I moved jobs for the first time and found out that I could rollover my old 401k into a rollover IRA and can now invest in stocks. Should I be aggressive in my investments? On the one hand, I am 30+ years from retirement and I don't have to pay capital gains, so I can buy and sell at will. On the other hand, this is my retirement money (although only a small amount of my retirement money since I'm still contributing to my current job's 401k).
What are best practices with rollover IRA accounts?
2007-06-25 13:24:46 · 4 answers · asked by Shasta McNasty 2007 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
If you're not squeamish, definitely put the money in a stock fund. You can always balance that with bonds in your 401(k) at the new job. You will likely have at least one good bond fund there, but who knows if the stock funds will be any good?
I would highly recommend a low-cost index fund, such as the ones offered by Fidelity Spartan or Vangaurd. It's AMAZING how much that extra 1% in fees eats up your savings, and SHOCKING how poorly fund managers fare against the market over time. Check out The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle- it is simply excellent. I'm recommending it to all of my 20 and 30-something friends.
2007-06-25 16:37:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you cashed out the 401k, 20% federal income tax should have been withheld from your distribution as a prepayment toward you tax liability. If you did not contribute the gross amount of the distribution within 60 days, it is taxable. You will report the 401k distribution as income, take a deduction for the $1400 I assume you contribute to an IRA, but then if you cash out the IRA in the same year, you will be taxed on that amount too. The distributions are added to your income and taxed at your normal income tax rate. The 20% withheld will be credited as a tax payment toward your overall tax liability. If you are under age 59 1/2, you pay an addtional 10% tax when you file your return.
2016-05-20 02:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With so much time left to retire, you should have the money split into aggressive funds. In the long run they always beat other funds.
2007-06-25 13:59:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to build a complete financial plan. without that context, there is no honest answer to your question.
GL
2007-06-25 13:30:52 · answer #4 · answered by Spock (rhp) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋