If you take advantage of a 401(k) loan, the borrowed amount reduces your current 401(k) balance and your contributions going forward, including matching contributions from your employer, until the loan is repaid. Because you contribute less, you pay less in income taxes upfront. However, you avoid paying taxes on the loan amount while it’s outstanding. … Read more
If you declare bankruptcy, the money in your 401(k) retirement account could be protected. 401(k) accounts are generally considered tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and funds in these accounts are protected from creditors, including the bankruptcy trustee. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as if the funds in your 401(k) account were obtained through fraud … Read more
401k plans offer a great way to save for retirement, and their growth doesn’t stop once you retire. After you retire, your investments continue to grow, potentially generating even more money for you. This is because your 401k is invested in a variety of stocks, bonds, and other investments that are designed to grow over … Read more
Certainly! 401(k) contributions can lessen your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). The AGI serves as the foundation for calculating your taxable income. When you make pre-tax contributions to your 401(k), the amount you contribute is deducted from your AGI before taxes are computed. This strategy lowers your AGI, potentially shifting you into a lower tax bracket … Read more
Roth 401(k) contributions are made post-tax, meaning they are not immediately tax-deductions. However, since the earnings are never taxed, qualified withdrawals (at age 59.5 or later) are tax-free as well. The earnings accumulate tax-free based on the applicable investment return, providing the potential for significant growth over time. In terms of reporting on taxes, the … Read more
Fidelity 401k offers a feature that automatically stops contributions once a predetermined investment limit is reached. This limit can be established as a specific dollar amount or as a percentage of one’s salary. Once the limit is met, contributions to the 401k are paused until the following year. This automatic stop mechanism helps participants avoid … Read more
The 401(k) limit includes both employee contributions and company matching contributions. This means that the maximum amount of money that can be contributed to a 401(k) account each year is the sum of the employee’s contributions and the company’s matching contributions. In 2023, the employee contribution limit is $22,500, and the company matching contribution limit … Read more
Iowa does not tax traditional 401(k) distributions, including distributions from employer-sponsored 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and 457(b) plans. This applies to both qualified distributions (taken after age 59½ or upon retirement) and non-qualified distributions (taken before age 59½). However, Iowa does tax Roth 401(k) distributions. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so they … Read more
Withdrawing from a 401(k) retirement account can impact your credit score indirectly. When you take out a loan from your 401(k), your account balance decreases, which may lower your overall credit utilization ratio. This ratio measures how much credit you’re using compared to your total available credit, and a lower utilization ratio can boost your … Read more
Your 401(k) contributions are made pre-tax, which means they are deducted from your paycheck before income taxes are calculated. This reduces your taxable income, which can save you money on taxes now. However, when you withdraw money from your 401(k) in retirement, you will pay income taxes on the withdrawals. The amount of tax you … Read more