When retirement is on the horizon, you may think most of your hard work and careful planning is behind you. However, there are important retirement milestones that you’ll need to consider. These milestones include managing retirement account contributions, how to manage withdrawals, and programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Factor in the retirement milestones listed below to help make the most of your retirement income.
After age 50, current maximum annual contributions increase by $1,000 for an IRA and $7,500 for a 401(k) or 403(b). These are commonly called catch-up contributions and can make a meaningful difference in your retirement income.
Per the IRS Rule of 55, you may be able to withdraw funds from your current employer-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b) plans without incurring a 10% penalty if you’ve left your job in or after the year you turn 55 and your employer’s plan supports this rule (regular income taxes still apply).
This rule does not apply to IRAs, or if you roll your 401(k) or 403(b) into an individual IRA.
When you’re first allowed to withdraw funds from a traditional IRA or workplace retirement plan without incurring penalties. However, distributions of before tax contributions and earnings may be subject to income taxes.
Determine if you need the money now, or if you can wait. If you need the money, assess the potential tax impact. Which accounts you draw from first will have a different impact on your tax situation.
At 55 or older, some employers will allow current employees “in-service distributions” to rollover their 401(k) or 403(b) to an IRA penalty-free; check with yours.
If your spouse or ex-spouse (to whom you were married for at least 10 years, not remarrying until after turning 60) has died, age 60 is the first year you can collect a Social Security survivor benefit.
The first year you qualify to collect Social Security retirement benefits. However, collecting your benefit this early will result in a lower monthly benefit than if you waited until full retirement age. Also, if you continue to work, one dollar of benefits is withheld for every $2 earned above $22,320 (in 2024) until you reach full retirement age.
Medicare eligibility begins. If you are collecting Social Security benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. Otherwise, you have a seven-month period around your 65th birthday month to enroll. Consider whether you want any additional Medicare coverage during this period as well.
Full retirement age depending on your birth year.
At this point there is no additional advantage in delaying collecting Social Security retirement benefits. Benefits received at age 70 can be up to 32% higher than benefits at your full retirement age.
You are required to take minimum distributions (RMDs) from workplace retirement plans (unless you are still working for that employer and your employer’s plan allows you to delay) and traditional IRAs by April 1 of the year after you turn 73. Required minimums are determined with tables from the IRS and must be calculated each year.
Your retirement will change over time, and it’s important to monitor and manage your investments, savings, and insurance based on these age-related milestones. A financial professional can provide guidance as you reach each retirement milestone.
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