Welcome To Retirement Information - Accounts, Investing, Savings & Plans

Retirement is something that all of us should look forward to, but it can be a big financial concern for many of us.

Retirement planning should include setting up at least one retirement account or several different types of retirement accounts.

These retirement accounts can be retirement savings accounts or retirement investment accounts. Either way, the goal is to provide you with adequate retirement income for you and your family. You want to be able to enjoy your retirement years and not have to worry about your retirement income.

Types of Retirement Accounts

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) - Basically, IRAs are retirement investment accounts that are used by individuals to earn and earmark money for your retirement savins. There are several ways you can plan for retirement using the different types of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). These include Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and SEP IRAs.

Both the Traditional and Roth IRAs are for individual taxpayers, and you are allowed to contribute 100% of complensation up to a maximum dollar amount.

The SEPs and SIMPLEs are retirement plans that are established by the employers. Your individual contributions are made to the SIMPLE IRAs and SEP IRAs.

*Traditional IRAs & Rollovers - A traditional IRA allows you to put money into a retirement account every year, up to a certain amount, depending on if you are younger or older than 50 years of age. If you aren't covered under another retirement plan, like a 401(k), you don't have to pay income taxes on the money you contribute when you put it in.

Most traditional IRAs are funded with before tax dollars and earnings are allowed to grow tax deferred. Withdrawals from a Traditional IRA will be charged a 10% premature distribution penalty in addition to being taxed at ordinary rates if withdrawn before age 59 ½. There are certain exceptions to this rule – some of these exceptions are: death, disability, or to finance the purchase of your first home.

Bottom line, traditional IRAs are easy to set up, you contribute up to a certain amount of money yearly, and your money is taxed as income when you take it out.

*Roth IRAs - Roth IRAs are similar to traditional IRAs, except, you don't get a tax break when you deposit the money, but the money is tax-free when you withdraw it. If you don't have a retirement plan, a Roth IRA is a good way to proceed. If you don't know how to invest, then select a balanced fund to put invest in.

Roth IRAs are funded by after tax dollars; this means that you will not receive any deduction for contributions made to your Roth IRA account. Like a traditional IRA, earnings in a Roth grow tax deferred, and like a traditional IRA there is a 10% penalty if withdrawn before age 59 ½ (again certain exceptions apply).

However, unlike a traditional IRA, qualified withdrawals from a Roth are tax free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you reach retirement age, a Roth IRA may be a sound investment. It is possible to convert a Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA.

*401(k) Plans - The 401(k) plan gives you the advantage of buying as a group. Due to the buying power through the 401(k), the group is able to get better rates, which means less expense investments than you could get by yourself. If your employer offers a 401(k) investment program you can leverage your contributions if the employer matches your contributions.

Another advantage over the traditional IRAs is that you can contribute more money, again depending on if you are over 50. You also have more flexibility at the age you retire. With the 401(k), you can retire at 55 and start drawing money from your account. If you don't want to retire early, you can keep working for the same company that sponsors the plan until you do decide to retire.

 A disadvantage of the 401(k) employer sponsored plan is that the employer sets the rules. Some plans are much more restrictive than others. You are also limited to how the company decides to invest the money.

Once you do contribute to a 401(k), it can be hard to withdraw it prior to retirement. When you do retire and start withdrawing money, it is taxed as income.

*Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP IRAs) - SEP IRAs are designed for the self-employed and small business owners. Like a traditional IRA, all SEP earnings are tax deferred until withdrawal.

A SEP IRA allows higher contributions than a traditional or Roth IRA, and therefore is potentially more beneficial for small business owners or the self employed funding their own retirement.

If you do hire an employee, you might be limited to their level of contributions. In addition, you will have a lot more forms and paperwork to fill out.

The SEP is a contribution to the employee's retirement plan and is made at the discretion of the employer. If the employer and empoyee are the same, its a way save more money for retirement.

*SIMPLE IRAs - The Savings Incenitve Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs are for smaller companies or if you are self-employed, similar to the SEP IRA. Contributions are made by both the employer and account owner and earnings grow tax deferred until you withdraw them at retirement.

Unlike a 401(k), there is no schedule for employee matching. Any employer contribution is immediately yours, so if you quit, you can still get it all.

Unlike a Roth IRA, you can not withdraw your contributions any time that you want. The SIMPLEs do have the same early withdrawal penalties as the traditional IRAs.

Multiple Retirement Accounts - If you were one of the millions of people affected by the recent economic troubles, you will definitely see the advantage of having multiple retirement accounts.

Instead of making a decision between an IRA and a company 401(k), your best option would probably be in both. There are definitely advantages to rolling the money from one type of account to the other.

For example, if you have an IRA, you have to start withdrawing money once you reach the age of 70 1/2. If you also have an 401(k) and want to keep working, you can roll your IRA into your 401(k) and not have to withdraw any of the money as long as you work.

As with all of these plans, you should make sure that you check the tax laws in your state. Some states have tax exemptions for all retirement plans or some retirement plans.

Government Retirement Programs

Many Americans would have a difficult time retiring without the assistance and planning of the federal and state governments. If you were able to have a good paying job and managed your finances well and started planning for retirement early, and have solid retirement accounts, you probably don't need to rely heavily on the government retirement programs.

On the other hand, if you are like most Americans and you didn't have the extra money to put away for retirement, then the government retirement programs will be helpful in your retirement. These government programs are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Social Security and Retirement -The Social Security program has ensured that Americans would have some form of secure income during their retirement years.  In addition to retirement income, the Medicare and Disability programs were also created.  Even today, Americans still depend on Medicare for health insurance coverage during retirement.  As insurance premiums have continued to increase, the wisdom of the Medicare has proven far sighted.

The Social Security Information site provides you information on Social Security benefits, retirement age requirements, and disability insurance.

Medicare and Retirement - Medicare can be of great benefit to you after you retire. Medicare is a health insurance program that for the most part, takes effect when you turn 65 years of age or are disabled under the age of 65. Medicare Information provides you information on all the different Medicare Plans, which include hospital insurance, medical insurance, Medicare advantage and prescription drug coverage.

Medicaid and Retirement - Medicaid was created to help lower income people and those people in need get health benefits. While not original designed specifically for retirement, Medicaid definitely has provided much need help for people that are retired. Medicaid Information outlines the benefits and coverage that Medicaid provides.