What is the Safest Place to Move 401k Money?
Every year, millions of people transfer funds out of workplace retirement accounts into individual retirement accounts – with millions choosing the correct location to invest their savings without incurring taxes and penalties along the way.
Traditional IRAs offer the safest choice, since you can avoid taxes upon moving money between accounts while reaping tax-deferred growth benefits. But other solutions also may make sense.
IRA
If you’re concerned about losing your retirement savings in an economic downturn, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) might be an appropriate way to protect them. An IRA provides more control of your money, with most banks offering them. But this option may not suit everyone; taking cash out can be costly and could incur IRS tax penalties as well.
When financial conditions deteriorate, investors often engage in a “flight to safety”, selling risky assets in favor of safer ones like Treasury bonds backed by the US government that tend to gain value during recessions. If you want a high-quality IRA account with flexible investments that’ll give you more control than traditional plans but reduce tax calculations at once then using an automated advisor robo-advisor may be ideal; you could save yourself both time and hassle in managing your account this way.
401k
Rolling your 401(k) money over into an individual retirement account (IRA) is the safest method of moving it after leaving an employer, provided you do it within 60 days. In order to do this, however, you will need the help of both your plan administrator and financial advisor as well as possessing all relevant documents including a copy of their plan summary document.
Avoid withdrawing your 401(k) funds during a recession if you’re near retirement age to avoid incurring IRS tax penalties and selling investments at the wrong time. Instead, try investing your 401(k) in bonds which offer relatively safe investments without incurring major losses during an economic downturn – bonds won’t yield high returns but should protect against loss during an economic downturn; also less risky than stocks or target date funds and can easily be found online.
Bank Account
When the stock market crashes, you may feel tempted to withdraw your 401(k) funds and put them in cash instead. But doing so could incur stiff IRS tax penalties; furthermore, investing in cash may result in purchasing power erosion due to inflation.
Your best option for moving 401(k) funds safely is a bank account with FDIC protection – something you can easily find by searching online. These accounts typically offer savings accounts, money markets and CDs with competitive interest rates that provide safe storage solutions.
If your employer offers an employer-sponsored retirement plan, it’s often wise to leave your funds where they are. If the plan has strong investment options and reasonable fees, your funds may even be transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA), where there will be no taxes or penalties at that time – providing access to low-risk investments such as fixed annuities, certificates of deposit (CDs), and Treasury securities.
Brokerage Account
Brokerage accounts provide access to an array of investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds for purchase and sale. With more investment choices than retirement accounts like an IRA – but often higher fees attached – brokerage accounts may provide greater financial flexibility while being protected by SIPC insurance coverage.
When markets become volatile, investors may migrate away from riskier investments toward “flight-to-safety” options such as US Treasury bonds for protection. Although these investments may not yield as high a return, they provide some financial security against market decline during recessions.
One of the best ways to move your 401(k) account is into an individual retirement account (IRA). This process can usually be accomplished with most large brokerages or robo-advisors; however, each institution may have their own procedures for rolling it over. To avoid complications and ensure a seamless transfer process, contact your chosen IRA provider first and learn their specific instructions for moving it over.
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