retirement and roth
Terry, I am almost 58 and am planning to retire with full retirement from that as a Nurse from Loyola Medical Center when I am 66 and 4 months (due to my birthrate). I’m currently contributing 6% when paid bi-weekly into my retirement plan at work thru payroll deductions; however, I am not getting any match from the company plan. Since the plan is company plan, I am wondering if it be best to maintain being in the plan by going to 1% and taking the 5% coming back to me and opening up and maintaining a roth? I would not be asking this as an alternative if I were being matched with the 6%. This is also our only form of savings right now other than my husbands pension and part time income since my husband is retired and me to retire in 8 years.
Terry Says: I understand your situation, but there’s more to it First, do you qualify for a Roth contribution based on income (For tax year 2014: May not be eligible if your income is over $129,000 for single filers and $191,000 for joint filers.) Second, do you have any “special” choices in your company plan that may yield higher rates than you could get in the funds you’d put into a Roth (special GICs, insurance products offered only inside retirement plans, for example)?
The benefits of a Roth, of course, are that you don’t have to withdraw some of the money starting at age 70-1/2, it grows tax-free, and you can keep contributing if you keep working into later years. BUT, all this begs the real question: Why don’t you do BOTH (if you qualify)?
