Where should I put my money instead of a 401k?
Look into a Roth IRA as your first option without a 401K. This type of account allows you to invest with after-tax dollars but all of the growth in the account is tax-free.
Good alternatives include traditional and Roth IRAs and health savings accounts (HSAs). A non-retirement investment account can offer higher earnings but your risk may be higher.
Fund | Expense Ratio | 10-year average annual return |
---|---|---|
Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund (JATIX) | 0.76% | 18.3% |
Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund (FBGRX) | 0.48% | 17.3% |
Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index Fund (FNCMX) | 0.29% | 15.7% |
Fidelity Growth Discovery Fund (FDSVX) | 0.67% | 15.8% |
The safest place to put your retirement funds is in low-risk investments and savings options with guaranteed growth. Low-risk investments and savings options include fixed annuities, savings accounts, CDs, treasury securities, and money market accounts. Of these, fixed annuities usually provide the best interest rates.
Key takeaways. Prioritize savings if you don't have an emergency fund. Consider investing what you can if you're eligible for a 401(k) match. Choose saving over investing if you'll need the cash in the near future.
In many cases, a Roth IRA can be a better choice than a 401(k) retirement plan, as it offers more investment options and greater tax benefits. It may be especially useful if you think you'll be in a higher tax bracket later on.
The value of 401(k) plans is based on the concept of dollar-cost averaging, but that's not always a reliable theory. Many 401(k) plans are expensive because of high administrative and record-keeping costs. Nonetheless, 401(k) plans are ultimately worth it for most people, depending on your retirement goals.
The odds are the value of your retirement savings may decline if the market crashes. While this doesn't mean you should never invest, you should be patient with the market and make long-term decisions that can withstand time and market fluctuation.
- Protecting Your 401(k) From a Stock Market Crash.
- Don't Panic and Withdraw Your Money Too Early.
- Diversify Your Portfolio.
- Rebalance Your Portfolio.
- Keep Some Cash on Hand.
- Continue Contributing to Your 401(k) and Other Retirement Accounts.
- How to Respond to a Recession.
The value of a 401(k) account, or any retirement account, always depends on how the account is invested. For many people who are still decades away from retirement, their portfolios will largely consist of stocks, which may suffer declines during a recession or economic slowdown.
Where is the safest place to move your 401k?
- Keep your existing 401(k) with your former employer. ...
- Consolidate your 401(k) accounts, if your new employer offers a 401(k) plan. ...
- Cash out your 401(k). ...
- Move the money in your 401(k) into an IRA.
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Money market funds.
- Short-term certificates of deposit.
- Series I savings bonds.
- Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
- Corporate bonds.
- Dividend-paying stocks.
- Preferred stocks.
- Stocks.
- Real Estate.
- Private Credit.
- Junk Bonds.
- Index Funds.
- Buying a Business.
- High-End Art or Other Collectables.
The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.
Transferring Your 401(k) to Your Bank Account
That's typically an option when you stop working, but be aware that moving money to your checking or savings account may be considered a taxable distribution. As a result, you could owe income taxes, additional penalty taxes, and other complications could arise.
- Money market funds.
- Mutual funds.
- Index Funds.
- Exchange-traded funds.
- Stocks.
- Alternative investments.
- Cryptocurrencies.
- Real estate.
No tax deferral now. The list of cons may be short for Roth 401(k)s, but missing tax deferral is a big one. When faced with a choice of paying more tax now or later, most people choose to pay later, hence the low participation rates for Roth 401(k)s.
It can be a surprisingly complicated choice, but many experts prefer the Roth 401(k) because you'll never pay taxes on qualified withdrawals. Contributions are made with pre-tax income, meaning you won't be taxed on that income in the current year.
A work 401(k) is a nice perk to help you increase your retirement savings. If you're also trying to save outside of your employer-sponsored retirement plan, however, you might run into some problems. The good news is that you can contribute to an IRA even if you also contribute to a 401(k) at work.
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki isn't a fan of traditional retirement savings plans because he doesn't think they are a safe place to park your money. In a recent tweet, he predicted that 401(k) plans and IRAs will soon be “toast,” and shared that his previous predictions have usually come to fruition.
What's the average 401k balance by age?
Age range | Average balance | Median balance |
---|---|---|
25-34 | $30,017 | $11,357 |
35-44 | $76,354 | $28,318 |
45-54 | $142,069 | $48,301 |
55-64 | $207,874 | $71,168 |
If your 401(k) balance is less than $5000 when you leave a job, it may be at risk of disappearing. Employers are allowed to push out 401(k) accounts held by former employees if they have a balance below $5,000, and the participant has not given instructions on what to do with the money.
The general answer is no, a creditor cannot seize or garnish your 401(k) assets. 401(k) plans are governed by a federal law known as ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974). Assets in plans that fall under ERISA are protected from creditors.
If you're close to retirement and have already amassed a substantial nest egg, or are about to start taking distributions, you may not need to continue to contribute to your 401(k). After all, with such a short timeline, your rate of return is likely to be on the lower end.
Don't panic sell
Unless you no longer think the investment is suitable for your risk tolerance or you question its long-term stability -- for example, you own stock in a company that keeps losing market share to competitors -- you should leave your portfolio alone.
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