Invest in a Roth 401(k) If You Can
Workers of all ages can benefit from stashing away after-tax money now in exchange for tax-free withdrawals in the future.
If your employer offers a Roth option in your 401(k), it's a great idea to invest in it, or at least consider investing a portion of your 401(k) contribution in the Roth. Contributions to a Roth 401(k) won't reduce your tax bill now. While pretax salary goes into a regular 401(k), after-tax money funds the Roth. But as with Roth IRAs, withdrawals from Roth 401(k)s are tax- and penalty-free as long as you've had the account for five years and are at least 59½ when you take the money out.
Because there are no income limits on Roth 401(k) contributions, these accounts provide a way for high earners to invest in a Roth without converting a traditional IRA. In 2021, you can contribute up to $19,500 to a Roth 401(k), a traditional 401(k) or a combination of the two. Workers 50 or older can contribute up to $26,000 annually.
If you get matching funds from your employer, they go into a traditional pretax 401(k) account. However, a proposal in the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, which has been nicknamed the SECURE Act 2.0, would allow workers to have employer matching contributions invested in a Roth 401(k). The House Ways and Means Committee has approved the bill, though it still needs to be voted on by both chambers of Congress.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Consider the Benefits of a Roth 401(k)
Younger workers stand to gain the most from investing in a Roth 401(k) because they will enjoy many years of tax-free growth.
But older workers can benefit, too. Consider this example from Fidelity Investments: Tom and Elaine, both 45, contribute $5,000 to their 401(k) plans. Tom contributes to a traditional 401(k) plan, while Elaine contributes to a Roth. They continue to work into their seventies and don't take withdrawals until they're 75. If their tax rates and investment returns remain equal, Tom will end up with $27,404, after paying taxes on the withdrawal, while Elaine will have $38,061 tax-free (this example assumes a 7% annual rate of return and a 28% tax bracket). Even if Tom invested the $1,400 in tax savings he enjoyed by investing pretax money in the taxable account, he'd still lag Elaine by $2,616.
If you expect your tax bracket to decline when you retire, the Roth 401(k) loses some of its appeal, but it's still the superior option for many savers—even those who are close to retirement. If you take withdrawals from taxable and tax-deferred accounts and leave the money in the Roth for decades, tax-free earnings will continue to pile up.
If you plan to withdraw money from the Roth within 10 years and you expect your tax bracket to drop significantly in retirement, then you might come out ahead with a traditional 401(k) plan. But you'd lose the flexibility to take tax-free withdrawals for major expenses, such as home repairs or medical bills. And a large withdrawal from a tax-deferred account will increase your taxable income, which could affect everything from taxes on your Social Security benefits to the size of your Medicare premiums. Those worries disappear with a Roth because withdrawals are tax-free.
Although the rules require owners to take distributions from Roth 401(k)s starting at age 72, you can get around that by simply rolling the Roth account tax-free into a Roth IRA.
Should You Convert Your Traditional 401(k) to a Roth 401(k)?
The law now allows employees to convert funds from a traditional 401(k) plan to a Roth 401(k), if the plan allows it. About half of employers offer a Roth 401(k), according to 2017 data from Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.
You'll have to pay taxes in the year you convert, just as you would if you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth. Plus, a large conversion could bump you into a higher tax bracket. Note that unlike converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth, you can't change your mind and undo a 401(k) conversion to a Roth.
Block joined Kiplinger in June 2012 from USA Today, where she was a reporter and personal finance columnist for more than 15 years. Prior to that, she worked for the Akron Beacon-Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. In 1993, she was a Knight-Bagehot fellow in economics and business journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has a BA in communications from Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va.
-
Should You Invest in CDs? What to Consider
Before putting your money in a certificate of deposit (CD), you should know why banks issue them, how they are used and how they are priced.
By Brian Skrobonja, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) Published
-
How Retirees Can Minimize the Net Investment Income Tax
One strategy is to consider your filing status, which can affect the net investment income tax (NIIT) that successful retirees pay on certain investment income.
By Derek A. Miser, Investment Adviser Published
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $69,000 a year.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
SIMPLE IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
simple IRA The maximum amount workers at small businesses can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA increased by $500 for 2024.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
457 Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans State and local government workers can contribute more to their 457 plans in 2024 than in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans The Roth 401(k) contribution limit for 2024 is increasing, and workers who are 50 and older can save even more.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Is a Medicare Advantage Plan Right for You?
Medicare Advantage plans can provide additional benefits beneficiaries can't get through original Medicare for no or a low monthly premium. But there are downsides to this insurance too.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
What You Must Know About the Different Parts of Medicare
Medicare Medicare can be complicated but we've got you covered. Here is a quick guide to the different benefits provided through each part.
By Jackie Stewart Last updated