The Skinny on Tax-Deferred Retirement Accounts
Just about anyone could benefit from a tax-differed retirement account. These accounts, most commonly known as 401Ks or IRAs, are a great way to save for retirement and in many cases save on taxes. The real question is when do you plan on cashing out that retirement fund? While you will always see immediate savings in your paycheck by deferring some of your income into a retirement account, the time will eventually come when the taxman comes calling.
However, there are some measures you can take to reduce your tax bill. You can convert your 401K plan, which could save you some money in retirement, rather than leaving the money in the tax-deferred account and withdrawing it later. If you do this then your funds will be taxed at the tax rate during the year you withdraw the funds. On the other hand, when you convert these accounts they will be taxed at the tax rate of the year you convert them. That means if this year’s tax rate will be lower than the normal tax rate when you are retired then now might be a good time to convert your funds to a Roth account.
Each person’s situation will vary and timing is the key to a successful conversion. There are also many variables to keep in mind, which is why it’s a good idea to speak with a certified account or experienced financial planner. At GROCO we can help you with your retirement planning to ensure that you get the most out of your retirement savings and keep your tax bill down. Just click here to contact us for help or call us at 1-877-CPA-2006.
The Basics of Asset Allocation
The Basics of Asset Allocation The Two Biggest Investment Mistakes: 1. Failure to diversify. Don’t bet everything on one stock. Don’t put all your money into either stocks or bonds. 2. Failure to cope with inflation risk. Today you need over $2 to buy what $1 bought in 1980, over $4 to buy what $1 bought in…
Stock Basis Reporting on Form 1099-B in 2011
Stock Basis Reporting on Form 1099-B in 2011 By Ron Cohen, CPA, MST Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP See the new Form 1099-B for 2011 that requires “cost basis” information. Form 1099-B 2011 In the past, the client’s sometimes don’t know or can’t find their cost basis in stocks they have sold. Major…
Bond Risks and How Bond Funds Deal With Them
Bond Risks and How Bond Funds Deal With Them A bond is a promise. In return for the money lent to a corporate or governmental borrower, the borrower pledges to make periodic payments of interest at a fixed rate and to repay the original loan after a set period of time. Both the date at…
Meeting the Challenge of College Costs
Meeting the Challenge of College Costs Your child has entered high school and is just four years away from college. It’s time to get serious about figuring out how much it’s going to cost. Based on recent data from the College Board, if he or she goes to a private four-year university, the cost for…