.

Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.

You May Like: I Want To Retire At 40

Why Should You Invest In A 401

A 401 is an excellent investment option, and everyone should consider opening an account if theyre able to. Not all employers offer a 401 retirement plan, but if yours does, its a smart move to participate in one for the following reasons:

• Tax advantages. A 401 lets you invest on a pre-tax basis, meaning you can take a tax break on this years taxes. Youll be able to grow your assets tax-deferred until you withdraw them at retirement, when youll owe tax at ordinary income rates. A Roth 401 also offers tax benefits, but youll contribute money on an after-tax basis and enjoy tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
• Matching contributions. Many employers offer free matching money if you contribute to your plan. You may be able to rake in an extra 3 or 4 percent of your salary this way, and its a risk-free return, though some plans require a few years for the match to vest.
• Automatic investments. Once you set up your 401 investment plan youll have money contributed automatically from your paychecks and invested in the funds youve selected.
• Attractive investments. Many 401 plans offer historically high-return investments such as stocks or stock funds, so youre likely to earn much more than you could in a traditional bank account over time.

Still, some investors are worried about investing in stocks because of their riskiness.

All investments come with risk, but the fear of losing money should not inhibit someone from utilizing a 401, Golladay says.

Getting Started With A 401

While 401 plans are broadly similar, each employers plan can differ in important ways, such as whether you can take a loan against your savings. Here are some key things to understand about your plan as you get started:

• What are your companys eligibility requirements and will you automatically be enrolled in the plan?
• Will the plan automatically increase your contribution each year?
• Does your company offer a matching contribution and how much is it?
• What investment options does the plan offer? What do they cost and are those funds expensive relative to other available options?
• Does the plan offer any third-party advice or any option to have the account managed for you?
• Can you invest in individual securities or do you have to stick to the funds provided in the plan?
• Can you take a loan against your account balance? How much does the loan cost?

These are a few of the most important questions that youll want to answer as you get started with your 401. Dont assume that all plans are alike because your employer may change important aspects of the plan even beyond the basics, such as its matching contribution.

Read Also: Best Healthcare For Retirees Abroad

The Support You Receive With Our 401 Plan

Our services, designed for the service level you select, include:

• Plan document services, including plan documents, restatements, amendments, Summary Plan Descriptions and Summary of Material Modification.
• Recordkeeping and other administrative services, such as receiving and processing periodic payroll feeds to participant accounts based on information provided by you or your payroll provider, processing new participant enrollments, maintaining plan and individual account records, executing participant-initiated investment transactions, processing participant requests related to loans and distributions, providing participant access to accounts and providing a plan sponsor website with access to participant-level and plan-level information.
• lnvestment-related services, including making investment options available from which you or your investment fiduciary may select an investment menu to be made available to your plan participants.
• Employee education, communication and enrollment.

Your local Mutual of America office can provide a complete list of the services we provide.

When Can I Withdraw From My 401 Plan

You can start to withdraw your savings penalty-free when you reach age 59 ½. Taking out your savings before that time could cost you an extra 10% on top of what youd normally pay in state and federal taxes.

When its time to start using your savings, be sure to consider the tax implications. In addition, once you turn 72, you typically have to withdraw a minimum amount annually to comply with distribution requirements

401 plans can be very useful tools in saving for retirement, particularly if you take advantage of features that your plan may offer to help maximize your savings. And the sooner you start saving in your 401 plan, the longer any investment earnings have to produce earnings of their own.

You May Like: North Carolina State Retirees Health Insurance

Why 401s Are The Most Popular Employee Retirement Plan Benefit And How They Work

401 retirement plans are a popular employee benefit because employees can use the plans to put pre-tax compensation towards their retirement, maximizing their contributions. Employers may also match the funds employees contribute, further enhancing the advantages of a 401 plan.

One of the choices employers have if they decide to offer retirement benefits is a 401 plan. With a name referencing the Internal Revenue Code section they are established under, 401s are defined contribution retirement plans that employees can use to have part of their pre-tax pay put into an interest-bearing account that will be held tax-free until the money is actually used, usually at retirement. In addition, employers may match the money employees contribute to a 401 plan with their contribution to the account, for example, dollar for dollar or with 50 cents on the dollar.

Basically, there are two types of 401 plans bonus or profit-sharing plans and thrift plans:

Participation in a 401 plan has several tax advantages. First, the employer is generally permitted to take a tax deduction for its contributions to the plan when the contributions are made. In addition, the employee pays taxes only for employer contributions, or portions of contributions, when he or she receives them in cash after retirement or separation from employment.

Pooled Employer Plan: The 401 Plan Designed For Small To Medium

The Paychex Pooled Employer Plan makes it easier for businesses of any size to offer one of the most popular retirement plans for employees. While you reap the benefits of offering a retirement plan, we oversee plan set-up, implementation, monitoring, enrollment, and other duties. Learn why a PEP could be a retirement game-changer for your business.

Read Also: Voya Retirement Insurance And Annuity Company Address

How Do 401 Distributions Work

When you turn 59½, you can take distributions at any size or frequency that you like. You can even take it all out at once, but large distributions will increase your tax bill. Many people like to leave their money in their 401 and let it keep growing. However, you must start taking required minimum distributions by April 1 of the year after you turn 72. In many cases, you can delay these distributions if you are still working.

You May Like: Can I Rollover Old 401k To New 401k

Contributing To A 401 Plan

A 401 is a defined contribution plan. The employee and employer can make contributions to the account up to the dollar limits set by the Internal Revenue Service .

A defined contribution plan is an alternative to the traditional pension, known in IRS lingo as a defined-benefit plan. With a pension, the employer is committed to providing a specific amount of money to the employee for life during retirement.

In recent decades, 401 plans have become more common, and traditional pensions have become rare as employers shifted the responsibility and risk of saving for retirement to their employees.

Employees also are responsible for choosing the specific investments within their 401 accounts from a selection their employer offers. Those offerings typically include an assortment of stock and bond mutual funds and target-date funds designed to reduce the risk of investment losses as the employee approaches retirement.

They may also include guaranteed investment contracts issued by insurance companies and sometimes the employer’s own stock.

Recommended Reading: Retirement Communities In Prince William County Va

How To Open And Manage A 401

If your company offers a 401, be sure to actually enroll in it or you wont have an account. The exact procedure for opening a 401 varies from company to company. If you work in an office, youll likely have an HR representative who can provide you with instructions or other resources to help you set up your account. Otherwise, you can always ask your supervisor or colleagues if you dont know how to get the ball rolling.

It might be worth consulting with a financial advisor if you have questions about how a 401 fits into your overall retirement plans. SmartAssets free matching tool can pair you with advisors in your area.

There are four main options you have to manage your 401 when you leave your company. You can either withdraw the money directly from your account, roll it over into an IRA, move it to your new company or keep it with your old company.

Immediately withdrawing your money from your account is the option you should avoid at all costs. This is because those funds then factor into your taxable income, heavily increasing your tax burden for the year. In addition, if youre younger than 59.5 years old, the IRS will slap you with a 10% income tax penalty. Your best bets are to either leave your 401 with your old employer, take it with you to your new job or roll it over into a shiny, new IRA.

Pros Of Investing In A 401 Retirement Plan At Work

When I was in my 20s and started my first job that offered a 401, I didnt enroll in it. I was nervous about having investments with an employer because I didnt understand what would happen if I left the company, or it went out of business.

I want to put your mind at ease about using a 401 because there are many more advantages than disadvantages.

I want to put your mind at ease about using a 401 because there are many more advantages than disadvantages. Here are four primary pros for using a retirement plan at work.

You May Like: Does Medicaid Cover Retirement Homes

Which Employees Can An Employer Exclude From A 401 Plan

Any individual who is at least 21 years old and works more than 500 hours per year over a three-year period qualifies for a 401 plan if their employer offers one.

“As a general rule, the IRS does not consider the class exclusion of part-time, seasonal or irregular workers to be fair,”Jordan Parker, financial advisor turned finance blogger, told Business News Daily.

Before the SECURE Act became law, employers could exclude part-time employees working fewer than 1,000 hours per year from their 401 plans. They could also require a waiting period of up to one year before an individual became eligible to participate in that plan.

Under the SECURE Act, however, long-term part-time employees who work at least 500 hours in three consecutive years and are 21 or older must be allowed to participate in an employer’s 401 plan. This means that part-time employees who were previously not allowed to participate are now eligible for the 401 plan.

The SECURE Act also mandates that 401 plans have dual eligibility requirements for part-time employees. Under this umbrella, an employee is eligible for an employer’s 401 plan if they are at least 21 years old and either work 1,000 hours for the company within a single year or put in 500 hours of service at that company in each of three consecutive years.

Consequently, the attorneys said, companies should track part-time employees’ hours going forward and amend existing calendar-year 401 plans by Dec. 31, 2022.