401k Alternatives
The most common retirement options available to employees are through 401k's. While these certainly have their place, many are not aware of alternatives that have significant advantages over the 401k. For example, if an individual has a 401k option through their employer that matches up to 4%, but wishes to contribute more, let's say 10%, they should be aware of some options that will likely yield better returns in the long run and protect their money better as well.
They can simply contribute the 4% that the employer will match, and take the other 6% and contribute that to a retirement vehicle that will protect the investment from any losses, and allow them to take the money TAX-FREE when they need it in retirement. A 401k is a tax-deferred retirement vehicle, but if you are of the belief like I am that taxes are VERY LIKELY to increase in the future, the end result will be paying more taxes in the future than you would in the present.
This may seem a bit confusing, but a trusted advisor can help you to make sense of it all. For now, suffice it to say that there are excellent alternatives to the 401k that protect your money better, allow for excellent growth potential, and have great tax advantages. Please contact us for more details or a free consultation at info@prospersbs.com.
One of the most effective ways to fund a retirement plan for people in their 30's, 40's, or even 50's, is through indexed universal life insurance. The concept is to simply overfund a life insurance policy to accumulate significant cash value. The main advantages to using this vehicle to fund a retirement plan are the following:
1) Downside protection - Some IUL's guarantee a 3% return every year even if the market goes down and allow for returns up to 14% cap. This concept has allowed for historical average returns with many carriers of around 8% and guarantees that the portion of your premium allocated to your retirement fund will gain over time!
2) Tax free income-At retirement - You will have the option to take out annual tax free income! This is a huge benefit as most of us believe that taxes are very likely going to increase in the future. Let's assume that you are in a 30% tax bracket at retirement and your cash value accumulation allows you to take out a $70,000 tax free annual income. This would be the equivalent of $100,000 that you have to pay taxes on!!
3) Death benefit protection - All along the way, you will have permanent death benefit protection to take great care of your family in the event that something were to happen to you prematurely or later in life!!