{"id":239003,"date":"2022-07-07T13:39:04","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T20:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxsmartinvesting.org\/?page_id=239003"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:04:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:04:29","slug":"401k-planning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/taxsmartinvesting.org\/es\/401k-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"401k Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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401k Planning<\/h1>Taking Control of Your Workplace Retirement Plan<\/span>
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The second most important decision you can<\/em><\/strong> make for your retirement is to participate in your employer sponsored retirement plan.<\/p>\n

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The most important decision you should<\/em><\/strong> make is to understand how to invest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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How to max out your 401k<\/h2>

For many years, investment options in workplace retirement plans have been limited. The selection of funds made available was often in place specifically to \"cover all the bases\", but not much in the way of higher caliber options. You can now have professional management for one of your largest assets, your 401k plan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Learn How<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

401k Advice<\/h2>

Your employer can\u2019t legally give you advice and all the 401k plan providers can do is explain how to access your online portal, the categories of funds, and make changes when you would like, but that\u2019s about it. It's time for 401k planning so you can get the advice you need to invest in your retirement plan confidently.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Learn How<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Taking emotion out of the equation<\/h2>

It\u2019s never if the market will turn, it\u2019s a matter of when. Today, technology has made it possible to help defend your 401k plan assets in market downturns. This non-emotional, mathematical, algorithmic system helps take the emotion and the guesswork out of investment decisions. Safeguards that are designed to protect you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Learn how<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Most recent statistics indicate that over 90% of employees DO NOT<\/em>\u00a0 manage their 401k planning on at least an annual basis.<\/h2>\n

Whether you have been saving in your workplace retirement for decades or if you have just begun, there is excitement when you consider the possibilities. You set aside a portion of your income, you probably get an employer match (\u201cfree money\u201d), and you get your taxable income reduced for your 401k plan participation.<\/p>\n

In most cases, you don\u2019t have an impressive array of funds to choose from, but even if you did, which do you choose? You can't really get direct advice on any specifics, and the idea of getting advice on a regular basis is unheard of.<\/p>\n

How do you protect what you have? For those of you nearing retirement, do you remember feeling victim to something you had absolutely no control over at different points along the way when the stock market took a downturn? It\u2019s not if the stock market will decline, it\u2019s when. What if you don't have the time to ride out another market correction?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

2020 showed us how the world can change overnight and have financial repercussions. Today, swings in the stock market have become the norm of modern volatility.<\/p>\n

We believe you should be able to gain access to high-quality funds, get 401k planning advice and guidance all along the way, not be charged some absorbent fee to do so, and most importantly, if you are concerned about protecting your retirement, have a process to actively manage volatility.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Retirement IS NOT a DIY exercise<\/h2>

When you are finally nearing retirement, (10-year window minimum, ideally) seek out 401k planning assistance to ensure that your thoughts of how retirement should look are aligned with the reality of where you will be when you actually do. Retirement is not the same as most things in life to get a second chance, it's a \u201cget it right the first time\u201d or deal with the consequences scenario. Even a simple 401k calculator<\/a><\/span><\/span> gives you an idea of whether or not you're on track. A slight change in your path to improve your financial outcome, and having guidance can mean keeping your lifestyle just the way you want it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Best 401k plan investments are not about which investment, but how to invest<\/h2>

Thousands of employers have enhanced their 401k plans to include what is referred to as a Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA). This is a built-in design opportunity so you can have more choice and greater flexibility for true 401k planning with your retirement investments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA)<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCan be 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plans allowing participants access to high quality stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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It is estimated that approximately 40% of retirement plans offer SDBAs<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLarger employers or newer plan designs are those with a higher likelihood to have this option<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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Often SDBA's are not explained or offered to participants<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs many plan participants may be unaware, most 401k plan providers don\u2019t spend time discussing Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Executing an SDBA, requires expertise and a clear understanding of how to implement them, for employee participants looking for more choices as a hands-on investor<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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Growing numbers of 401k plan participants are seeking 401k planning advice specifically for their workplace retirement accounts, since using these accounts not only provides you guidance to maintain assets within your plan but also places asset allocations into investments apart from those available in the core plan<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>

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Self Directed Brokerage Accounts allow investors to choose from a vast array of investment options <\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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An expanded range of investment choices beyond your 401k plan core investments allow you access to funds beyond your plan design, and most importantly, this now includes professional management advise on those assets<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>

401k planning for retirement using advanced options<\/h3>

The traditional school of thought was to contribute to your 401k plan up to your employer match, receive your match and automatically double your money. In years of minimal growth, at least you doubled your investment. In years where significant losses occurred, you will recover over time.<\/p>\n

There is no option that can help you completely avoid loss, but asset allocation and active management can minimize those losses. These are options that do not exist in your standard 401k plan, but Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts can add that capability to your workplace retirement plan.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The ability to access higher-quality stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs within your 401k plan without moving assets out of the plan, professional management advice, and all for minimal increase over your current 401k plan fees make this a strong option to grow your workplace retirement plan.<\/p>\n

Contact us today<\/a><\/span> to find out if you have access to this plan option and how 401k planning can benefit your retirement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

401k Planning Advice<\/h2>

Perhaps you don\u2019t have access to a Self-Directed Brokerage Account in your 401(k), 403(b), or 457. You find yourself in that familiar place of checking your balance every once in a while, and as long as it is positive, you see yourself as doing well. You should consider a few housekeeping duties to keep your 401k plan in the best possible state:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Compare what your 401k plan balance was the last time you checked, and what you have contributed since that last check in.<\/h3>

Many plan provider's software does \u201cfuzzy math\u201d, it simply references year to date, quarterly growth, or point-in-time calculations based on your date parameters. It calculates the percentage as a \u201ctotal\u201d figure, including your contributions. To have an actual figure, subtract your contributions and your employer match if you want to calculate a more accurate growth vs deposits.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Take the time to examine your fund selections and make sure they are still in line with what you expected.<\/h3>

You may get statements in the mail telling you that a fund has been removed and replaced in your 401k plan. Often that mail gets treated like \u201cjunk mail\u201d and gets tossed and not read. Make sure to read and examine if the new fund is acceptable or if a change is needed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

You should treat your 401k plan assets just as you do your taxable investments, consider when, how long, and how much.<\/h3>