Lately many employees have been given a new savings choice: the Roth 401(k).
First offered in 2006, Roth 401(k) plans are offered in 22 percent of workplace retirement plans, according to Profit Sharing/ 401(k) Council of America.
More companies will likely follow suit, but the addition of the Roth 401(k), "adds significant complexity that has to be effectively explained to participants," says PSCA president David Wray.
Contribution limits to a Roth 401(k) are the same as for regular 401(k) plans, but with the Roth 401(k), your contributions are made with after-tax earnings. That means you pay taxes upfront on your contributions.
Paying taxes now means you won't be subject to taxes once you withdraw them, as long as the account has been open for five years -- and you're 59½ years old.
Employers can contribute funds on your behalf, too. However, these matching contributions are tax-deferred. This means that only employee contributions to Roth 401(k) plans are tax-free upon withdrawal.
Here's the lowdown on how they work.
Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)
|
$15,500 per individual
$20,500 for those over 50 | $15,500 per individual
$20,500 for those over 50 |
| Yes | Yes |
| Pretax earnings | After-tax earnings for employee contributions only |
| Grow tax-deferred until withdrawn | Grow tax-free forever |
| Must start by age 70½ | No time restriction if you roll account into a Roth IRA |
Bottom line: Roth 401(k)s are a smart choice if you expect your tax bracket to go up in the future. They also offer more time for your nest egg to grow because, even though you have to start taking withdrawals at age 70½, it's easy to get around the rule, says Ed Slott, author of "Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map."
"Simply roll the Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA, and you can leave the money intact, plus you can keep putting money away if you continue to work beyond that," says Slott.
Can't decide which plan you prefer? Enroll in both as long as combined contributions don't exceed annual funding limits.