Forex Articles

If you've already reached your 401(k) contributions limit for the year (or soon will), that's a high-quality problem. But it's still a problem. You can't afford to fall behind in the funding-retirement game (who knows what the cost of living will be when you stop working?). And losing the contribution's reduction in your gross income isn't going to help your tax bill next April, either.

Contributing to an IRA in addition to your 401(k) is one option (the answer to Can you have both a 401() and an IRA? is yes.) The question is whether those contributions will be tax-deferred money: Once you reach $71,000 of income as a single person and $118,000 if married, filing jointly or a qualified widow(er), you are not entitled to a deduction. People who max out on their 401(k)s are likely to exceed those income thresholds.

But take heart, you workers who've contributed the maximum $18,000 (if you're 49 or younger) or $24,000 (if you're 50 or older) into your 401(k) accounts. For retirement savings, the general goal is to minimize tax liabilities and maximize earning potential.

Although there is no magic formula that is guaranteed to achieve both goals, careful planning can come close. "Look at the options in terms of investment products and investment strategies, says Keith Klein, CFP and principal at Turning Pointe Wealth Management of Phoenix, Ariz. Here are some non-IRA options to consider as well.

1. Municipal Bonds

A municipal bond (or muni) is a security sold by a town, city, state, county or other local authority to finance projects for the public good (public schools, highways, hospitals, etc.).The purchaser essentially lends the purchase price to the government entity in return for a specified amount of interest. The principal is returned to the purchaser on the bond's maturity date. The nice thing about municipal bonds, Klein explains, is that they are liquid. You always have the opportunity to sell them, or to hold them to maturity and collect your principal back.

And the really nice thing about them, for retirement-planning purposes, is that the interest income earned along the way is exempt from federal taxes, and in some cases, from state and local taxes as well. Taxable-income munis do exist, however, so check that aspect out before you invest. If you sell the bonds before they mature for a profit, you may pay a capital gains tax, too. Also check out the bond's rating; it should be BBB or above, to be considered a conservative option (which is what you want in a retirement vehicle). For more on munis, see The Basics Of Municipal Bonds.

2. Fixed Index Annuities

A fixed index annuity, also called an indexed annuity, is issued by an insurance company. The purchaser invests a given amount of money, to be paid back in designated amounts at regular intervals later. The annuity's performance is linked to an equity index (such as the S&P 500), hence the name. The insurance company guarantees that original investment against downward market fluctuations, while also offering the potential for growth (earnings). They offer returns that are a little bit better than non-indexed annuities," says Klein.

Fixed index annuities are a conservative investment option, often compared to Certificates of Deposit (CDs) in terms of risk. Best of all, the annuity's earnings are tax-deferred until the owner reaches retirement age.

The downside: Annuities are rather illiquid. "You sometimes have to pay a [tax] penalty if you withdraw the funds prior to age 59 ½ or if you don't take them as an income stream [after retirement], cautions Klein. Even if you avoid the penalty, by moving the funds directly to another annuity product, you still probably will be subject to the insurance company's surrender charges.

3. Universal Life Insurance

A universal life insurance policy, a type of whole life insurance, is both an insurance policy and an investment. The insurer will pay a predetermined amount upon the death of the policyholder, and in the meantime, the policy accumulates cash value. The policy holder can withdraw or borrow from the account while alive, and in some cases, earn dividends.

Not everyone is a fan of using life insurance as an investment product. If structured correctly and used correctly, however, the policy offers tax advantages to the insured. Contributions grow at a tax-deferred rate, and the policyholder has access to the capital in the meantime.

The good news is that you do have access to the funds prior to age 59½ without penalty if you use it correctly, says Klein. Through the use of policy loans, you may be able to take money out without paying taxes and put the money back in without paying taxes, as long as the life insurance policy is kept in force. The owner must pay tax on gains if the policy is canceled.

1. Variable Annuities

A variable annuity is a contract between the purchaser and an insurance company. The purchaser makes either a single payment or a series of payments, and the insurer agrees to make periodic payments to the purchaser. The periodic payments can start immediately or in the future. A variable annuity allows the investor to allocate portions of the funds to different asset options, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. So, while a minimum return is usually guaranteed, the payments fluctuate, depending on the portfolio's performance.

Variable annuities offer several advantages. Tax payments on income and gains are deferred to age 59½. The periodic payments can be set up to last for the rest of the investor's life, offering protection against the possibility that the investor will outlive his or her retirement savings. These annuities also come with a death benefit, guaranteeing the purchaser's beneficiary payment equal to the guaranteed minimum or the amount in the account, whichever is greater. Contributions are tax-deferred until withdrawn as income.

Early withdrawals are subject to surrender charges. Variable annuities also come with various other fees and charges that can eat into the potential earnings. In retirement, gains will be taxed at the income-tax rate, not the lower capital-gains rate.

2. Variable Universal Life Insurance

Yes, we know this sounds similar to item three in the preceding section. Variable universal life insurance is indeed similar; it's a hybrid of universal life and variable life insurance, which allows you to participate in various types of investment options while not being taxed on your earnings. The cash value of your policy is invested in separate accounts (similar to mutual funds, money market funds and bond funds), whose performance fluctuates. More gain, possibly – but more pain, too. If the stock market falls, those assets can fall to a value of zero, and you do risk the possibility of losing the insurance in that case, warns Klein. But if you need life insurance and have the ability to take on the risk of investing in the stock market, that may be an option. For more details on this complex instrument, see Variable Vs. Variable Universal Life Insurance.

Some alternative products are highly sought after because of the low interest rate climate and the potential for higher distributions. They include oil and gas investments because of the tax deductions you'll get for participating, says Klein. Also, certain types of non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITS) or other types of real estate investment trusts are desirable because only a portion of distributions are taxable." However, non-traded products often carry some complexity and can be very illiquid, Klein cautions.

Some investors like to invest in individual real estate holdings. One of the great things about owning individual real estate is the ability to do Section 1031 exchanges, says Klein. In other words, you can sell the property and roll the money into new real estate without having to recognize the gains for tax purposes (until you liquidate all of the property).

Another strategy is to buy individual holdings – stocks, bonds, and in some cases exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As you hold those investments you do not have to pay tax on the gains until you actually liquidate or sell those holdings, explains Klein. (Mutual funds, by contrast, are subject to taxes on the gains as you earn them.)

A useful strategy for some investors who buy individual assets or short term investments that have fallen out of favor and created a loss is to employ tax loss harvesting. The investor can offset gains by harvesting the loss and transferring the assets to a similar type of investment (without making a wash-sale transaction). People that use tax loss harvesting in their portfolios can actually increase their returns over the long run by as much as 1%, says Klein.

Some business owners will want to consider a pension plan or defined-benefit plan. Large companies have moved away from pension plans because of the high cost, but these plans can work well for some smaller business owners, especially those who are successful and over the age of 40. Notes Klein, These business owners can defer additional money from taxes into their retirement by using a pension plan for themselves or key employees in addition to a 401(k) plan.

Finally, those who can afford to play both sides of the tax game should consider using Roth IRAs or Roth 401(k)s. Deferring taxes to a later date, as one does with the regular 401(k), is not always guaranteed to offer the greatest advantage. Investors who hold both can take future withdrawals from the account that makes the most sense: If tax rates go up, withdraw from the Roth, because the taxes were already paid on the funds in there. If tax rates go down, the investor can take money from the traditional 401(k) account and pay taxes at the lower rate. Unfortunately, we don't know what will actually happen. We know that tax rates are currently fairly low compared to historic levels, and with the current debt of the U.S government, the feeling is that taxes will most likely go up, says Klein.

All of these investment options come with varying degrees of complexity, liquidity/illiquidity and risk. But they prove that yes, there are tax-advantaged ways to save for retirement after the 401(k). For another take on this question, see Maxed out Your 401(k)? Here's What to Do Next.