How a 401k Withdrawal Can Protect Your Retirement Account from a Market Downturn
A 401k withdrawal may provide early access to your retirement account if it is permitted by your retirement plan. If permitted, you may be able to request an early retirement account distribution.
How do you know if an early retirement account distribution is permitted by your retirement plan?
You have to review the Summary Plan Description. Take a good look at the Summary Plan Description to see if there are any restrictions pertaining to an in service non hardship withdrawal. You might also want to talk to someone in the employee benefits department or seek financial help from a retirement income specialist.
What can you do with your money?
If an in service, non hardship withdrawal is permitted and if there are no penalties associated with this type of withdrawal (imposed by your retirement plan), you might have an opportunity to move a portion of your money and protect it from a market downturn. Your retirement account could be one of your largest and most important assets. As such, it is important to protect your future retirement income just as you would protect any other major asset, such as your home.
If you find that an in service non hardship withdrawal is permitted by your retirement plan, it is important to understand that any money you take out is subject to ordinary income tax and a 10% penalty tax if you are under the age of 59 1/2.
Rather than take the money out in the form of a distribution and pay ordinary income tax plus a potential 10% penalty tax, you can transfer your retirement account directly to a rollover IRA. If you transfer your account directly to a rollover IRA, you can continue to benefit from the tax deferred growth of your retirement savings.
How do you protect the money you transfer directly to a rollover IRA?
Remember, the object is to protect a portion of your retirement savings from a market downturn. Some retirement savings vehicles are designed to protect your retirement income from a market downturn during retirement. There are two powerful features available with some of these tax deferred savings vehicles.
- No market losses. Despite record losses in the market over the past year, by placing some of your money in alternative investments, you will protect it from market losses.
- Lock in your gains. The second powerful feature that you will experience by placing some of your money in alternative tax favored vehicles is that you can lock in your gains.
The importance of protecting your retirement assets cannot be overstated. By placing a portion of your money in alternative tax favored savings vehicles, you can protect your potential retirement income from a market downturn.
Considering the fact that your retirement account might be one of your largest assets, a 401k withdrawal may provide a way for you to access a portion of your retirement account early and protect it from a market downturn if this type of withdrawal is permitted by your retirement plan.
If you have any questions about a 401k withdrawal or for other financial help, contact Bill Griffith, Jr., CFP® of W.E. Griffith & Associates, LLC, a wealth management firm located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been providing specialized strategies and services for ensuring long-term financial independence and security for many years. He has written numerous articles about various topics relevant to personal finance, retirement and investment planning.
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