Some Key Differences between IRA and 401(K) Accounts
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Some Key Differences between IRA and 401(K) Accounts
Planning for retirement is a very crucial thing. It’s a decision that all of us will have to make at some point, however, people don’t talk about that enough. Pensions are becoming non-existent. Those who are receiving them are most likely to be our grandparents. They’re guaranteed a certain amount of money from their retirement day through the remaining years of their lives. Unfortunately for our generation, we won’t be benefiting from such a privilege. Therefore, it becomes even more important for us to start thinking and start planning for our retirement.
When we talk about retirement, there are usually two popular options that come to mind. The first one and the most recognized one is the 401(K). The second one is the Individual Retirement Account, or IRA.
Although IRA and 401(K) accounts are the two most common contribution plans to retirement, they both do have their differences. One might be the right fit for you, while the other is way off base for what you need. Surprisingly, some people manage to have both of them.
An Individual Retirement Account, or an IRA, gives anyone the opportunity to contribute to their retirement. You’ll have to be under the age of 70 in order to be qualified.
One thing I like about IRA is that you can own Gold as your asset. Yes, I mean it. You can literally own gold and other precious metals. However, you’ll need to conduct your research in order to pick the best gold IRA companies.
It’s also safer when you invest your money into gold IRA companies because no manipulations can be done, which is different from what you would expect from some other avenues of investing. Another thing to note is that your asset will not be taxed until you decide to withdraw.
For the year 2017, your traditional and Roth IRA contributions can’t exceed $5,500 ($6,500 if you’re 50 years of age or older). However, this limit doesn’t apply to rollover contributions.
401(K) accounts can be opened through employers only. There’s a qualification requirement that needs to be fulfilled in order to be considered. Some employers may not offer this retirement plan, though and if yours doesn’t, you can always do a Roth IRA.
Many employers tend to offer matching contribution when you open a 401(K). For example, if your employer would match your account contributions up to seven percent of your income, you should never contribute less than seven percent yourself. If you do contribute less than that, then you would be turning down some free money, which you wouldn’t want to do.
As someone who’s very cautious, I always ensure that anything I’m about to get involved in is safe, reliable, and beneficial to me. I don’t like to waste my money on things that don’t have any value.
In the case of 401(K) and IRA accounts, I’d go with IRA because it gives you more freedom while allowing you to also save more money from it. If you choose to invest in gold companies, that’s even better for you, as they’re more secured.
We all will want to retire one day, but unfortunately, some of us may have to work for some additional years, or even for a lifetime period. That’s why it’s very important that you start thinking about your retirement plans as early on in your life as you can.
You don’t want to be in your 70s and still have to wake up every morning to go punch in. Instead, you should be looking forward to traveling the world when you reach your retirement age. Take control of your future now and start planning for your retirement. You’ll be very happy when the day comes.
^ CNN Money: Retirement Planning and Savings Plan ^ One Percent Finance: 10 Best Gold IRA Companies (2017) ^ IRS: Retirement Topics – IRA Contribution Limits
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