Adam Shell|USA TODAY
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For most working Americans, the savings vehicle of choice is a 401(k).
But a flood of retirement savings dollars moving from these employer-sponsored plans to IRAs suggests that retirees or workersnearing the end of their careers favor individual retirement accounts when it's time to tap the cashthey've amassed.
Older Americans are driving the trend,shifting their savings to take advantage of IRAs' more flexible withdrawal options, as well as some other perks that make the accountsmore attractive than 401(k)s as peopleenter their golden years.These one-time savers need to start accessing the money to pay living expenses and to generate a steady income stream once they stop collecting a paycheck.
In the five years ended in 2017, 96 percentof the $2 trillion in IRA contributions came from rollovers, according to Cerulli Associates, a retirement consulting and research firm. And betweenthe end of last yearand 2022, the money invested in IRAs is expected togrowat a faster pace than 401(k)s, with IRA assets jumping 37 percent to $12.6 trillion. That compares to an estimated 20 percentrise in 401(k) assets to $6.6 trillion.
To be sure, the mushrooming assets in IRAs aredue partly to the fact that for years Americans have been advised by brokerages, wealth management firms and financial advisers to take their money with them and move the money into an IRA when they leave a job or stop working. Many Americans also aren't aware that they can keep their 401(k) even after leavingthe company.
IRA assets are also rising rapidly because the account balances being rolled over are sizable, as most 401(k) accounts "represent a career's worth of savings,"says Jessica Sclafani, director of retirement practice at Cerulli.
Last year, for example, nearly $200 billion in assets was rolled over from 401(k) plans to the IRAs of investors between the ages of 60 and 69, with an average rollover balance of nearly $204,000,Cerulli data show. Americans older than 60 account for 70% of all IRA assets.
"They are big accounts,"Sclafani says.
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Retirement plan experts cite key reasons why IRAs are a better place to hold retirement assets:
More flexible withdrawal options
Having a sizable nest egg is one thing. Being able to get at your cash quickly and easily is another. On that score, IRAs have the edge. "IRAs offer more flexible (withdrawal) options," says Sclafani.
The most common distribution option at a 401(k) plan, for example,is a lump sum, which creates anall-or-nothing choice for the account holder. Having to yank out all yourmoney means it can'tkeep growing in the account along with the market. IRAs, however, allow withdrawals at any time and in amounts the account holder chooses.
"401(k) participants are worried they won't be able to access their savings, whereas IRAs don't have those limitations," says Sclafani, adding that the 401(k) distribution limits are "at odds with the concept of re-creating a regular paycheck" in retirement.
Both IRA and 401(K) participants can take money from their plans after age 59 1/2 without tax penalties from the Internal Revenue Service.
More investment options
The average large 401(k) plan offers 29 investment options, according to a March study by BrightScope and the Investment Company Institute. Bycontrast, IRAs typically offer far more.
An investor, for example,that rolls over an account to an IRA at a mutual fund company, online brokerage or investment advisory firm will have hundreds, if not thousands, of funds to choose from. The menu will include a wider range of options, including stocks and bonds, as well as foreign-based investments.
"Some 401(k) plans may not offer more than one international fund, or may not offer international bond funds," explains Marguerita Cheng, CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth inGaithersburg, Maryland.
More access to advice
IRAs set up at mutual fund firms such as Fidelity Investments, a discount brokerage such as Charles Schwab or a financial advisory firm in your hometown can give you access to professional investment advice. And that's critical, as the so-called "drawdown" phase– or withdrawal years – is"far more complex" thanthe wealth-building years, Cerulli research shows. In fact, the firm's research revealed that many people need guidance with "what to do with their proverbial 'pile of money' at retirement."
Still, experts say don't bolt from your 401(k) plan without reviewing the features of your employer's plan, as it could fit your needsand could even offer perks unavailable in an IRA.
Jim Keenehan, senior consultant of retirement plans at AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, ticks off a few benefits of keeping your former employer's 401(k):
Lower Costs
Often, the investment options within a 401(k) are cheaper. "Companies are able to pool employees' money together to access lower-cost funds than their retail counterparts,"Keenehan say.
Less is more
Sure, having more funds to choose from in an IRA may sound appealing. But "too many options can be overwhelming," he says. A menu of 20 funds offered in a 401(k), he argues, makes it easier for investors to build a portfolio with the right mix of assets.
Advice
"Don't assume you can only get advice in an IRA," Keenehan says. "401(k) plan sponsors can hire a quality, fiduciary advisor that provides advice and guidance as part of an overall financial wellness program."
Staying put in a 401(k) might also be a smart move for employees withholdings of company stock that hasappreciated greatly in value, Cheng adds.The reason: the account holder can take advantage of a federal tax rule (known as NUA, or net unrealized appreciation) that can result in big tax savingswhen the shares are eventually sold.