2022 Retirement Planning: The New Rules Explained

Policies are changing, and you need to review your retirement plan's status and modify to catch your goal. ShutterStock

In the middle of 2022, what shall we modify our retirement plans? Sure, cover the essentials. Maybe you will find that you did the retirement things year after year correctly, but you’re still slower. What shall you do? Increase your contribution rate, even just one percent annually is helpful.

Basics Of Retirement Planning

After doing the right things year after year, you should do specific things to ensure a secure retirement, said Kirsten Hunter Peterson. Ms. Peterson is director of Fidelity Investments’ Workplace Thought Leadership team.

The simplest thing to do is not to leave money on the table, Peterson said. In other words, that includes maxing out your 401(k) or comparable plan to maximize your employer’s contribution.

However, saving enough is another essential retirement planning strategy. In other words, Fidelity suggests to put 15 percent of your income into your retirement accounts. This includes any business match or donation. If you save 10 percent and your company contributes five percent, you’ll reach the 15 percent goal.

What if you’re slower? Increase your contribution rate, even if it’s just one percent annually. Small gains build up. And don’t forget to pay down debt.

Boost 401(k) Contributions

Assume you’re 45. IRA owned $63,000 by mid-2022. At Fidelity, leaders took the averages of 45-year-old IRA holders. Assume your IRA grows at seven percent annually.

Say you make $60,000. You earn one percent yearly increases and save six percent of your salary. Get a three percent corporate match.

So, what? Your retirement fund would be $849,551 by age 72.

You'd better review your retirement plannings every year. sirtravelalot/Shutterstock

What happens if you increase your retirement contributions by one percent every year until you and your employer contribute 15 percent annually? Then keep it up till retirement.

However, according to the Bankrate.com 401(k) calculator, you’ll have $1.019 million by 72. Over five years, a oner percent annual rise results in a 20 percent gain of almost $169,400. A good deal. And in this case, your contribution increases are around tenths of your yearly wage hikes.

Savings Success

However, beyond that, intelligent retirement planning needs to understand the new requirements for 2022.

First, note which federal tax collectors target retirement funds.

Consider President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better (BBB) budget proposal. Certainly, if the Senate adopts the BBB as written, it will fund itself via multiple direct and indirect taxes on retirement savings.

However, one tax begins next year. Backdoor Roth IRA conversions would be prohibited. Currently, such conversions allow you to circumvent the $140,000 income cap on Roth IRA contributions. It’s time to invest in a nondeductible conventional IRA. Those aren’t income-based. Then into a Roth IRA we go!

No new regulations. You’d lose the right to keep the money forever. Certainly, it would no longer be inherited and held for up to ten years. More information is available through AARP.

Be careful of the new tax rules launched and will launch. Modify your plans according to the changes. ShutterStock

Understanding New Taxes

Two new retirement taxes will go into force if the Senate approves them in 2029. That allows you to increase revenue in earlier years. That may keep you below the new income levels—$400,000 for single taxpayers and $450,000 for married joint filers—that trigger the new regulations.

However, another approach to deal with higher retirement taxes? Investing in many accounts with varying tax treatment, said Roger Young, senior retirement insights manager at T. Rowe Price.

One tax will prohibit new contributions if your entire IRA and 401(k) balances exceed $10 million. Therefore, if not saved in a retirement plan, that income would be taxed.

One is indirect. The year following that, you’d have to withdraw 50 percent of your money. The tax laws assess tax on this money except in a Roth.

However, if your total retirement account balances exceeded $20 million, you’d have to pay it all out.

And don’t assume they are only problems for the wealthy. Many middle-class employees become retirement billionaires, says IRAHelp.com founder Ed Slott. Assume a couple earns reasonable wages. For example, they began saving early. Many retire with $5 million by age 60. Certainly, they can treble it soon.

Inflation-Proof Your Retirement

However, keep a watch on rising inflation. Your best ally? Certainly, proper retirement planning includes investing in funds that outperform inflation. That includes S&P 500 index funds. These include commodities, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and cyclical stocks.

See the other report in this area for further information.

New Contribution Caps

You must also keep track of which IRAs have updated contribution limitations. After all, you want to save as much as you can. That’s the maximum permitted in tax-deferred RRSPs.

It also positions you to get the highest employer contributions.

Here are the maximum donations for 2022:

• $25,900 in 2022 for married filing jointly.
• Amount: $6,500, unchanged from 2021.
• IRA: $6,000, same as 2021.
• $1,000 Traditional or Roth IRA catch-up. This is for people 50 years old and older.

Understand the rules and act the good plan, you will enjoy a happy retirement in future. ShutterStock

Finally

Stay on task. Don’t let distractions throw you. You know your goals. The prize is clear and attainable. So avoid muddying the waters. Keep your financial advisors on call 24/7. Never let them forget who’s money it is. It’s yours. Not theirs. So they better be babying it, growing it, and cherishing it. Or you give them the old heave-ho!

By Max Palmer

The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are only those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.