Most Americans are lured into saving for retirement with traditional qualified retirement plans, such as IRA’s and 401(k)s. They are convinced by financial advisors to contribute pre-tax dollars to 401(k) plans or place tax-deductible contributions into IRAs because of the tax advantages during the contribution and accumulation phases of their retirement planning. They seem to ignore the two most important phases – when withdraw your money for retirement income, and when you pass away and transfer any remaining funds to your heirs.



One of the original IRA tenets held that deferring tax until retirement was advantageous because funds would likely be taxes at a lower rate. That is no longer axiomatic. You may well live out your retirement in the same or higher tax bracket if you accumulate a respectable retirement nest egg. In fact, effective tax rates will likely be higher in the future. So why postpone the inevitable and increase your tax liability?



As a financial strategist and retirement specialist, when I discover how much money my first-time clients have accumulated in yet-to-be-taxed IRAs and 401(k)s, I often ask them, “Are you planning your retirement or Uncle Sam’s?”



PLEASE I beg you to look at your retirement plan and see it for what it really is.



For questions and more information, feel free to contact Sunni Tabrizi at sunni@fsfgroup.net