Retirement income functions very differently from income
during your working years. When you were employed, you probably had a single
employer and a single income source. As a retiree, you likely receive income
from multiple sources, including Social Security, one or more individual
retirement accounts (IRAs), possibly a pension, and an investment account or
two.
While working, you receive a check regularly—such as every
two weeks. As a retired person, you might receive income monthly, quarterly,
annually, and even sporadically. Add the fact that part of your retirement
income likely will come from investments (savings)—which you must protect to
make them last—and it can all seem confusing. And then, of course, there are
the tax implications, such as the fact that distributions from a Roth IRA are
tax-free, while those from a traditional IRA are taxed at your current income
tax bracket. Finally, when you reach the age of 72, you’ll likely also have
required minimum distributions (RMDs) to manage.
Key Takeaways
Two types of retirement income include regular and
potential. Potential income includes IRAs, 401(k)s, and reverse mortgages.
Regular retirement income includes Social Security, a
pension, an annuitized defined-contribution plan pension, and employment.
Managing cash flows and withdrawals in retirement need to
include budgeting for expenses and a distribution plan such as the 4% rule.
Taxable investment accounts should be tapped first during
retirement, followed by tax-free investments, then tax-deferred accounts.
At 72, you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs)
from all investment accounts except Roth IRAs.
Regular Retirement Income
You have two types of retirement income—regular and
potential. Regular retirement income is like a paycheck. It arrives on a set
schedule and will continue for the rest of your life.
Social Security
This government pension program makes up a significant part
of regular retirement income for many people. It is based on your earnings
during your working years and distributed to you monthly. Social Security gets adjusted annually for
inflation, so the amount you receive will go up each year.
Defined-Benefit Pension
A defined-benefit plan, similar to Social Security, offers
regular monthly lifetime income based on your earnings during your working
years. These traditional pension plans are increasingly rare, but some people
are lucky enough to have one. Most people who retire from a job that offers a
defined-benefit pension take their money in the form of an annuity.
Annuitized Defined-Contribution Plan Pension
Defined-contribution plans—401(k) plans, for example—are
much more common these days than traditional pensions. Some employers allow
retiring workers to annuitize their defined-contribution plan to produce a
lifetime income stream, such as that from a defined-benefit pension.
Annuitizing frees you from making investment decisions and provides a regular
income for life, but it often comes with high fees and little or no inflation
protection.
Employment
Working full or part-time in retirement is one way you can
increase the amount of your regular retirement income. It isn’t for everyone,
but some people see both social and financial benefits by remaining in the
labor force.
Potential Retirement Income
The second type of retirement income comes from savings and
investments, including 401(k)s and IRAs. This is potential income either from
regular withdrawals or by taking money out as needed.
Tax-Advantaged Accounts
Your employer may allow you to take your defined-benefit or
defined-contribution plan funds in a lump sum. You can roll the funds into an
IRA to defer taxes until the money is withdrawn or pay the taxes and access the
funds immediately.
You also may leave a defined-contribution plan, such as a
401(k), in place at a former employer, if that is permitted. In all cases, the
money is typically invested.
Investment and Savings Accounts
You may have one or more taxable investment accounts that
can be a source of income as needed. And, one hopes, you also have an emergency
fund with three-to-six months of monthly expenses that you may draw on as
needed.
Reverse Mortgage
A reverse mortgage allows you to convert home equity to a
loan. You can take the proceeds in a lump sum (to invest), a series of regular
payments, or a line of credit. Because it is a loan, the money isn’t taxable.
The downside is that you must repay the loan when you die or sell your home.
Cash Flow and Timing
First, subtract regular retirement income from essential
monthly expenses, including housing, transportation, utilities, food, clothing,
and healthcare. If regular income doesn’t cover everything, you may need more
income. Nonessential expenses—such as travel, eating out, and
entertainment—come last and are often paid for by withdrawing from retirement
savings and investments.
Withdrawal Plan
Before taking money from investments, you need a plan. This
is where a trusted financial advisor can help. One common system, the 4% rule,
involves withdrawing 4% of the value of your total cash and investment accounts
each year and giving yourself an annual 2% inflation “raise.” You could also
take a portion of your savings and investments and buy an immediate payment
annuity to provide continuing cash flow for essential expenses.
Order of Withdrawal
Withdraw funds from taxable investment accounts first to
take advantage of lower (dividend and capital gains) tax rates. Next, take
funds from tax-free investment accounts, followed by tax-deferred accounts such
as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and traditional IRAs. You should draw on tax-free
retirement accounts, including Roth IRAs, last to allow the money to grow
tax-free for as long as possible.
Tax Management
If state or federal taxes are not withheld from some of your
retirement distributions, you likely will need to file quarterly estimated
taxes. Some states do not tax retirement income, while others do. The same
goes for local taxes.
Taxable investment account distributions are taxed based on
whether the investment sold was subject to short-term or long-term capital
gains tax rates.
Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts are treated as
ordinary income. Finally, it is almost always best to roll over lump-sum
distributions to a tax-deferred account to avoid a huge single-year tax bite.
Between 50% and 85% of your Social Security income is
taxable, depending on your total income.
Managing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Once you reach 72, you must begin taking required minimum
distributions (RMDs) from all retirement accounts except your Roth IRA. The
amount of the distribution must roughly equate to your account balance at the
end of the previous year, divided by your statistical life expectancy. The RMD
age was previously 70½ but was raised to 72 following the December 2019 passage
of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.
You must take this money out by April 1 of the year
following the year you turn 72. After that, all RMDs are due Dec. 31. Any
amounts you take out during the year count toward your RMD. All RMDs are
taxable as ordinary income except those from a Roth 401(k)—you do need to take
out an RMD from a Roth 401(k), but you won’t owe taxes on it.
If you’re still working at 72, you don’t have to take an RMD
from the 401(k) at the company where you are currently employed (unless you own
5% or more of that company). You will, however, owe RMDs on other 401(k)s and
IRAs that you own. Depending on your plan, you may be able to import a 401(k)
still with a previous employer to your current employer to postpone RMDs on
that account.
Your retirement plan administrator should calculate your RMD
for you each year, and most will take out any required state and federal taxes
and send the balance to you at the proper time. Ultimately, though, the
responsibility is yours.
If you fail to take out the correct RMD amount, the penalty
is a massive 50% of the amount you should have taken but didn’t.
The Bottom Line
Managing retirement income is more than receiving the money
and using it to pay bills. Some people consolidate their retirement accounts to
make it easier to manage them. Depending on the nature and features of your
accounts, such as fees, this may or may not be wise. Also, money in a 401(k)
may be more protected against creditors than funds in an IRA.
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