These are the most common excuses I hear for NOT planning smart for retirement.

Reason #10: “I’m too busy”

I can’t tell you how often I hear this excuse. So many people want to plan for a better retirement, but they don’t have time. They think they’ll take care of it tomorrow or the day after that… and before they know it, several years have gone by. The best advice I can give you is to stop procrastinating and start planning today.

Reason #9: “It’s too soon”

I don’t know how this happened, but many people have adopted the notion that you don’t have to start plan-ning for your retirement until you’re almost there. This is totally incorrect. The truth is, the sooner you start planning, the better chance you stand of having the kind of retirement you want. It’s never too soon. Many people start planning in their early twenties!

Reason #8: “It’s too late”

If you’re already near or past your retirement eligibility date, you may think that whatever you’ve got is what you’re stuck with and it’s too late to do anything about it. Think again. If you’re unsure of what your options are, speak to a professional. Even if you’ve already retired, it’s important to consider how you’re receiving income and how long it will last. It’s never too late to revise your income distribution strategy.

Reason #7: “I don’t need to”

I’ve heard this excuse many times and it always baffles me. Many people think that because they’ve been diligent about contributing to a savings account, they’re all set. While saving for retirement is good, you also need a plan for income distribution once you enter retirement. Are you certain that what you’re saving will be enough? Have you considered your distribution plan? What about taxes? What about inflation? And are you sure your money will be properly invested? There may be other, better options for you and it may prove worthwhile to look into them.

Reason #6: “I don’t have enough money to get started”

This excuse seems marginal at first glance, but there is some truth behind it. You need to have money to save or invest money. However, unless your bills are exactly equal to or greater than your net income, you DO have enough to get started. Starting small is better than not starting at all, and if you plan well, you’ll eventually have more to work with.

Reason #5: “My finances are a mess”

This all the more reason to seek out an advisor who can help you sort through and understand your assets. Perhaps you have a 401(k) or several 401(k)s from former employers that has not been rolled over, a couple of savings accounts, a trust from a deceased relative, some stocks that your parents bought in your name when you were younger … a circumstance like this can be confusing, but leaving it as it is won’t improve the situation. Consider speaking with an advisor who can look at your complete financial picture, help you to understand it, and help you to develop a plan to make your “financial mess” work for you.

Reason #4: “The Government will take care of me”

The bottom line is this … there’s a chance Social Security may not be available when you retire, and even presuming it is, it may not be enough to provide your ideal retirement income. If you’re planning to retire on Social Security alone, I would advise you to create a back-up plan at the very least.

Reason #3: “Between my savings and my 401(k), I’ll be fine”

Saving for retirement without an income distribution plan can be a mistake. How will you use that money once you have it? And while you may think you’ll have everything you’re going to need, have you considered inflation? Taxes? And furthermore, some people are living past 90. Will your assets last that long? If you outlive your income, what then? It’s a good idea to look ahead and plan lifelong income.

Reason #2: “I don’t want to think about it”

Many people procrastinate simply because the thought of discussing financial matters (or growing old) is unappealing. I can certainly understand that. But consider this … if you bite the bullet now and put a firm plan in motion, you may not have to think about it again for quite some time.

Reason #1: “I don’t know how”

If you knew everything there was to know about financial planning, you’d probably be a financial advisor yourself. While it is possible to do everything on your own, that generally involves a great deal of research and a huge ongoing time commitment. If you’re putting off retirement planning because you don’t know how, consider speaking to an advisor at Joshua Cumrine Financial who does.

Most places of employment will offer a variety of retirement plans you can choose to make use of. Two commonly asked questions are whether a Roth 401(k) is the same as a Roth IRA retirement account and is either one better than a traditional 401(k) plan.  While there are significant differences, any type of IRA & retirement plan investing is a great idea; for the past 10 plus years the average American actually had a negative savings rate!

The Roth IRA

A Roth IRA and a Roth 401(k) are two very different savings instruments. Both have the same concept however. Basically, you make contributions to plan for retirement. There are no tax deductions for these contributions. Yet, upon your retirement, you can withdraw your contributions and additional earnings tax-free. While it would be wonderful to have a simple answer to these common questions, one type is not necessarily better than the other. It will greatly depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. The right choice for you will depend on your specific situation and expectations.

The Traditional 401(k)

With a traditional 401(k), the employee will contribute a specified percentage of their salary to a plan that is employer-sponsored. Many companies will make contributions to your account, and some companies will even offer a match of up to 100% of your contributions. No contribution that is made to the traditional 401(k) is counted as taxable income. All of the gains that are accumulated in the account are tax-deferred. Upon withdrawal, the amount is taxed as if it were ordinary income. The traditional 401(k) is similar to a traditional IRA account and account owners will have to begin taking withdrawals at age 70 1/2.

Roth 401(k)

When dealing with a Roth 401(k), the contributions that are made by the employer are kept separate. These contributions will receive the same tax treatment as a traditional 401(k).

A Roth IRA does not have a withdrawal requirement. You will never be required to make mandatory withdrawals from the account. Roth 401(k) accounts do have a withdrawal rule, and owners will be required to begin withdrawing when they reach 70 1/2. One way to avoid the mandatory withdrawal rule is to rollover the Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA retirement account. Keep in mind that Roth 401(k) accounts are available to every worker, while Roth IRAs have an income restriction.

The Roth 401(k) plan has a maximum contribution limit. In 2009, the limit is $16,500. However, there is a $5,500 catch-up contribution that is allowed for workers who are over the age of 50. Combined, employees can contribute up to $22,000 per year into their account.

Contribution Limits: Roth IRA & 401(k)

IRAs have a very significant difference from a 401(k). With an IRA retirement account, the contribution limits are lower. This is because these accounts are not sponsored by your employer. For 2009, Roth IRA contribution limits are set at $5,000. Employees are allotted an additional $1,000 for catch-up, totaling $6,000 for the year if you are over 50. It is possible to have more than one type of retirement account. If you have an IRA and a 401(k), you can contribute the maximum amount to both accounts. Now, the question remains, what’s better, a 401(k) or a Roth IRA?

Choosing Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA

An analysis conducted by William Urban from Bingham, Osborn and Scarborough, indicates that the Roth 401(k) plan “might be the better choice for more people than commonly understood.”

The popular belief is that a Roth 401(k) makes more sense, especially if you are planning to be in a higher tax bracket upon retirement. The analysis showed that if your tax bracket falls in retirement years, the accumulation in the Roth might make that the better choice. This is usually the case if employees can afford to contribute the maximum amount allowed. Many times, younger workers are in the lower tax brackets. This minimizes the immediate tax benefits of the traditional 401(k), making the Roth fund a better choice. 

Regardless of your decision, going with any tax advantaged savings account is critical to save for retirement. More and more people file for bankruptcy because they did not have a large enough savings when a financial emergency occurred such as a sickness, loss of a job, or death in the family.

A 401(a) plan is also referred to as a Money Purchase Plan. The 401a is defined as a type of retirement savings plan that allows you to save for retirement. 401(a) plans are offered by your employer and contributions can be made by yourself, your employer or by both. The contributions that are made to the account can be mandatory or voluntary. Your employer will determine if the contributions are to be made on a pre-tax or after-tax basis.

If your employer has a pick-up provision, the contributions will be made in a pre-tax basis. You may also be allowed to make additional voluntary contributions. If you choose to do this, the contributions will be made after taxes. All voluntary contributions are limited to 25% percent of your salary. There are various methods in which your employer will contribute. They may have a set dollar amount or percentage or they will match a certain percentage of the contributions you make.

There are many benefits to participating in a 401(a) plan offered by your company. If you choose to contribute, you will reduce your income taxes and build retirement savings at the same time. You also have the ability to rollover any savings you have into another 401 plan that may be offered by another company. You are allowed to rollover the funds into a 403(b) plan, an IRA or a 457 plan if you change employers. Any contributions that were made on a pre-tax basis are not subject to any income taxes until you begin withdrawing from the account. All earnings in the account will accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. If your employer offers a 457 plan, you can also participate in that plan while contributing to the 401(a).

If the 401(a) plan is administered by the ICMA-RC, there are additional benefits. You will be able to choose from many investment options. In most cases, there will be no restrictions if you choose to reallocate your investments. You will have no minimum required investments. Anyone who has been designated as a beneficiary will be entitled to receive the entire remaining amount in the account if you die. Payment options are more flexible and you will be able to determine your own payment schedule. When you do begin withdrawing from the account, you will maintain complete control over all the investments that are in the account.

Always be aware of any restrictions your employer may have. Some employers will have mandatory contributions. If this is the case, you are not allowed to cease contributions. Be aware of mandatory contributions. When you enroll in the plan, the decision is irrevocable. With a 401(a) plan, you are immediately vested 100% in your earnings and contributions. It is important to know what the contribution limits are each year. You may incur penalties if you do not adhere to the contribution and withdrawal rules and regulations. Always take the time to completely review these rules. You want to avoid incurring any additional taxes or penalties.

401(k) Plan Facts You Need to Be Aware Of

As people head into their later years, their retirement planning often includes a 401(k) plan that is offered by their employer. The whole concept of the plan appears to be simple, but you should be aware that the 401(k) plan facts do differ from the basic premise of saving for retirement. When you begin a 401(k), a portion of your income is set aside and invested into the plan. This investment is what will help you earn money for retirement. However simple that may seem, you must be aware of all the facts relating to the plan so you can ensure it is the right choice for you.

Who Can Make Use of a 401(k)?

In order to be eligible for a 401(k) plan, you must be employed by a company that offers the plan to workers. If your company does not offer a plan, or if you do not like the way a 401(k) works, you may be better off opening an IRA retirement account instead. If you do choose to take part in a company offered plan, there are three steps you must follow. To begin, you will be required to fill out appropriate paperwork that will be provided to you by your employer. Then you should go to an orientation session if the company offers one. Otherwise, make sure to read any material that is provided. The material will explain the rules of the 401(k). This will include investment choices, which will vary depending on the provider. Make sure you gain as much knowledge about the plan as possible before making a commitment to the plan.

After these two steps are completed, you will then have to decide how much of your income you wish to contribute to the plan. Many companies will match your contributions. This is an important factor. If your company offers a 100% match, then a 401(k) plan would be a great choice for you. After selecting the amount, you will need to choose what investments to use. Many plans will give you different choices, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Keep in mind that you have the right to stop contributions at any time. You simply have to notify your employer of your decision.

Tax Benefits Related to a 401(k)

There are two different types of plans available, a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). Each of these has different tax advantages. Traditional plans will provide two benefits, which are the ability to make contributions before taxes and the ability to later invest that money into an account that is tax deferred. Traditional plans use money from your pay check before taxes are taken out. This type of plan will reduce your taxable income.

Roth 401(k) plans are the opposite, and do not allow any contributions that are pre-taxed. This means that your income will not change, regardless of what you contribute to the Roth 401(k). The benefit of this is that when you reach the age to withdraw from the plan, the money will be available tax-free. Many people are opting for a Roth plan because it will provide them with tax-free retirement income in later years. While this is an attractive benefit, the majority of people are still investing in traditional plans.

401(k) Rollover and Terminating a 401(k) Plan

You are allowed to take the savings in your 401(k) when you leave your current job. There are four options you will have when doing so. First, you can choose to leave it as it is. Some employers will not allow this, so make sure to find out if this option is available. Second, you can use a rollover 401(k). This allows you the ability to transfer your current savings into a new plan offered by your new employer. Keep in mind you may incur some fees if the investment options are different. Third, you can use a rollover IRA and any stock broker will accept a 401k rollover money plan. This is similar to 401(k) plan rollovers. The main difference is that the money is transferred into an IRA retirement account instead of another 401(k) plan. Fourth, you can cash out the plan. This is a last resort because it will no longer allow you to save for retirement. You will also have to pay taxes on the entire amount, as well as an early withdrawal penalty fee if you are cashing out before reaching the age of retirement.