Archive: March, 2010
Here’s a really simple way to double or even triple the returns you get from your retirement savings. All you have to do is rollover to a self-directed IRA. Self-directed IRAs are the best way to increase flexibility, maximize your returns, and have more control over your retirement investments. For starters, you need to learn about IRA rollover frequency.
If you are rolling over assets received from another IRA, you are allowed one rollover every 365 day period. If you are doing a rollover into IRA from an employer’s qualified plan, you are allowed more than one rollover per year.
So what is a rollover IRA exactly? A rollover IRA is an account that allows you to maintain the tax-deferred status of a retirement account while consolidating retirement savings from plans previously sponsored by your employer, such as the 401k or the 403b. On top of being aware of IRA rollover frequency, it is important to be aware of all aspects of the rollover process.
For example, when doing a rollover into IRA, it’s important to remember not to have your check made out to you because you can lose 20% in taxes. When you do the rollover, have your old account trustee write the check out to your new trustee so you receive the money indirectly.
It’s also important to find a company that will help you rollover to an IRA smoothly and efficiently. Many people rely on banks or their employers to assist them in the process but it’s important to realize while they might mean well, in the end their ultimate goals are to do whatever benefits them most. IRA rollover frequency is limited so you must choose wisely before deciding on where and how to do a rollover so you don’t end up stuck in a decision that you will regret.
When you do a rollover into IRA, your best bet is to find a company that will allow you to self-direct your account. Self-directed IRAs are the best because you have a much wider array of investment options and more control over your account. With employer sponsored plans and traditional IRAs, your financial institution or employer will appoint you with an investment adviser that will make all the decisions for you and inevitably the decisions they make are going to favor your financial institution or employer.
Since your IRA rollover frequency is a maximum of a few times a year, it’s important to choose wisely. Look for a company that will allow you to invest in real estate. Real estate is an untapped market that can give you much higher returns. Real estate is a stable investment that tends to increase in value over time unlike stocks, which fluctuate in price day to day. In these times of economic uncertainty, your best move will be to self-direct your account and invest in real estate, a safe and stable investment.
Believe me. If you follow this advice, you are going to see more return on your investment for retirement. Most people feed their statements about 2-3%, and you want to go mark. If you agree with the rules of the frequency of reversing the IRA and find a company to help you self direct your IRA account to invest in real estate, you can increase productivity, doubling or even tripling your earnings.
In what has to be the most financially irresponsible move the financial service industry and the U.S. Government have made-ever-you can now get a debit card that gives you access to your 401k retirement account. Consider this: Over the last thirty years, there has been more effort made to part you from your money, to put you and keep you in debt than at any time in American history. The scary part is that these efforts have worked so well, changing our culture from a savings orientation to a debt orientation. What was the big selling point that pushed this change? Convenience. With credit cards, you can get a loan whenever you need one. It’s so convenient you don’t even have to pay it all off when the bill comes in. Debit cards draw from your checking and savings accounts. All you have to do is keep track of your spending and maintain your account balances. How convenient is that?
The traditional 401k retirement scheme, while rather cumbersome and inconvenient, has always allowed for loans. The problem, as some saw it, was that repayment was through automatic payroll deductions and that if you left your employer, the law stipulated that you had 60 days to repay the loan in full. If you failed to do that, you would be subjected to heavy penalties and taxes. Under rules like these, borrowing against your 401k was a “last resort” kind of thing, something contemplated when all other avenues have been exhausted. The idea behind all this was a sound one: Don’t touch your retirement unless you absolutely have no other choice.
So here, in the 21st century, where instant gratification is just not fast enough, the folks at The Reserve came up with an idea: The ReservePlus program and its 401k debit card. Once the program is adopted by a client company, employees will have an approved line of credit in a ReservePlus account tied to the employee’s 401k. They then receive a debit card that will allow them access to as much or as little of that line of credit as they want. This loan is then paid back in the same way as a credit card. In an article appearing on TheStreet.com, David Young, director of Reserve Solutions at The Reserve, described the program as a “unique and logical solution to an archaic process.”
Would that be the archaic process of saving for retirement, Mr. Young? Perhaps it is the archaic process of sticking to our commitments? After all, retirement savings are supposed to be a long term proposition. That is why you can retire on them. It takes years of interest and reinvestment and growth to provide you with the funds you will need when you are in the sear and yellow. One popular purveyor of retirement investment sums it up nicely when they admonish you not to outlive your money. How are you supposed to accomplish that when you can use that money to buy groceries or new furniture or movie tickets? True, most people do repay the loans over a period of years, but while those loans are out, the money that should be an interest-generating asset is now an interest-generating debt. Money goes out, not in. In other words, you lose money every time you pull out that 401k debit card.
In the United States, a country where, by all measurable standards, the rate of retirement savings is dismal, how can this possibly improve matters? The U.S. Government Accountability Office said that loan features do increase participation in retirement plans, but that has been the case for a long time. The rise of the 401k debit card doesn’t change that. However, that same report also indicated that having access to retirement savings could lower the actual rate of savings and there this dubious convenience certainly does come into play.
In other words, the 401k debit card does nothing in and of itself to increase participation in retirement plans, which is a far greater problem than anything that could qualify as Mr. Young’s so-called “archaic process.” It does, however, exacerbate the problem by reducing the amount of money that people do save. ReservePlus is nothing but a cynical attempt to tap into a pool of funds that had previously been fairly safe, your retirement. If you are a small businessman considering this for you employees, consider the ramifications of subscribing to this. If you are an employee, don’t be tempted. What good will that new TV, or weekend in Las Vegas, be when you are 80?
Let’s take a look at some of the most common and costly IRA mistakes. Anyone can make a mistake but, if you know what kind of transaction to avoid from the beginning, you are less likely to end up paying for it.
Most of the common and costly IRA mistakes occur within the self-directed or self managed account. Typically, if someone like T. Rowe Price or Schwab manages your account, you will have nothing to worry about.
But, if you open a self directed account, you should look for a group of trustees that are familiar enough with the laws to be able to offer some education. Trustees are passive, for the most part. They are not allowed to give specific advice about what to invest in, but they should be able to advise you about what to avoid.
There are several official documents that you may want to read, in order to avoid common and costly IRA mistakes. These documents include the provisions of a law called ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code on Prohibited Transactions and the Internal Revenue Code on UBIT, or unrelated business income tax.
But, in plain English, the most common and costly IRA mistakes are transactions that can be considered “self-dealing”. Simply put, your retirement account is supposed to benefit your future, not your current economic situation. Maybe, that requires further explanation.
One of the common and costly IRA mistakes is investing in a company’s stock, when the account holder owns a majority of the company. If you hold more than 50% of a company’s stock, you cannot use your retirement account for additional holdings. Under the law, you and your account are separate entities. That protects your account from present day creditors.
You see. All of the common and costly IRA mistakes threaten the tax-free or tax-deferred status of the account. That’s why they are “costly”. If you made a mistake, you could face serious tax penalties. Profits and income that the account made for that year could all be taxed, even if it was only one investment that was prohibited.
Some examples of prohibited transactions include borrowing form the account, selling property to it, using it as security for a personal loan and buying property for personal use. Your close family members are also mentioned in the laws. They are called “disqualified persons”.
There are other things that are allowed under the law, but can increase your taxes. For example, you are allowed to finance a real estate purchase within the account, as long as only the property is used as collateral and not the account itself. But, income or profits made from a financed property are subject to UBIT, which is mentioned above.
Other common and costly IRA mistakes include taking a vacation in an investment property, renting office space in a building owned by the account and renting properties to disqualified persons. As with any thing else, education is really the key. Any of these transactions can be avoided, as long as you make an effort to educate yourself.
Buying real estate with funds from retirement accounts has become a popular choice for investors. But, if they don’t follow the rules, then they will end up paying. Get good advice from people you trust and you can avoid the common and costly IRA mistakes, as you continue to fund your future.
Now that 2010 has arrived, all of you with a Traditional IRA have an option to convert it to a Roth IRA and forever have a completely tax free retirement account.
I have written several articles, all available on this site, on whether or not the conversion is a good financial decision, particularly if the traditional IRA had built-up substantial deferred income taxes that won’t be paid back until after your death. I would like to summarize these articles in a check list format so that the decision factors can be presented to you in one source document.
You can only base your decision on tax rates as of today. No one can project what future tax rates will be. Here are the factors to evaluate.
If any of these apply or you are unsure about, then consultation with an expert should be considered.
Tax bracket in year of conversion (2010 tax rate structure):
A conversion bumps me up to a higher tax bracket in 2010?
I will be in that tax bracket when I retire?
I will be in a lower tax bracket than 2010 when I retire I will be I a higher tax bracket that 2010 when I retire
I Have considered the impact on state and local income taxes (For example, will you be moving to or from a state with no income taxes)
Payment of conversion tax:
I have determined the opportunity cost from paying the tax (default rate of 7%) (In other words, I would be better off keeping the money invested instead of paying the conversion tax)
I will recover this cost during my life time
I have determined the required rate of return to break-even and believe I can earn that rate on my investments every year in the future
Disposition of your IRA
I expect to spend down my IRA during my life time
My spouse as beneficiary when required to take minimum distributions will be in a tax bracket that is:
Higher than ours is in 2010
Lower than ours is in 2010
My non-spouse as beneficiary when required to take minimum distributions will be in a tax bracket that is:
Higher than mine is in 2010
Lower than mine is in 2010
Taxation of Social Security benefits (today’s rules):
Traditional IRA required minimum distributions result in my or my spouse’s social security benefits:
Taxed for the first time
Raises taxation of our benefits from 50% to 85%
Factors having no consequences on conversion decision:
My age
I will spend my entire IRA during my life time
Conversion in 2010 will not change my 2010 tax rate
I plan on staying in the same state when I retire
RMD will have no impact on taxation of my or my spouse’s Social Security benefits
My tax bracket when taking required minimum distributions will be the same as in 2010
My beneficiaries – both spousal and non spousal – will be in my 2010 tax bracket when they take required minimum distributions in the future
Finally:
I and my husband never money from Roth IRA in my life, then you should go for it!
You have lots of options for an easy setup self directed IRA, thanks to the internet. A variety of companies and groups of trustees offer you the opportunity to sign up and set up the account online. What could be simpler?
There are several things that you should consider when choosing a trustee or company to manage the account. Even though you are responsible for investment decisions in an easy setup self directed IRA, the trustee has certain responsibilities, as well, such as filing relevant tax documents and preparing statements. And, if they handle something incorrectly, it could cost you.
So, you want to use an experienced company. You may want to consider asking for referrals or references. This is an important decision and you are in effect “hiring” an employee, when you choose an easy setup self directed IRA custodian.
Then, you must consider the fees involved. While custodians are prohibited from “receiving unreasonable compensation” for managing the account, under the provisions of the ERISA, what is considered reasonable and customary varies. As you would shop for anything else, you should do some comparisons before you sign up for an easy setup self directed IRA.
Charges may include set up, maintenance, and per transaction fees, along with other sometimes hidden charges, such as consultation and filing fees. An easy setup self directed IRA is far from free, but if you are careful, you can find custodians that include practically everything in a single annual fee.
The most reasonable price that I have found for an easy setup self directed IRA is $50 for the initial set up and $300 annually for maintenance, with no transaction fees. Other companies may charge less for set up and maintenance, but each transaction can cost anywhere from $25 to $175.
Particularly high prices are charged for real estate transactions at most companies. And, real estate investing has become a really popular choice for easy setup self directed IRA account owners.
Experienced investors have learned that they can increase the amount of money that they keep, by conducting real estate deals within the account, rather than with private funds. It’s all because of the tax status of qualified retirement accounts.
Typically, an investor who buys and sells houses for a profit, pays capital gains and unrelated business income tax of UBIT, but within the qualified IRA, there are no such taxes. All holdings within the account are either tax-deferred or tax-free, depending on the type of account. That’s the big advantage to using an easy setup self directed IRA for real estate investments.
Another advantage of opening an easy setup self directed IRA, rather than a managed account at T. Rowe Price or Schwabb, is that you have more investment choices, so your ability to diversify is greater. Stocks, bonds and mutual funds are great, but some are low yield and others are risky right now.
Certificates of deposit or CDs have long been the standard for retirement account holding, but the returns are not even keeping up with inflation. With an easy setup self directed IRA, you may be able to grow your retirement wealth faster, as long as you choose the right company and of course, make the right investment choices.
One big advantage of a Roth IRA is that qualified distributions are tax free. But, there are a number of other Roth IRA advantages, particularly with a self-directed account. If you are trying to choose between a traditional and a Roth IRA, here are some things to consider.
The yearly amount that you are allowed to contribute to an IRA is the same, no matter which type of account you choose. In 2008, you can contribute up to $5000 or $6000 if you are age 50 or older. With a traditional IRA, if you meet the qualifications, you may be able to deduct the amount you contribute from your regular income and thus avoid paying income taxes on that amount, but when you begin to take disbursements, you will pay income taxes.
Roth contributions are not tax deductible, but as mentioned above, qualified distributions are tax free. Another advantage of the Roth IRA is that profits from investments made with Roth IRA funds are not subject to capital gains taxes. For example, if you had a self-directed account and you chose to invest in real estate, any profits from reselling property would not be subject to taxes, as long as the funds went back into the account.
Another of the Roth IRA advantages has to do with age limitations. Once you reach the age of 70.5, you can no longer make contributions to a traditional IRA. You can continue to make contributions to a Roth for as long as you live.
On the flip side, there are income limitations that apply to the Roth and not to the traditional IRA. You can visit your tax advisor or the official website of the IRS to find out if you meet the income limitations for a Roth.
There is another advantage of a Roth IRA that may apply to you. Some people want the money in their retirement accounts to go to the kids. With a traditional IRA, after they reach the age of 70.5, they are required to begin taking minimum distributions. Roth IRA owners are never required to take distributions. The money can stay in the account for as long as they like.
Because there are Roth IRA advantages and traditional IRA advantages, some people choose to split their contributions between two separate accounts. That might be an option to consider. You could use the traditional IRA for standard investments like stocks and bonds, while using the Roth IRA for investing in things like real estate.
If you would like to take advantage of a Roth IRA for real estate investments, there are a small number of investors that are willing to take you by the hand and show you the way. Because the potential for large returns is high, with the right deals, you could quickly grow your account balance and secure your retirement. It might be worth a try. Just make sure you get the right help.
In short, houses are IRA good investments. If you look at the growth of IRA investments over the last year, there was very little.
Only the smartest investors made any money at all. Most lost.
Here’s how you can avoid losing money and your ability to retire.
Historical Earnings
Some people think that bank certificates of deposit and treasury notes are IRA good investments, simply because they are safe. But the historical growth of IRA investments, of this type, is less than 5% per year. Right now, CDs are earning less than 4%. Treasury notes and government bonds are less than 2%. Historically, advisors counted on a 3% inflation rate. Now, we’re looking at 5% or more over the next twenty years.
The inflation rate is relevant, because of the buying power that your money has.
As a simple example, if you need $100,000 per year to live on right now, you’ll need $200,000 per year in 20 years. The only way that you can live comfortably for 20 years beyond retirement is to have a multi-million dollar account at age 60.
Self Investing
The 5% of account holders that have chosen to self-direct have seen continued growth of IRA investments over the years. By staying away from the stock market, for the most part, they did not lose the 20% that many would-be retirees lost over the last year.
Most people think stocks are IRA good investments, because the return on their investment may be higher. But, the returns weren’t really that high. Over the last 20 years, stock market investors earned an average of 8% per year.
What to Look for in a Custodian
A custodian cannot guarantee the growth of IRA investments. They can tell you about what others have done and provide educational resources.
But, they cannot give you investment advice.
Early on, I said that houses are IRA good investments and that may have surprised you. Many people are unaware of the option, because most custodians (self-directed or not) do not offer the option. So, you’ll need to “shop around” for a few that do and then compare the fees that they charge. You’re looking for a reasonable annual fee and no “per-transaction” fees.
Where to Get Help
You’ll need a variety of professionals to assist you, including a lawyer and an accountant. But, when it comes to investing advice, ask an experienced investor, like me. My advice is free.
If you learn from my mistakes, you will be more successful than I was. I can tell you how to see continuous growth of IRA investments. Some choices are even guaranteed.
Briefly, there is a portion of the housing market that is doing very well, despite the economic turbulence in the country.
If you notice, there are a few investors that are not worried about what’s going on in the stock market or the banking industry.
That’s because they I know that affordable housing a good investment and the IRA that they stick.
Anyone with a 401K or any other managed retirement portfolio
has seen its value drop significantly in the past few weeks.
Calls to the manager almost always have the same reply. “This
is only a correction.” “Don’t worry. The market always comes back.”
or some other ilk.
And your money continues to disappear.
Almost without except all mutual funds are required by their
charter to be fully invested at all times. Unfortunately, there are times
when there is nothing to buy and the fund manager’s hands are tied
because he is not allowed to sell losing stocks.
That doesn’t apply to you. Or does it?
As the investor you may direct the fund manager to sell and put
your money in a money market account. For the past almost four and
half years the market has continued erratically, but steadily up. There
has been no reason to sell.
Things have changed.
Now it is time to move out of stocks and into cash. Cash is a
position. No broker or fund manager will agree with that as he can’t
make any money unless your account is invested in stocks or mutual
funds.
As far back in stock market as anyone may care to search during
any 10 year period there has always been a major correction. Some of
those “corrections” have wiped investors out. The 1929 “correction”
took 25 years to come back. Do you have that long?
How do investors know when to sell? Brokers and financial planners
won’t tell you as most of them don’t know. Yet it is relatively easy so it is
up to you to protect your money.
Their is an excellent indicator that is published every day in the
newspaper Investors Business Daily. You don’t have to buy the paper.
You can look at it in the local library.
In the second section you will find a chart called the Investors
Business Daily Mutual Fund Index. The chart shows an index of 24
major mutual funds. There is a dotted line called the 200-day mutual
fund average. For the last almost 5 years this line has been going up.
It turned up in April of 2003 to give a BUY signal. It has recently turned
down. That is the SELL signal for the entire stock market..
Any investor can check the major indexes such as the S&P500 or
the DOW using these figures on http://www.bigcharts.com .
Smart investors to protect their savings will now instruct their
fund managers to Sell everything and put it in money market
account. Of course, much will be done, but money will not disappear
Rates of 20, 30, 40% or more, as it was in 2000. Smart Investor
wait for the moving average line, in turn, before buying in.
401K risk falling 50% from here. Reasonable
The investor must have a plan to protect their money.
Protect. Sell now.