How Much Can You Contribute to Your Qualified Plans in 2018?

​The year is halfway over. Are you on track to hit your savings goals? If not, don’t worry. It’s easy to get off track with your savings, especially when it comes to a long-term goal like retirement. After all, you may have other expenses—such as debt, emergency costs or child care—that seem more urgent.
 
Fortunately, you still have time left in the year to put money into your qualified retirement accounts. These accounts, like 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), offer tax-deferred growth. That means you don’t pay taxes on growth inside the accounts until you take a distribution.
 
Below are three commonly used qualified accounts and how they can help you save for retirement. You still have time left this year to ramp up your savings. Work with a financial professional to implement a savings strategy.

401(k) Plan
Do you participate in your employer’s 401(k) plan? If so, you may know that it’s an effective savings tool. Your 401(k) balance grows on a tax-deferred basis. You don’t pay taxes on growth until you take distributions from the plan.
 
Your 401(k) contributions could also reduce your current taxes. Contributions are usually deducted from your pay on a pretax basis. They reduce your taxable income, thus reducing your tax exposure.
 
Another powerful aspect of the 401(k) is the potential of earning employer matching contributions. Many employers will match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to a certain threshold. For instance, your employer may match as much as 3 percent of your annual salary in contributions. By contributing up to the employer match level, you can substantially increase your savings.
 
In 2018 you can contribute as much as $18,500 to your 401(k) plan. If you’re age 50 or older, you can also contribute an extra $6,000 in catch-up contributions, bringing your total allowable contribution to $24,500.1


Traditional IRA
You can also contribute money to an IRA. These are individual accounts that offer tax-deferred growth and potentially other tax benefits. You open an IRA through a financial professional, who can help you implement the right strategy for your goals.
 
The traditional IRA is the most widely held. It’s taxed similarly as a 401(k). Your funds grow on a tax-deferred basis while they’re in the plan. You then pay income taxes on all distributions. You may face a 10 percent penalty if you take a distribution before age 59½. You also may be able to deduct your contributions from your current taxes, assuming you meet income limitations.
 
In 2018 you can contribute $5,500 to an IRA. If you’re age 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 in catch-up contributions, giving you a total allowable contribution of $6,500.2


Roth IRA
While the traditional IRA is a helpful tool, you may feel that the Roth IRA is better suited to your needs. The Roth is taxed slightly differently than a 401(k) or traditional IRA. Growth inside the account is still tax-deferred, but there are other components that are different.
 
First, contributions to a Roth are not tax-deductible. That means you fund the account with after-tax dollars. Your distributions from the Roth are tax-free, however, assuming you take them after age 59½ and the account has been open at least five years. The Roth can be a powerful tool to create tax-free income in retirement.
 
Ready to implement your retirement savings strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Financial Solutions Group. We can help you analyze your needs and develop a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.


 
1https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/2018-irs-401k-contribution-limits.aspx
2https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/10/22/heres-the-2018-ira-contribution-limit.aspx
 
 
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