Saving your money into a 401(k) or IRA can have some very powerful wealth-building benefits. But clearly one of the biggest drawbacks is that you’re not allowed to access your money for years or even decades. If you try to take it out sooner, than you'll have to pay a penalty! So what happens if you need the money now? What if life becomes difficult and you need to pull the money out for some kind of emergency? Or what if you have done an excellent job of managing your finances and would like to retire early? How can you work around this problem and gain early access to your savings? Don't worry. The IRS knows that sometimes life can throw you curve-balls, and because of this they've made several exceptions … [Read more...] about When Can You Withdraw From Your 401(k), IRA, and Other Retirement Savings?
Personal Finance
What’s the Difference Between an IRA and 401(k)? Which is Better for My Retirement Savings?
If you're curious to find out what's the difference between an IRA and 401(k) retirement plan, then this is the post that is going to explain everything you need to know! For most U.S. employees, when it comes to saving for retirement, they are offered two main tools to work with: A 401(k) and IRA. Though a lot of people will likely have the opportunity to contribute to both, sometimes the amount of money you plan to set aside for retirement each month can be limited by all the other financial demands going on in your life. That's when you might find yourself having to choose between one or the other. So then, what do you do? Which retirement plan do you choose to stash your savings in hopes that it will grow to its maximum … [Read more...] about What’s the Difference Between an IRA and 401(k)? Which is Better for My Retirement Savings?
The Power of Compound Interest and How It Can Make You Rich!
Are you using the power of compound interest to your advantage? Have you ever wondered how compound interest works? Or better yet, why compound interest can make you so INCREDIBLY RICH over time? Albert Einstein has often been credited as famously stating "Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it." Great quote! But it just barely begins to describe shear potential behind this wonderful financial phenomenon. When used correctly, compounding interest is what can take your modest, periodic savings and turn it into thousands or even millions of dollars later on in your life. And the best part is: You don't have to be financial wizard to take advantage of … [Read more...] about The Power of Compound Interest and How It Can Make You Rich!
Could an Irrevocable Trust be the Key to Leaving a Financial Legacy?
As if the decision in estate planning over whether to create a will or open a trust isn’t confusing enough, I’ve come to understand (on a personal level) that even this may not be sufficient for ensuring your lifelong savings get passed on to your loved ones. In short: With the way things work now with elder care, there may not be anything left to give! Here’s my story. Recently, my wife’s grandparents both developed a very bad case of Alzheimer’s, and somewhat rapidly. This has caused the family to make a quick decision to move them from their residence and into the care of a nursing home instead. Do you have any idea how much a nursing home costs these days? While interviewing a number of various ones, we … [Read more...] about Could an Irrevocable Trust be the Key to Leaving a Financial Legacy?
What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Quit Your Job?
Question: What happens to your 401(k) when you quit your job or switch to a new one? Your retirement security used to be a BIG consideration when it came to changing employers. In the old days of pension plans, if someone were to quit their job early, they could be potentially giving up life-long future monthly checks worth thousands of dollars! But that was then, and this is now. According to the website The Balance, the average person changes jobs 10-15 times during their career. What changed? A lot. But in terms of the future of your retirement savings, a big influence was the shift away from the pension system towards the 401(k) plan. Though its often a heated debate, there are many aspects to a 401(k) plan … [Read more...] about What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Quit Your Job?
What Is a Flexible Spending Account? How Does an FSA Work?
Do you know about flexible spending accounts (FSA’s)? You may have heard of them from your HR department and wondered: “How would this benefit me?” or “How does an FSA work exactly?” Believe me - These were the same types of questions my wife and I had when we were first getting started in our jobs years ago and looking for every angle we could to save a little bit of cash. At first glance, an FSA seems like just another thing taking money out of your paycheck. For most of us, that’s a deal-breaker. Between taxes, social security, and our retirement contributions, there’s already enough being subtracted from how much we really earn. Do you really need something else to reduce it even further? … Yes! And I’ll … [Read more...] about What Is a Flexible Spending Account? How Does an FSA Work?
How to Use a 72t Distribution to Get Money Out of Your 401(k) and Retire Early!
Did you know that you can use a 72t distribution to get early access to your 401(k) or most any other retirement account before age 59-1/2 ... WITHOUT having to pay a penalty? One of the biggest obstacles we face when we're saving for retirement is the rule that we have to wait so long in order to finally use it. For years, I had a goal to retire early (long before age 60). But I was completely stumped by how I was actually going to be able to take money out of it. I remember being in my young 20's and thinking "what good is using a 401(k) if I have to wait almost 40 years to get my money back out"? Fortunately, not only did I wise up and realize that saving your money in a 401(k) is a hell of deal (when you look at how … [Read more...] about How to Use a 72t Distribution to Get Money Out of Your 401(k) and Retire Early!
The 401(k) Age 55 Rule for Early Retirement Income
If you’re looking to retire in your mid 50’s and want to be able access your retirement nest egg, then I’ve got some good news for you: The 401(k) Age 55 Rule might allow you to accomplish your goal of early retirement! As most people in the U.S. know, when it comes to retirement planning, the IRS says you have to wait until at least age 59-1/2 to start withdrawing funds from any tax-deferred retirement accounts such as your 401(k) or IRA. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay a pesky 10% penalty along with any applicable taxes. If you’re an early retirement seeker like, then this creates a big problem. How are you supposed to be able to access all the money you’ve saved for decades to be able to start your retirement and … [Read more...] about The 401(k) Age 55 Rule for Early Retirement Income
