Tax diversification: A tax strategy to help your assets last
Kotler Law Firm P.L.
For more information about the author, click to view their website: Siena Wealth Advisory
Jul 22, 2023
Florida - Southwest
Email US
Click to Email Us
Your retirement could last several decades, so it’s important to not let taxes diminish your savings more than necessary. One way to safeguard against this is through implementing a strategy called tax diversification that spreads out your investments across various tax treatments over a long period.
Here’s how tax diversification can potentially help you keep more of your hard-earned retirement savings:
What is tax diversification?
Tax diversification is a strategy that takes into consideration various tax treatments across the investment accounts you will eventually use for income in retirement. Because different types of accounts and investments offer specific tax advantages, you can gain more control over your taxes by placing your investments in a variety of accounts. When coupled with a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy, tax diversification may help your assets last longer in retirement. Taxation is just one consideration when making investment decisions.
How tax diversification works
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for tax diversification. An Ameriprise financial advisor can work with you to make personalized recommendations based on your financial goals, time horizon, account mix and tax situation.
An Ameriprise financial advisor can review your investment accounts through the lens of the three different types of tax treatments — taxable, tax-free and tax-deferred — and decide how to strategically allocate your assets among them.
The idea is to diversify your retirement funds among different account types during your working years as you save for retirement. There are a couple ways to achieve this: You can diversify as you save, and you can also move investments in and out of the different types of accounts after you have saved into them. However, moving investments in and out of a taxable account can have tax consequences, while moving investments in retirement accounts, like traditional or Roth IRAs, generally won’t.
Breaking down the different tax treatments:
What are key benefits of tax diversification?
In general, many investors gravitate toward tax-deferred accounts — such as a 401(k) — and thus, tend to be overweighted in investments that will be taxed in retirement.
By diversifying your investments across all tax treatments, you can:
- Take more control of your financial picture, now and in retirement. Taxable and tax-free accounts, other than the Roth 401(k), do not have distribution requirements, allowing you to control when and how much you take. Tax-deferred qualified accounts generally require distributions at age 73,9 but you control distributions from tax-deferred accounts before age 73 and amounts you take over the RMD.9
- Potentially fuel savings over time and help your assets last longer. Being able to choose which assets are used to create your income could allow you to spread your taxable distributions over more years so you pay less in taxes and keep more of your savings.
- Gain flexibility in how you access retirement income in the future. Life events are likely to change your savings and income needs in the future. Diversifying your savings among these different tax treatments will give you greater flexibility as life events, both expected and unexpected, occur.
When should an investor consider tax diversification?
Some opportunities may exist to diversify your tax situation during retirement, but in many cases tax diversification should be done over time. The sooner you consider how and when your retirement assets are taxed, the more time you have to make adjustments and accrue any potential benefits.
- To view the original version of this article visit www.ameriprise.com/financial-goals-priorities/taxes/tax-diversification-retirement
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
Other Articles You May Like
Financial Services in Boulder, CO
A move, a change in care needs, or the loss of a spouse can turn a familiar retirement budget into a list of new decisions. Before meeting with a financial professional, identify the question you want answered. You might need to understand what a move would do to your monthly expenses or how much flexibility you have if care costs rise.What Financial Services CoverFinancial services can include financial planning, investment advice, insurance, or help with other money decisions. The scope depends on the professional and the firm. If your immediate question is about paying an overdue bill or applying for a public benefit, a local assistance program may be the better first call. If youre weighing how to use savings or investment accounts over time, ask whether an adviser can address that specific question. Jetty Financial - Rich GaldieriPhone: 303-710-5015Richard Galdieris public professional profile identifies Jetty Financial. The SECs Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database identifies him under CRD number 8206153 with Global View Capital Management LLC in Lafayette, Colorado. Ask which firm would provide the service and appear on your written agreement. The firms name gives you the information you need to review the right disclosures and direct follow-up questions. Ask What the Engagement IncludesDescribe the decision youre facing and ask what the professional can provide in writing. That may mean a one-time review, a planning engagement, or ongoing investment management, depending on the firms services. Ask which fees apply, how they are calculated, and whether any products or third parties carry separate costs. Investor.gov offers a tool to check registration and review relationship disclosures. Why This Matters in BoulderIf youre deciding whether to stay in your Boulder home or move closer to family, use actual costs for both options. For your current home, pull recent bills for taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any paid help. For a move, gather quotes for housing and services you expect to use. Put one-time expenses, such as moving or preparing the house for sale, on their own list so you can compare recurring costs clearly.How to Get Started1. Put Your Main Question on One PageList income sources, regular expenses, and the change you expect in the next year. Bring rough figures to an introductory conversation and ask how the firm handles confidential documents before sending account statements.2. Confirm Fees and ResponsibilitiesAsk who will work with you, what you will receive, and how much the engagement is expected to cost. If you are considering ongoing services, ask how often you would meet and what happens if you end the relationship.3. Take Time to Review the AgreementRead the written scope and fee terms before deciding. If your question also involves taxes or legal documents, identify which parts you should take to a tax professional or an attorney. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Financial Services Elder Law Estate Planning
Financial Assistance in Boulder, CO
A utility bill can be manageable one month and hard to cover the next. If youre living on a fixed income or helping an older family member sort through overdue notices, start with the bill or expense that has the closest deadline. The City of Boulders Older Adult Services case managers can help eligible residents understand what assistance may be available and where to apply.What Financial Assistance Can Help WithFinancial assistance programs help eligible households cover essential expenses or connect with resources that reduce those costs. Programs may address a one-time problem, such as a bill that came due unexpectedly, or an ongoing need, such as difficulty paying for groceries. Each program sets its own rules and deadlines. A case manager can help you identify which applications are worth pursuing.City of Boulder Older Adult ServicesPhone: 303-441-4388 The citys Older Adult Services team works with Boulder residents age 60 and older and their caregivers. Case managers provide information and referrals, help people understand available options, and offer short-term case management. The city also provides financial assistance for eligible clients. Its published screening criteria include age, residency, income, and the type and circumstances of the request. What to Bring Up on the First CallDescribe the immediate problem in plain terms. I received a shutoff notice with a date next week gives a case manager a clearer starting point than I need help with bills. If the same expense has become hard to cover every month, say so. That gives the case manager a chance to discuss ongoing resources as well as any immediate options.Why This Matters in BoulderA Boulder mailing address and residence within Boulder city limits can mean different things for eligibility. If youre unsure whether your address qualifies, give the case manager your street address before gathering paperwork. Older adults who live elsewhere in Boulder County can start with the countys Area Agency on Aging for help identifying resources that serve their address. How to Get Started1. Find the DeadlineHave the most recent bill or notice handy. Write down the amount due, the due date, and any shutoff date or other deadline shown. Tell the case manager about the deadline at the beginning of your call.2. Ask What Documents You NeedCall 303-441-4388 and ask which documents the city needs for your particular request and how to submit them. Keep copies of any application and the name of the person you spoke with.3. Confirm the Next StepBefore you hang up, ask who will follow up, how to check the status, and whether there is another program to contact in the meantime. If you are calling for someone else, ask whether they need to join the call or give permission for staff to discuss their application. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Area Agencies on Aging Care Management Care Coordination
December 31 is a deadline for your estate plan, not just your taxes
Every year, plenty of families with taxable estates let one of their simplest planning tools expire quietly on December 31.I'm talking about the annual gift tax exclusion. Each person can give up to a set amount to as many people as they like each year without using any of their lifetime exemption. A married couple can effectively double it.Here's the part people miss. It doesn't carry forward. If this year's exclusion isn't used by December 31, it's gone, and January 1 simply starts a new one.So for a couple with children and grandchildren, that's real wealth that can move out of a taxable estate each year, with no complicated structure required. Skip a few years and you can't go back and claim them.It isn't free of trade-offs. Money you give away is money you no longer control, and gifts to younger family members raise fair questions about timing, trusts and readiness. Which is why the gift and the plan should be decided together, not rushed the week before New Year's.One more thing. The gift generally needs to be completed within the year, not just intended. A plan in December isn't the same as a transfer.If you have a taxable estate and haven't looked at this yet, there's still time for a conversation, ideally with your tax professional and estate attorney involved too.Thomas Kluttz, CFP, ChFC, CTFA Analog Capital Partners Naples, FloridaAnalog Capital Partners LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply any level of skill or training. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit or protect against loss. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Additional information is available in the firm's Form ADV and client relationship summary, available upon request. CRD #8199461.
