Changing jobs can be a tumultuous experience. Even under the best of circumstances, making a career move requires a series of tough decisions, not the least of which is what to do with the funds in your old employer-sponsored retirement plan.
Some people choose to roll over these funds into an Individual Retirement Account or IRA, and for good reason. About 42% of all retirement assets in the U.S. are held in IRAs, and approximately 85% of traditional IRA owners funded all or part of their IRAs with a rollover.
Generally, you have three choices when it comes to handling the money in a former employer’s retirement account.
First, you can cash out of the account. However, if you choose to cash out, you will be required to pay ordinary income tax on the balance plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59½.
Second, you may be able to leave the funds in your old plan. But some plans have rules and restrictions regarding the money in the account.
Or third, you can roll the money into an IRA. This is the most popular choice.
Why do so many people choose an IRA rollover? Here are a few of the major benefits:
- Rollovers may preserve the tax-favored status of your retirement money. As long as your money is moved through a direct “trustee-to trustee” transfer, you can avoid a taxable event. In a traditional IRA, your retirement savings will have the opportunity to grow tax-deferred until you begin taking distributions in retirement.
- An IRA rollover may open up your investment choices. When you stick with your former employer’s retirement plan, you are typically limited to the investments offered by the plan. With an IRA, you may have a much broader range of choices, giving you greater control over how your assets are allocated.
- Rollovers can make it easier to stay organized and maintain control. Some people change jobs several times during the course of their careers, leaving a trail of employer-sponsored retirement plans in their wake. By rolling these various accounts into a single IRA, you might make the process of managing the funds, rebalancing your portfolio, and adjusting your asset allocation easier.
Conclusion
An IRA rollover may make sense whether you’re leaving one job for another or retiring altogether.
The most popular reasons behind 401k rollovers include the desire to consolidate assets, remove assets from a former employer’s plan, and increase your investment options.
How your assets should be allocated within the IRA will depend on your time horizon, risk tolerance and financial goals.
By Kevin Theissen, Principal and Financial Advisor, HWC Financial, kevin@skygatefinancial.com
