The goal of retirement saving is to build a nest egg big enough for you to live off during the retirement years.
But paying taxes on your retirement income can sometimes make you feel like all of your hard work is quickly being diminished.
There is one particular type of retirement savings vehicles that alleviates this future tax liability and frustration, and starting this year, all retirement savers have the opportunity to take advantage of it ? the Roth IRA.
Before 2010, Roth IRAs were not available to all, but effective January 1 of this year, income limitations have been lifted, meaning no matter what your income is, you can open or convert your old retirement account to a Roth IRA.
The benefits of Roth IRAs include tax-free growth; the account holder doesn’t pay taxes upon the withdrawal, but rather pays taxes when they contribute or on the amount converted to the account.
Roth IRAs are especially appealing to those retirement savers who believe tax rates are likely to increase by the time they need to access the account for retirement income.
Since taxes are paid up-front, funds in the Roth are able to grow tax-free throughout the owner’s lifetime and are distributed tax-free, as long as the distribution meets the requirements of a qualified distribution.
If you do decide to convert to a Roth IRA you will have to pay taxes on the conversion amount, but paying taxes today is still considered favorable since many retirement savers are betting taxes will go up in the future and are locking in the lower tax rates of today.
Paying taxes on a retirement account now is also beneficial because the amount of taxes owed on retirement accounts is based on your current tax bracket, which can be higher in retirement if your income goes up due to Social Security or a pension and you have fewer deductions and credits.
There are several factors retirement savers must take into consideration when determining if a conversion is the right financial move, including:
? Can you rollover? Examples of accounts that are a good match for a rollover would be a traditional IRA or 401(k) from a previous employer. If you have already made changes to your account in the past, you may need to check with a qualified financial professional, as there are additional rules to adhere to.
? Can you cover the taxes on the conversion? (Note: this should not come out of the account itself) Taxes on Roth conversions are paid upfront, but in 2010 you can split this liability and pay half in 2011 and the other half in 2012. You don’t want to pay the taxes on the conversion out of your Roth because it depletes the account, you’ll pay a 10 percent penalty and you may end up paying a hefty early withdrawal penalty as well; make sure you have enough out-of-pocket cash to pay the taxes before making a final decision on converting.
? Can you afford to wait? If you need your retirement funds in less than five years you might want to reconsider converting to a Roth because funds that are rolled over to a Roth IRA must remain untouched in the account for five years, unless you’re 59 ? or older. Failing to wait means you will have to pay an early withdrawal penalty of 10 percent.
The tax-free growth offered by a Roth IRA and the advantage of no Required Minimum Distribution make a Roth IRA a good savings vehicle for some retirement savers.
David Boike owns Retirement Resources tax, mortgage, and financial consulting practice in Clarkston with his sons, D.J. Boike and Jake Boike. Call 877-732-5751.