If you’re like most Americans, you have probably changed employers several times throughout your professional career. Gone are the days of working for one company from the time you graduate and living off a pension in your retirement. Nowadays, we have to save for retirement ourselves and that usually comes in the form of a 401(k) or another employer-sponsored retirement account.
Having multiple accounts with different employers can turn into a serious headache, but the good news is that consolidating can make the management of your savings easier and help maximize your returns. Here we’ll take a look at how account consolidation works and why it may be a good option for you:
Understanding Your Consolidation Options
Different retirement plans have their own benefits and their own set of rules. It’s important to first get an understanding of the rollover options available to you. You may or may not be able to roll some types of accounts into others; some accounts only allow rollovers once every 12 months, while others only let you roll over after two years. (1) A financial advisor can look into this for you, or you can contact the plan provider to find out.
Is Consolidating Right for You?
How do you know if it’s time to consolidate? There are a few things you’ll want to consider before consolidating retirement accounts:
- What kinds of benefits and features do your retirement accounts offer?
- Are there similar investment options in all your accounts?
- What are the fees associated with each of your accounts?
- Can you roll over previous plans to a new employer? Or do you need to move to a self-directed retirement account?
You’ll want to do your research to answer these questions before you make any moves. And remember, you don’t necessarily need to consolidate everything into one. You can merge some while keeping others open. What’s best for you will depend on your specific situation and goals for retirement.
Benefits of Consolidating Multiple Retirement Plans
When it comes time for retirement, there are several benefits of consolidating your accounts. Here are just a few benefits to consider:
- Reduced investment fees: Fewer retirement accounts can mean fewer fees. Instead of paying fees for each of your account management services, you’ll only pay one—meaning more of your money can grow.
- More opportunities to save: You can’t contribute to an old employer-sponsored 401(k). You will need to roll over the account to a new 401(k) or a self-directed account so you can continue contributing to that retirement fund.
- Reduced administrative work for you: Fewer accounts mean simpler management. You won’t need to worry about managing investments and documentation across different platforms. For example, instead of three monthly statements, you could have just one. You’ll also be able to see all of your investments in one location for more cohesive planning.
- Simpler portfolio rebalancing: When it comes time to rebalance your portfolio, having all your accounts consolidated makes it easier to calculate your asset allocations.
- Easier calculations and withdrawals of required minimum distributions: If you have multiple 401(k)s at retirement, you will eventually need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from each of those accounts. (2) When juggling multiple accounts, you risk missing a required minimum distribution or withdrawing the incorrect total amount, for which the IRS can make you pay a penalty. Having a single account makes RMDs much easier.
- A clear picture of your money: Consolidating your accounts allows you to clearly understand how well your investments are working for you, while enabling you to easily tweak the account to meet your retirement goals.
Lastly, one of the biggest benefits of consolidation is saving time. Time is one of your most valuable assets. Having one consolidated account means you’ll spend less time managing all your accounts and free up more time and energy for doing what you love.
We Can Help You Consolidate
Although consolidating accounts may lead to greater returns and less headache in the future, the process can be challenging to navigate. If you have multiple retirement plans, we at 1on1 Financial would love to talk about how we can help you optimize your plan. Call our office today at 909-981-1720 or simply click here to schedule a free 15-minute introductory phone call!
About 1on1 Financial
1on1 Financial is an independent financial advisory firm specializing in guiding working and retired professionals, executives, and business owners along the path to financial well-being. Founded in 1997, we use a team approach to help our clients accumulate wealth, generate income, preserve their life savings, and strategically plan for the distribution of their estate. With more than 50 years of combined experience in the financial services industry, we remain true to our fundamental mission: to provide personalized guidance, treatment, care, and service so our clients can gain control of their future and feel confident in their financial life.
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