Step 2: Emergency Fund
I know what you’re thinking—having an emergency fund has nothing to do with retirement savings. While it doesn’t directly count as retirement savings, it’s a necessary step in the equation. To fund your retirement, you need to ensure that your current financial situation is under control. The control starts with having a safety net in place. An emergency fund allows you to manage your current financial picture before addressing your future financial picture. By establishing an emergency fund, you can stay on track with your retirement goals when unexpected expenses arise rather than halting retirement contributions to cover unforeseen costs. Once you’re contributing to your work-based retirement plan and have an emergency fund established, we can move on to other retirement savings accounts.
Step 3: Individual Retirement Accounts
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are often the next step in retirement savings. These accounts are separate from employer plans but still hold numerous benefits. There are two main types of IRAs, each effective depending on individual financial considerations. While this won’t be a deep dive into these accounts, here is a quick overview of their function and benefits.
Traditional IRA
A traditional IRA is a pre-tax retirement account. Contributions are made pre-tax, resulting in a current-year tax deduction. The money invested in the account grows and is taxed at an ordinary income rate when withdrawn. This is often referred to as tax-deferred, meaning that you defer your taxes until withdrawal.
Roth IRA
A Roth IRA is considered a post-tax retirement account. Contributions happen after taxes are taken out of your income. Since you pay taxes upfront, that money grows tax-free. Regardless of your tax bracket at withdrawal, you won’t have to pay taxes on the money in your account, assuming you follow proper withdrawal guidelines.
Which One?
This is where a professional comes in handy. Many individuals benefit from utilizing both IRAs at different points in their careers, often dictated by their current income. In most cases, ask yourself, “What is my current tax bracket compared to my retirement tax bracket?” If your current tax bracket is higher than your projected retirement bracket, it might make sense to contribute to a traditional IRA over a Roth. But a Roth could be the most efficient option if your current tax bracket is lower than your projected retirement tax bracket. The maximum contribution for an individual in 2024 is $7,000 for those under 50 years of age and $8,000 for those 50 and above.
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