Three retirement savings tactics that may disappear

Maxing out contributions to retirement plans to avoid taxes has become a common strategy, but three popular techniques could be cut under proposals afloat in Washington. Here’s a look at the proposed changes, and who would be affected by them.

Capping retirement plan tax benefits

Current law encourages taxpayers to save for retirement by deferring income taxes on money they contribute to retirement plans — and on the earnings on those contributions — until they withdraw the money later in life. However, since higher earners are taxed at higher rates, the biggest rewards from retirement incentives also go to high earners. Someone in the highest personal tax bracket, the 39.6% bracket, saves 39.6 cents on the dollar by participating in a 401(k) plan. For a low earner in the 15% bracket, it’s 15 cents on the dollar.

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Damian Sylvia

Retirement Income Solutions

You should break these six retirement rules. Here's why.

Are there right and wrong ways to retire? While that's a relative question, there are retirement rules that are in your best interest to follow — and those you might want to break. Consider these six retirement rules you might be better off ignoring.

1. Depending on a Pension or Social Security

Counting on a pension or Social Security to help you ride out your retirement years? That's probably not the best strategy to have, considering that very few companies still offer pensions (though you'd know if yours does) and Social Security is still in crisis (so much so that it might be bankrupt and not even exist by the time you retire). That's not to mention that inflation is likely to outpace your per-month payouts in the off chance that you do receive these income sources.

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Damian J. Sylvia
Managing Partner
Retirement Income Solutions