Planning for retirement is a no-brainer. The wisest among us are constantly investing back in themselves, looking for ways to save money down the road. One of the reasons the individual retirement account (IRA) is so great is that it is “individual,” meaning it is customizable. You can modify your deposits, take withdrawals at will and even determine what happens to it after you pass away.
Within your IRA’s versatility exist angles you might not be aware of that you can leverage to maximize your accumulation over time, making it one of the top-performing retirement vehicles available. Here are a few of the lesser-known features you can exploit to get the most out of your contributions.
Take Advantage of Your Marriage
Too many married couples fail to take advantage of what is known as “spousal contributions.” This is probably due to the misconception couples carry that if one partner is not working, then they cannot contribute to an IRA. The fact is that if at least one spouse is employed but not earning above the IRS income thresholds, they can use their income to fund an IRA for the nonworking spouse as well as their own.
What’s more, if unforeseen circumstances prevented you from making any IRA contributions the previous year, you have until a certain date (April 15 in 2015) to make up for it. In other words, don’t despair–you can get back on track by making 2 years’ worth of contributions in one.
Consolidate Your IRA’s
Oftentimes IRA’s have associated maintenance fees that, over time and across several different accounts, can begin to really add up. One way to minimize this expense is to roll all of your IRA’s into one. Consolidating the several small balances into one more sizable account not only saves you money, but it has the added bonus of simplifying your life. No longer must you keep track of 10 different accounts with 10 different custodians, allowing you to focus instead on rebalancing your retirement assets more easily.
Furthermore, when you only have one IRA to turn to, this convenient setup makes coming up with a plan much more straightforward. You know where you stand with your finances, so you increase your chances of staying on track and ultimately reaching your financial goals.
Remember to Play Catch Up
Some things get better with age. The contribution maximum to your IRA is one of them. Normally this number is capped at $5,000 per year, but if you are age 50 or older, this maximum increases to the smaller of $6,000 or the amount of your taxable compensation for the previous year. Keep in mind, however, that these catch-up contributions are due by the due date of your tax return, not including extensions.
How are you planning for retirement? If you have any questions about how you can get the most out of your IRA, contact us today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you.