With a New Job Comes New Investing Opportunities
Retirement Tips to Remember When Starting a New Job
Land a great new job? Awesome. Now is the perfect time to think about your 401(k) and retirement plan, whether you had one before or not. Saving for retirement is important at all ages, so don’t let this opportunity fall to the bottom of your list.
Here are four tips to consider when starting a new job and a new 401(k).
- Make more contributions if you have a bigger paycheck. When you get a raise, it is a good idea to increase the amount you contribute to your 401(k). You didn’t have this money in your pocket, so you don’t miss it when you put it straight into your 401(k). The contribution limit for 2018 is $18,500, or $24,000 if you are over 50. If you already meet the limit, ask your financial advisor whether you should consider contributing to an individual retirement account (IRA) for even more retirement savings.
- Don’t pass up the new employer’s match. Sometimes, employers provide a 401(k) match as part of their employee benefits package. They may match your contribution dollar for dollar or a percentage of it up to a set amount. Your company match is free money. Don’t let it slip through your fingers. If I offered you a bundle of cash – a few thousand dollars, perhaps – would you turn it down? Find out the limit and at the bare minimum, contribute that amount.
- Name your beneficiaries for your new 401(k) plan. Keep your beneficiaries consistent across all retirement accounts and according to your estate plan. So be sure to update your new plan to reflect changes in your beneficiaries. Are you now a parent or do you have a new spouse? Updates allow your 401(k) account to pass directly to the person of your choice should you pass away.
- Above all, don’t forget to enroll in your new plan. While this may seem obvious, it’s easy to forget signing up for your new company’s 401(k) plan, because many employers require a short waiting period before new employees are eligible to join. If you must wait, put a reminder in place on the fridge, circle the enrollment date on your calendar, and set an alarm on your smartphone. Just don’t forget.
Please access my free checklist: What Issues Should I Consider When Starting A New Job?
Wondering what you should do with your old 401(k) accounts? You may prefer to roll your old 401(k) over to an IRA, as it gives you the ability to invest your account in a variety of mutual funds, stocks, or bonds beyond what your employer may offer. This helps you to build a well-diversified investment allocation. Choosing low-cost mutual funds in an IRA can save you money in the long term over generally more expensive 401(k) investment fees. First, you need to research what investment options your new plan offers. It is common that employers who offer 401(k)s have a smaller number of investment options than an IRA. For example, emerging markets equity funds and small-capitalization value funds are not often offered. Then you should compare the underlying fees and expenses in your plan with those in an IRA. The operating expense ratios of the available options in your employer-offered 401K) can often be higher. Finally, talk to your new 401(k) plan administrator to guide you through the steps for rollover.
For easier management of your retirement investments, some may consider consolidating an old 401(k) account with a new one. A major difference between IRAs and 401(k)s is that a 401(k), unlike an IRA, can offer loans to employees to a maximum of $50,000 if your account balance exceeds $100,000. These loans are repayable over five years, or ten years if for a home purchase.
Taking your money out of an old 401(k) as a distribution is not a good option. If you’re under 59½, in addition to paying taxes on the withdrawal you will also pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty to the Internal Revenue Service, there are some exceptions to this penalty. Typically, keeping those dollars in a tax-free or tax-deferred account if possible is a good idea.
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