New research shows there is *** significant lack of confidence regarding Americans and their financial literacy. In fact, the study conducted by one poll and commissioned by Beyond Finance found that 43% of respondents don’t know what *** 401k is and get this. Only 30% of people believe they could win *** game of personal finance trivia. Only 39% of respondents consider themselves more financially literate than others. Four in 10 Americans admit they procrastinate when implementing healthy financial habits. The top reasons respondents cited for postponing personal finance tasks include feeling their financial health is already poor and can’t get any worse or simple forgetfulness for those trying to save money. The most popular strategies include 53% buying on sale items, 47% using discount codes and 45% limiting spending on clothing altogether. There’s nothing wrong with *** little retail therapy but just make sure you take care of your finances.
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What the new 401(k) limits and other changes mean for your retirement
Come next year, you will be allowed to save a little more in your 401(k) on a tax-deferred basis than you can this year, unless you’re in your early 60s, in which case for the first time you’ll be allowed to save a lot more.The new contribution limit for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans in 2025 will be $23,500, up from $23,000 currently, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.The IRS did not, however, increase the limit on catch-up contributions — that’s the extra amount of money people 50 and older can contribute annually in tax-advantaged plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan. The catch-up contribution limit will remain the same at $7,500.Taken together, though, that means anyone in their 50s next year can save up to $31,000 for their retirement nest egg, and those savings will not be subject to income tax in 2025.But if you will be age 60, 61, 62, or 63, thanks to a provision in the retirement law Secure 2.0, your catch-up contribution limit will be even higher for the first time next year. The IRS said it will be set at $11,250, or 150% of the general catch-up provision. That means people at those ages can save up to $34,750.Now for an ounce of reality: Most people do not max out their 401(k) savings, whatever their applicable contribution limit.Vanguard, in its 2024 How America Saves report, found that only 14% maxed out their 401(K) savings in 2023. “Participants who contributed the maximum dollar amount tended to have higher incomes, were older, had longer tenures with their current employer, and had accumulated substantially higher account balances,” according to the report.Nevertheless, it remains the case that unless and until the U.S. retirement savings system is reformed to do a better job at providing workers with adequate income in retirement beyond just what Social Security will provide, the majority of private sector workers — who do not have pensions — will be dependent on the savings they accrue in workplace savings plans and elsewhere.Higher income thresholds for IRAsThe IRS did not increase the contribution limits for individual retirement accounts, known as IRAs. The annual limit next year will remain $7,000 and the catch-up contribution amount for those 50 and up will still be $1,000.But it did increase the modified adjusted gross income thresholds that determine whether you’re eligible to contribute to an IRA on a tax-advantaged basis.Starting with Roth IRAs — in which your contributions are subject to income tax the year you make them but then typically never again — if you’re single you may only contribute to a Roth next year if your AGI is no more than $165,000, up from $161,000. If you’re married and filing jointly, your AGI must not exceed $246,000 — up from $240,000 this year.With a traditional IRA — in which your contributions may be deductible the year you make them and then grow tax-deferred until you withdraw them in retirement — if you’re single and covered by a workplace retirement plan, your modified AGI must not exceed $89,000, up from $87,000 this year. If you’re married and filing jointly and you personally are covered by a workplace retirement plan, your joint modified AGI must not exceed $146,000, up from $143,000. The limits are somewhat different if your spouse is the one with the workplace plan but you’re saving in an IRA.Changes made to the Saver’s CreditLow- and moderate-income workers who are saving something — anything — for retirement may be eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit, which is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of their tax bill.To be eligible next year, the IRS raised the income threshold to $39,500 for singles, up from $38,350 this year; to $59,250 for heads of households, up from $57,375; and to $79,000, up from $76,500, for married couples filing jointly.Here’s a helpful explainer of how the credit works from Fidelity.
Come next year, you will be allowed to save a little more in your 401(k) on a tax-deferred basis than you can this year, unless you’re in your early 60s, in which case for the first time you’ll be allowed to save a lot more.
The new contribution limit for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans in 2025 will be $23,500, up from $23,000 currently, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.
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The IRS did not, however, increase the limit on catch-up contributions — that’s the extra amount of money people 50 and older can contribute annually in tax-advantaged plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan. The catch-up contribution limit will remain the same at $7,500.
Taken together, though, that means anyone in their 50s next year can save up to $31,000 for their retirement nest egg, and those savings will not be subject to income tax in 2025.
But if you will be age 60, 61, 62, or 63, thanks to a provision in the retirement law Secure 2.0, your catch-up contribution limit will be even higher for the first time next year. The IRS said it will be set at $11,250, or 150% of the general catch-up provision. That means people at those ages can save up to $34,750.
Now for an ounce of reality: Most people do not max out their 401(k) savings, whatever their applicable contribution limit.
Vanguard, in its 2024 How America Saves report, found that only 14% maxed out their 401(K) savings in 2023. “Participants who contributed the maximum dollar amount tended to have higher incomes, were older, had longer tenures with their current employer, and had accumulated substantially higher account balances,” according to the report.
Nevertheless, it remains the case that unless and until the U.S. retirement savings system is reformed to do a better job at providing workers with adequate income in retirement beyond just what Social Security will provide, the majority of private sector workers — who do not have pensions — will be dependent on the savings they accrue in workplace savings plans and elsewhere.
Higher income thresholds for IRAs
The IRS did not increase the contribution limits for individual retirement accounts, known as IRAs. The annual limit next year will remain $7,000 and the catch-up contribution amount for those 50 and up will still be $1,000.
But it did increase the modified adjusted gross income thresholds that determine whether you’re eligible to contribute to an IRA on a tax-advantaged basis.
Starting with Roth IRAs — in which your contributions are subject to income tax the year you make them but then typically never again — if you’re single you may only contribute to a Roth next year if your AGI is no more than $165,000, up from $161,000. If you’re married and filing jointly, your AGI must not exceed $246,000 — up from $240,000 this year.
With a traditional IRA — in which your contributions may be deductible the year you make them and then grow tax-deferred until you withdraw them in retirement — if you’re single and covered by a workplace retirement plan, your modified AGI must not exceed $89,000, up from $87,000 this year. If you’re married and filing jointly and you personally are covered by a workplace retirement plan, your joint modified AGI must not exceed $146,000, up from $143,000. The limits are somewhat different if your spouse is the one with the workplace plan but you’re saving in an IRA.
Changes made to the Saver’s Credit
Low- and moderate-income workers who are saving something — anything — for retirement may be eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit, which is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of their tax bill.
To be eligible next year, the IRS raised the income threshold to $39,500 for singles, up from $38,350 this year; to $59,250 for heads of households, up from $57,375; and to $79,000, up from $76,500, for married couples filing jointly.
Here’s a helpful explainer of how the credit works from Fidelity.