Should I cash out my 401k in 2023?
Cons of maxing out your 401(k) in 2023
The 401(k) can be a boon to your retirement plan. It gives you flexibility to change jobs without losing your savings. But that can start to fall apart if you use it like a bank account in the years preceding retirement. In general, it's a good idea to avoid tapping any retirement money until you've reached age 59½.
Taking funds out of your plan account might mean missing out not only on the potential growth of the money you have invested but also on any growth of that money's earnings. “As a general rule, dipping into your retirement funds to cover a short-term need could end up costing you more in the long run.
Heading into the last weeks of 2023, the S&P 500 appears poised for a gain, which should cheer workers saving for retirement in their employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. Additionally, in mid-December, when Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that the Fed may be cutting interest rates in 2024, markets took off.
- Convert to a Roth 401(k)
- Consider a direct rollover when you change jobs.
- Avoid 401(k) early withdrawal.
- Take your RMD each year ...
- But don't double-dip.
- Keep an eye on your tax bracket.
- Work with a professional to optimize your taxes.
At least a portion of your 401(k) is likely exposed to the stock market, which is what helps it to grow over time. However, like with all investments, if the stock market dips—you could instead see declines in value from time to time, which may lower your 401(k) balance at certain points along your savings journey.
But if you have an urgent need for the money, see whether you qualify for a hardship withdrawal or a 401(k) loan. Borrowing from your 401(k) may be the best option, although it does carry some risk. Alternatively, consider the Rule of 55 as another way to withdraw money from your 401(k) without the tax penalty.
Once you reach 59½, you can take distributions from your 401(k) plan without being subject to the 10% penalty. However, that doesn't mean there are no consequences. All withdrawals from your 401(k), even those taken after age 59½, are subject to ordinary income taxes.
1. The 4% rule. Maybe the most common of all retirement withdrawal strategies, the 4% rule calls for a person to withdraw 4% of their savings in the first year of retirement. In each year that follows, they will continue to withdraw 4%, making sure to scale appropriately to account for inflation.
Diversify your portfolio
Diversification is a key aspect of an investment portfolio, especially for long-term accounts like 401(k)s. Diversifying your portfolio across different asset classes and markets also helps to reduce exposure to one particular segment of the market.
Can I lose my 401k if the market crashes?
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.
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.
1. Don't Panic. Investing for retirement is a long-term venture, and while the financial markets can experience significant volatility in the short term, they tend to rise in value over the long term. Even if you're nearing retirement age, rash decisions can make it more difficult for your portfolio to recover.
Number of 401(k) millionaires jumps 11.5%
After the S&P 500 closed out 2023 with a nine-week win streak, the number of Fidelity 401(k) plans with a balance of $1 million or more increased 20% from the third quarter. Year over year, the number of 401(k) millionaires rose 11.5%.
There isn't a separate 401(k) withdrawal tax. Any money you withdraw from your 401(k) is considered income and will be taxed as such, alongside other sources of taxable income you may receive. As with any taxable income, the rate you pay depends on the amount of total taxable income you receive that year.
Your withdrawals won't shrink your benefits
But withdrawals from an IRA or 401(k) aren't the same as wages from a job. So distributions taken from a retirement plan won't cause your Social Security benefits to shrink or be withheld.
You can rollover your 401(k) account into a CD without any penalties or taxes. But you need to make sure you're rolling over into an IRA CD, specifically. And always ensure to roll over into a like-kind account, whether a traditional or Roth retirement account, or you might get hit with a surprise tax bill.
If your 401(k) or 403(b) balance has less than $1,000 vested in it when you leave, your former employer can cash out your account or roll it into an individual retirement account (IRA). This is known as a “de minimus” or “forced plan distribution” IRS rule.
It costs money to manage a 401(k) plan, and since you are no longer contributing to the retirement account, the employer forces a transfer to an IRA to cut on costs. If your 401(k) balance is less than $5000 when you leave a job, it may be at risk of disappearing.
Can I claim 401k losses on a tax return?
Generally, you cannot claim a capital gains loss on your retirement accounts that already are receiving favorable tax treatment. The only time you would have a loss is when you receive a distribution that had previously been taxed. For more information, see About Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income.
You can withdraw your contributions (that's the original money you put into the account) tax- and penalty-free. But you'll owe ordinary income tax and a 10% penalty if you withdraw earnings (i.e. gains and dividends your investments made inside the account) from your Roth 401(k) prior to age 59 1/2.
The 7 Percent Rule is a foundational guideline for retirees, suggesting that they should only withdraw upto 7% of their initial retirement savings every year to cover living expenses. This strategy is often associated with the “4% Rule,” which suggests a 4% withdrawal rate.
Follow the 3% Rule for an Average Retirement
If you are fairly confident you won't run out of money, begin by withdrawing 3% of your portfolio annually. Adjust based on inflation but keep an eye on the market, as well.
The administrator will likely require you to provide evidence of the hardship, such as medical bills or a notice of eviction.
