Most employer 401(k) plans allow mid-year changes to the deferral election percentage. Before the bonus pay period, raise the deferral rate high enough to funnel as much of the bonus as possible into the 401(k), up to the annual limit.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer stated that the proposed rule aims to fulfill President Trump's promise for a new golden age by fostering a retirement system that allows more Americans to retire with dignity.
The harder mistakes to catch are the ones that look fine on paper but fall apart the moment you stop working. These are unquestionably the planning failures that will only reveal themselves after the paycheck ends and you're living off the portfolio. Recent data from Nationwide's Retirement Institute shows that 55% of people who retired in the last five years regret how they saved, and only 40% said they were on track with their original budget.
The age when you must start withdrawing from your 401(k) has shifted upward twice in recent years. What was once 72 became 73 in 2023, and will rise again to 75 in 2033 for younger savers. Each additional year of deferral allows your balance to compound tax-free longer, potentially adding tens of thousands in growth for workers with substantial savings.
"I think this is a worthwhile investment in the future so that we are protecting the workforce and people can live with the dignity they deserve" when they retire, said state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat.