If you've landed a new job or you’re retiring, you’re eligible to make some changes to the 401(k) from your previous job. You might be wondering, “how much does it cost?”
Key Takeaways
- There is usually no transfer fee for rolling over your 401(k) into a new tax-advantaged retirement account.
- Account fees for your new account might be higher than the ones for your old account.
- Rolling over a 401(k) to an individual retirement account (IRA) is often the way to go to reduce fees.
The Rollover Is Fee-Free
If you’re transferring your 401(k) to another broker and setting up a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:tax-advantaged retirement account, there may not be fees.
In fact, the broker might pay you as an enticement for your business. For example, one well-known broker is now offering $600 for a $200,000 deposit. Other brokers offer free investment trades. Regardless of the promotion, you should not pay a fee to roll over an acc✨ount in most cases.
The Account May Not Be Fee-Free
The rollover may be free, but that doesn’t mean the account will be. That old 401(k) had all kinds of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:fees attached to it: costs for each fund you held, administrative fees, and more. If you’re rolling your 401(k) into your new employer’s 401(k), compare the fees. If the new one is going to cost you more money in fees, you might consider keeping the account where it is or rolling it into something with lower fees, such as an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:indiv🦩idual retirement account (IRA).
Important
You typically have more choices in investm🌄ents with an IRA than with a 401(k).
Rolling Over to an IRA
An IRA comes with similar tax advantages, but it’s often not tied to your company benefits package. You may be offered an IRA through your company, but often it’s something you set up on your own. Because it’s self-directed, either you or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:a financial advisor you choose are managing it. If you’re managing it on your own and purchasing stocks or other no-fee investment vehicles, the only fee you will pay is the transaction fee. If you put money into a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:mutual fund🅺 or other managed product, you will pay whatever fee is disclosed in the prospectus💞 of that fund.
Even a fee-only financial advisor will likely charge between 1% and 3%—oftentimes lower than the fees associated with an employer-based 401(k). If you’re 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:considering a rollover, an IRAไ might make the most sense when ev✨aluating solely on the basis of fees.
What Can You Max Your 401(k) at?
In 2024, the maximum you can contribute to a 401(k) is $23,000 if you're under 50 years old. If you're 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500 in 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:catch-up contributions. That's a total of $30,500 if you're 50 or older. For 2023, if you're under 50, you can contribute up to $22,500 to a 401(k). If you're 50 or older, the catch-up contribution is the same as 2024: $7,500. So that makes your limit $30,000 if you're 50 or older.
What Is the Max IRA Contribution for 2024?
The maximum contribution you can make to an individual retirement account (IRA) in 2024 is $7,000 if you're under 50. However, if you're 50 or older, you can contribute slightly more: up to $1,000 as a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:catch-up contribution. For 2023, the limit if you're younger than 50 is $6,500. The catch-up contribution for 2023 is also $1,000, so if you're 50 or older, you can contribute up to $7,500 to an IRA for 2023.
Can I Withdraw From My 401(k)?
If you're under 59 ½, you will pay a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn if you withdraw from your 401(k). The exceptions to this are if you have a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:hardship withdrawal or if you request to withdraw a series of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:substantially equal payments for at least five years or until you turn 59½, whichever is later. You can only take SEPP distributions from a 401(k) if you're not currently working for the employer that sponsored the 401(k).
The Bottom Line
You probably won’t pay any kind of transfer fee to roll over your 401(k). However, before moving your money, consider the fees attache🔯d to the new account. If you’re going to pay more, it’s probably not a good financial move♊.
Be aware that this information is based on the most commonꦯ situations. Your financial picture and choices might be different and require you to consider other factors. Speak to a financial advisor whom you trust before making any larꦍge financial moves.