Dave Ramsey Warns There’s a Big Downside to Investing in a Traditional IRA or 401(k)

Be sure to think about this drawback when investing for your retirement.

---

Key Point

• 401(k)s and IRAs are common accounts used for retirement investments.
• Putting money into these accounts has benefits such as getting advance tax deductions.
• Unfortunately, that means paying taxes on withdrawals.

---

If you’re investing your retirement money, you’re more likely to invest in a traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA.

These accounts have some great advantages. Both offer upfront tax deductions so you can deduct the amount you donate in the year you donate. If you’re investing in a 401(k), your employer is more likely to match your contributions, but if you’re investing in an IRA, choose a brokerage firm. access to a wide range of investments.

While these advantages make traditional retirement plans attractive, financial expert Dave Ramsey points out that these types of investment accounts also have important drawbacks to consider.

Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s have their problems

According to Dave Ramsey, a major drawback of traditional retirement plans comes when people actually get older and start relying on money from these accounts.

“You’ll have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw from a traditional IRA when you retire,” Ramsey explained.

See, while you enjoy the tax-deductible and tax-free growth of the year you donate, withdrawals are No No tax. The money you make will be taxed at your normal income tax rate later in life. This means that you will need to provide the IRS with a portion of your bonds.

Instead of focusing on your future self paying those taxes, Ramsey recommends a separate retirement investment account.

“We recommend investing in a Roth IRA instead.” Ramsay Solutions read blogs. “The Roth IRA is funded by taxed income. You can’t deduct your Roth contributions from your taxes right now, but who cares? You’ll be busy enjoying tax-free growth and retirement withdrawals later.” I will thank you in the future!”

Should I listen to Ramsey?

Ramsey is right to point out that the big downside to investing in a 401(k) or IRA is the taxes you’ll have to pay when you retire.

Not only are the distributions you receive taxable, but the amount you withdraw counts when determining whether your income is high enough to be taxed on Social Security benefits.Distribution from Loss please do not However, they do count in this calculation, so if you choose Roth, you are more likely to enjoy a tax-free Social Security check.

However, the trade-off is getting that upfront tax credit. And because you can claim deductions when you invest, it’s easier to find funds to donate because every dollar you invest in your 401(k) or IRA doesn’t reduce your take home income by the amount invested. Ross will.

Ultimately, you need to think carefully about when it makes sense to claim tax relief. If you’re currently struggling to contribute to your retirement account, you may not want to hurt yourself by postponing your tax savings until later. If so, it makes no sense to wait to claim your savings.

However, if you have a lot of money now and are unsure if you will become a senior citizen, or if you think you will have higher tax rates in the future, getting a Roth IRA may be the best option. , if it’s the right account, I always want to invest enough in my 401(k) to get a match for my employer before donating the rest to Roth.