Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
Young people are advised to start building their nest egg as soon as they land a job after graduating from college, according to this article on Washington Post. They may start contributing even a small amount to a retirement plan, as the money grows considerably over time through compounding. When investing for retirement, young clients should have basic knowledge about the market, consider setting up an IRA, and increase their contributions every year.
IRA investors who consider launching their own business have the option to tap their savings with the "rollover as business startup plan" or ROBS to finance the startup, according to this article on The Wall Street Journal. While many entrepreneurs use ROBS, financial advisers are not keen on recommending it to their clients. The ROBS plans, “while not considered an abusive tax avoidance transaction, are questionable in that they may serve solely to benefit one individual’s exchange of tax-deferred assets for currently available funds,” according to an IRS report.
Although withdrawals from a Roth IRA are not subject to tax even before retirement, investors should make sure that they reach the age of 59 1/2 to make the withdrawals tax- and penalty-free, according to this article on Morningstar. They should also ensure that the funds are in Roth IRA for at least five years so they won't owe any taxes and penalty on the withdrawal. Roth IRAs have different five-year rules apply for direct contributions and for assets converted from traditional IRAs.
To secure retirement, investors are advised to reduce the risk in their portfolio and develop a solid financial plan that will ensure that they have enough income for their needs, according to this article on Kiplinger. They should also maintain a well-diversified portfolio to hedge the risk and make decisions based on realistic expectations. Clients may also consider getting valuable advice from people they know who have experience in tax, estate planning and other areas of personal finance.
Delaying retirement allows clients to have more time to build their nest egg, according to this article on Motley Fool. People who also opt to push their retirement date could also defer Social Security for increased benefit payment and continue receiving healthcare and other benefits from their employer. Their pension benefits would also increase if their employer has a defined-benefit plan, and they would continue to be socially engaged which is good for their mental health.
