6 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your 401(k) in 2019

The start of a new year is universally acknowledged as a time for new beginnings and inevitably, reflection. Whether your new beginning involves cutting calories, making a daily trek to the gym, or working on a bad habit, this is also a good time for setting goals aimed at self-improvement.

It’s a time for thinking about your future. What will your life be like in twenty years? Ten Years? Next year? How far are you from retirement? Do you feel comfortable with your existing retirement planning strategy? Do you have a 401(k)? When was the last time you looked at it?

These are all important questions but, for many, are often overlooked. We tend to see retirement as something far off in the future, something that there’s plenty of time to prepare for — not at all like those pair of pants in the back of the closet that have always been just a little too snug.

This year, why not make room on your resolutions list for your 401(k) plan as well?

Maximizing Your Maximum 401(k) Contributions

Like any goal you set out to achieve, getting the most out of your 401(k) plan requires a strategy. So how can you make your savings strategy work for you in 2019?

1. Tax Breaks

With the new maximum contribution amount increasing to $19,000 from last year’s max of $18,500, there’s an extra $500 you can put to good use for your future. By managing to put this extra money away (an extra $41.60 a month), someone in the 24 percent tax bracket could potentially reduce their annual tax bill by approximately $4,560.

Those who earn less than $32,000 a year on their own (and couples who make less than $64,000) may be able to qualify for a saver’s credit worth between 10 and 50 percent of their contribution amount.

2. Catching Up

Are you behind on your contributions? While things might seem scary, you do have options. For workers aged 50 and over, you are eligible to put away an additional $6,000 a year, bringing your annual maximum to $25,000. For an individual in the 24 percent tax bracket, doing this could reduce their tax bill by $6,000.

3. Avoid Costly Penalties

This one may seem obvious but it’s still important to note.

For example, withdrawing money from your 401(k) early could result in a 10 percent penalty. However, withdrawing your contribution money too late could trigger a 50 percent penalty if you choose to not take out the minimum distribution amount six months after your 70^th birthday.

4. Get a 401(k) Match

For workers under the age of 50, you’ll need to be able to contribute $1,583 a month to max out your yearly contribution limit (or $2,083 per month for those over the age of 50). While that may be possible for some, it’s certainly not the case for everyone.

If contributing the maximum annual limit to your 401(k) isn’t possible, ask your employer if they offer a match amount. If they do, not taking full advantage of it would be the same as turning down free money.

5. Consider a Roth 401(k) Option

While traditional 401(k) plans allow you to defer paying taxes on your retirement savings, many employers offer a Roth 401(k) option as well – which would enable you to pay taxes on your contributions now and avoid paying them when you withdraw the money.

6. Direct Deposit Is Your Friend

The easiest way to not spend money is to not have it. Keep this in mind when you sign up for a 401(k) and choose the amount that should be deducted from your paycheck and deposited into the plan. You should also factor in potential bonuses or raises when determining your contribution amount.

Getting Your Firm Started

Are you the owner of a small firm wanting to add retirement planning to your list of benefits offered to your employees? As a member of The State Bar of Texas you have access to a variety of plan types and strategies designed to help you meet your financial objectives – such as defined benefit, profit sharing, cash balance, and 401(k).

Need help deciding which plan type or strategy best fits your firm? Our specially qualified team is on hand to help. Visit the retirement planning page to learn more or to request additional information today.