Retirement Plans for Individuals
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRA)
IRAs allow you to make tax-deferred investments to provide financial security when you retire.
Traditional and Roth IRAs
Traditional and Roth IRAs allow you to save money for retirement. This chart highlights some of their similarities and differences.
| Features | Traditional IRA | Roth IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Who can contribute? | You can contribute if you (or your spouse if filing jointly) have taxable compensation but not after you are age 70½ or older. | You can contribute at any age if you (or your spouse if filing jointly) have taxable compensation and your modified adjusted gross income is below certain amounts (see 2014 and 2015 limits). |
| Are my contributions deductible? | You can deduct your contributions if you qualify. | Your contributions aren’t deductible. |
| How much can I contribute? | The most you can contribute to all of your traditional and Roth IRAs is the smaller of:
|
|
| What is the deadline to make contributions? | Your tax return filing deadline (not including extensions). For example, you have until April 15, 2015, to make your 2014 contribution. | |
| When can I withdraw money? | You can withdraw money anytime. | |
| Do I have to take required minimum distributions? | You must start taking distributions by April 1 following the year in which you turn age 70½ and by December 31 of later years. | Not required if you are the original owner. |
| Are my withdrawals and distributions taxable? | Any deductible contributions and earnings you withdraw or that are distributed from your traditional IRA are taxable. Also, if you are under age 59 ½ you may have to pay an additional 10% tax for early withdrawals unless you qualify for an exception. | None if it’s a qualified distribution (or a withdrawal that is a qualified distribution). Otherwise, part of the distribution or withdrawal may be taxable. If you are under age 59 ½, you may also have to pay an additional 10% tax for early withdrawals unless you qualify for an exception. |
Source: http://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Traditional-and-Roth-IRAs
Should you participate in your employers Retirement Plan?
401(k) Plans
You just got a new job. Your employer offers a 401k. Should you participate? What things should you consider?
Below are some common questions that we can help you with:
- What should I invest in?
- Is the company providing a match? If so, how much?
- How much can I afford to contribute?
- Are the investment choices varied enough and quality enough to offer the opportunity to grow?
- Because its payroll deducted, it’s easier to make sure I“pay myself first”. Is that a consideration?
- Do they allow loans?
- Do they allow hardship withdrawals?
- Do they allow in-service withdrawals?
- If I leave the company, is there any plan limitations that prevent me from rolling over or accessing my money?
We can review everything with you to help you understand your options.
SSN does not offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with a qualified advisor regarding your individual circumstances.