A. Your 401(k) contributions are made on a pre-tax basis. This means that they aren''t reported to the Internal Revenue Service as current income on your W-2 form to the Internal Revenue Service. For example, if you earn $25,000 a year and decide to contribute 10% of your salary ($2,500) to your 401(k) account, only $22,500 will be reported as current income for tax purposes.
Why does the government give you this excellent tax break? Because it wants to encourage individuals to save as much as possible with their own dollars today so that they are better prepared for their retirement in the future. Q. Am I able to contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA?A. Yes. Many individuals contribute to their 401(k) plan and to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or Roth IRA. It''s best to maximize your 401(k) contributions first, since they are made with pre-tax dollars. (Your IRA contributions may or maynot be tax deductible, depending on your annual salary and other qualifications.)
Q. If I change jobs, may I take my 401(k) money with me?A. Yes. All contributions you have made to your 401(k) account are 100% yours. Contributions made by your employer (if any) may be yours depending on a vesting schedule. You will need to check your plan for specific vesting schedules.
In addition, if you do change jobs, it may be a good idea to consider either rolling your 401(k) money over into an IRA or another qualified plan (such as a profit sharing or 401(k) plan) at your new employer. Otherwise, you may incur taxes and early withdrawal penalties. Be sure to check with your tax adviser before taking any distributions from your 401(k) plan. If you would like to learn more, please contact Jason Wyatt, Associate Vice President, Retirement Planning Specialist, Morgan Stanley at jason.wyatt[at]morganstanley.com. This article does not constitute tax advice. Consult your tax advisor before making any tax- or legally-related investment decisions. This article is published for general informational purposes and is not an offer or solicitation to sell or buy securities or commodities. Any particular investment should be analyzed based on its terms and risks as they relate to your specific circumstances and objectives.