Are employers cutting back on contributions? Will the Secure Act 2.0 help keep it relevant?
While it is statistically true that employers are cutting back on their contributions to these plans, we don’t have large concerns over a massive overhaul of the 401k universe. One reason we see that employer contributions to 401ks have waned in the last couple years is contributed to by reduced contributions by employees, potentially driven due to fears of recession and inflation. If we look at the numbers, employers contributed an average of 5.6% in 2021 compared to 4.5% in 2023. Employee contributions had a similar drop, falling from 8.3% in 2021 to 7.4% in 2023. These statistics cannot be viewed in isolation since one impacts the other.
401ks remain a strong tool for employees to take advantage of for retirement, especially with the recent changes that have been implemented through the Secure Act 2.0. This act increases the age where the participant is forced to take required minimum distributions, allows for employers to provide matches in Roth 401ks, increases the catchup contribution for those approaching retirement, and requires most employers to auto enroll their eligible employees into a 401k plan. These changes are all very positive for those looking to take advantage of these retirement accounts and shows the commitment that lawmakers have to the current system.
Summary
The article notes a decline in both employer and employee 401(k) contributions—from 5.6 % to 4.5 % by employers, and from 8.3 % to 7.4 % by employees between 2021 and 2023—largely due to recession and inflation concerns. Despite these reductions, it asserts that the 401(k) remains a crucial retirement tool, particularly with enhancements from SECURE Act 2.0 that improve incentives and accessibility. Key updates from SECURE Act 2.0 include raising the RMD age, enabling Roth 401(k) matching, increasing catch-up limits, and mandating auto-enrollment—highlighting legislative support to strengthen retirement savings. The guide concludes that these structural reforms signal ongoing evolution and commitment to the 401(k) system, reinforcing its relevance and potential for future retirement planning.
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Green Ridge Wealth Planning, LLC is a registered investment adviser. The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment/tax advice. The investment/tax strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment/tax strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision(s). You are responsible for consulting your own investment and/or tax advisor as to the consequences associated with any investment.
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