Employers adopting new SIMPLE, 403(b), or 401(k) plans are now required to include an auto-enrollment feature that sets participants up to contribute 3% of their total compensation toward retirement each year. These contributions will automatically increase by 1% per year to a maximum of 10%.
Employees still retain the right to opt out if they desire, though very few workers actually do. Existing plans will be grandfathered, meaning nothing has to change at the moment.
Non-exempt 401(k) plans established by December 29, 2022 must include automatic enrollment by December 1, 2025.
The original SECURE Act required that long-term, part-time workers become eligible for retirement plan participation if they have worked 500+ hours per year over the last three plan years, starting in 2021. Secure 2.0 goes one step further, shortening the period from three to two years, beginning in 2025.
Required minimum distributions (RMDs)
Previously, Americans age 72 and older must begin taking distributions from their retirement plans. This age increased from 70.5 under the original SECURE Act, starting in 2020. However, over a quarter of seniors ages 65-74 are still participating in the workforce, as well as 6.6% of those age 75 and older.
But now under Secure 2.0, Americans may delay taking distributions in the following ways:
For individuals who reach age 72 after December 31, 2022, and reach age 73 before January 1, 2033, they must start taking distributions at age 73
For individuals who reach age 74 after December 31, 2032, they must start taking distributions at age 75
Many people want to contribute more as retirement draws near. Participants in 401(k) and 403(b) plans are able to make additional catch-up contributions of $7,500 starting at age 50. This helps late starters save quicker, above and beyond the annual limit.
Beginning in 2025, plan participants will have the option to increase catch-up contributions from the current $6,500 to $10,000 per year for those ages 62, 63, and 64. At age 65, the $6,500 allowance returns. These figures may be adjusted for cost-of-living increases.
Effective January 1, 2024, participants with over $145,000 in income will only have the option to contribute their catch-up as Roth – meaning that plan participants pay taxes on them now, but pay no taxes at withdrawal time.
Effective immediately upon adoption, plan sponsors may offer employees the option to put their matching contributions into Roth accounts.
While the original SECURE Act made it easier for small business employers offering 401(k)s to band together in a single plan, Secure 2.0 makes 403(b) plans eligible to participate in Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs). Professional service providers take over the administrative burden, rather than individual employers.
The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver’s Credit) gives low and middle-income individuals a tax credit worth up to $1,000 for making eligible contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or IRA. Secure 2.0 raises the rate of the credit to 50% of what is contributed, regardless of income level, and increase the maximum credit to $1,500.
Plan administration costs
Certain plan objectives are aimed at simplifying administration to reduce total plan costs. Certain disclosure requirements are eased under the new proposal. Excise taxes for failure to make RMDs are reduced from 50% to 25%. The IRS Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System has been expanded and the requirements for recouping accidental overpayments have changed slightly.
A tax credit worth 100% of the employer’s administrative expenses (to a maximum of $5,000) for the first three years is available for small business retirement plans with 50 or fewer participants. This is changed from the previous tax credit of 50% of the administrative costs (also capped at $5,000).
A brand-new tax credit for enterprises with 50 or fewer workers allows them to receive up to 100% of the amount they contribute on each employee’s behalf – capped at $1,000 per person. Businesses with 51-100 employees would receive a tax credit worth 100% of their contributions per employee in the first and second years, 75% in the third year, 50% in the fourth year, and 25% in the fifth year.
The $500/year auto-enrollment tax credit still applies for the first three years of a new plan as well.
Within three years of enactment of Secure 2.0, the Labor, Treasury, and Commerce departments will coordinate a searchable database for lost participant benefits. This publicly searchable repository of last resort for lost, uncashed retirement distribution checks could be a way for people to locate missing money they’d lost or forgotten about when changing jobs.
Secure 2.0 has increased the cap on mandatory distributions from $5,000 to $7,000. Under current rules, beneficiaries with accounts worth over $5,000 must consent to a distribution – either through a direct rollover to another account or a cash check. If the value is worth more than $1,000 and consent is not given, the benefit must be transferred to an IRA or other investment vehicle as designated by the plan administrator. With Secure 2.0, these smaller balances can be transferred to the Office of the Retirement Savings Lost and Found in the event a non-responsive participant cannot be reached to accept the distribution.
FAQs
401(k) fees can range between 0.5% and 2%, based on the size of an employer's 401(k) plan, how many people are participating in the plan, and which provider is offering the plan. The average annual fee charged by most funds is 1%, as per the Center for American Progress.
Does 401k actually save money? ›
Although 401(k) plans are an excellent way to save, it may not be possible to set aside enough for a comfortable retirement, in part because of IRS limits. Inflation and taxes on 401(k) distributions erode the value of your savings.
What is the average savings in 401k? ›
Average and median 401(k) balances by age
| Age range | Average balance | Median balance |
|---|
| 35-44 | $76,354 | $28,318 |
| 45-54 | $142,069 | $48,301 |
| 55-64 | $207,874 | $71,168 |
| 65+ | $232,710 | $70,620 |
2 more rowsMar 13, 2024
Financial advisor fees
| Fee type | Typical cost |
|---|
| Assets under management (AUM) | 0.25% to 0.50% annually for a robo-advisor; 1% for a traditional in-person financial advisor. |
| Flat annual fee (retainer) | $2,000 to $7,500. |
| Hourly fee | $200 to $400. |
| Per-plan fee | $1,000 to $3,000. |
Apr 26, 2024
Typical 401(k) Fees
Many 401(k) participants pay an average all-in fee of 2.22% of their assets, but most 401(k) accountholders will pay a wide range between 0.2% and 5%.
How much 401k per month? ›
You should aim to contribute enough from each paycheck to take advantage of any employer match. If your employer offers a 3% match, contribute at least 3% of each paycheck to your 401(k). After you reach the match, increase your contributions when you can afford to, aiming for 10% to 20% of your paycheck each month.
Can I retire at 62 with $400,000 in 401k? ›
If you have $400,000 in the bank you can retire early at age 62, but it will be tight. The good news is that if you can keep working for just five more years, you are on track for a potentially quite comfortable retirement by full retirement age.
Are 401ks worth it anymore? ›
The value of 401(k) plans is based on the concept of dollar-cost averaging, but that's not always a reliable theory. Many 401(k) plans are expensive because of high administrative and record-keeping costs. Nonetheless, 401(k) plans are ultimately worth it for most people, depending on your retirement goals.
How much will a 401k grow in 20 years? ›
As a very basic example, if you had $5,000 in your 401(k) today, and it grew at an average rate of 5% per year, it would be worth $10,441 in 20 years—more than double. If you withdraw those funds early, however, you're not only facing a stiff tax penalty, you're losing all of that additional growth.
What is a good 401k balance by age? ›
By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account. By age 60, you should have eight times your salary working for you. By age 67, your total savings total goal is 10 times the amount of your current annual salary.
Put 80% of your money into retirement accounts like 401ks or IRAs, and 20% in high-yield investments. Invest 80% of your money in passive index funds or ETFs and the remaining 20% in real estate. Put 80% of your money into blue-chip stocks and 20% in bonds or small and midsized companies.
What is the 50 30 20 rule for 401k? ›
Key Takeaways
The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).
Should I hire a financial advisor for my 401k? ›
While you are not required to hire a financial advisor when implementing an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, there are many advantages in choosing to do so. In the broadest sense, a financial advisor is a local, trusted point of contact for the plan and can provide “face-to-face” interactions with plan participants.
Is 2% fee high for a financial advisor? ›
Answer: From a regulatory perspective, it's usually prohibited to ever charge more than 2%, so it's common to see fees range from as low as 0.25% all the way up to 2%, says certified financial planner Taylor Jessee at Impact Financial.
At what net worth should I get a financial advisor? ›
Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.
What is the average 401k package? ›
The average 401k employer match in 2023 is around 4% to 6% of salary. According to a recent study by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 41% of companies that offer a 401k plan provide employer matching contributions up to 6% of employees' salaries.
How much should you pay into your 401k? ›
For that reason, many experts recommend investing 10-15 percent of your annual salary in a retirement savings vehicle like a 401(k). Of course, when you're just starting out and trying to establish a financial cushion and pay off student loans, that's a pretty big chunk of cash to sock away.
Are 401k still worth it? ›
The value of 401(k) plans is based on the concept of dollar-cost averaging, but that's not always a reliable theory. Many 401(k) plans are expensive because of high administrative and record-keeping costs. Nonetheless, 401(k) plans are ultimately worth it for most people, depending on your retirement goals.
What is a normal 401k plan? ›
A 401(k) plan is a company-sponsored retirement account in which employees can contribute a percentage of their income. Employers often offer to match at least some of these contributions. There are two basic types of 401(k)s—traditional and Roth—which differ primarily in how they're taxed.
