The SECURE Act Is Law- Notable Changes to Retirement Savings

Effective January 1, 2020, the SECURE Act, a progressive change to retirement savings plans, is now law. The last legislation to retirement savings happened when Congress allowed for the automatic enrollment of employees. Also the addition of Target Date funds to retirement plans in 2006.

While the new law intends to provide additional opportunities for Americans to save for retirement, other changes will affect both estate and retirement planning in these critical areas:

#1- Modification of the Required Minimum Distribution Age (RMD) rules for retirement plans to age 72.

With RMD now two years later, the opportunity for more straightforward. Conversions from taxable retirement savings accounts to tax-free retirement savings accounts provide an easier conversion than if already in the RMD phase. However, if an investor is already in the RMD phase, they are not able to reverse their distribution age.

Another part of the RMD modification is investors can still save into a tax-deductible retirement account until age 72, maximizing their pre-tax retirement savings and lowering their taxable income. As under prior law, if an employee is working after age 72 and doesn’t own more than 5% of their employer, RMD doesn’t apply until they retire.

The SECURE Act and RMD modification provide another beneficial change regarding contributions to traditional IRA accounts. There is no age restriction after 2019. Those working beyond age 72 can still contribute to their employer’s retirement plan.

#2- Inherited Qualified retirement accounts become more complex.

Under the SECURE Act, beneficiaries of inherited Qualified retirement accounts must liquidate the account within ten years. Instead of their life expectancy as previously allowed. The account must value at zero after the tenth year of the benefactor’s death.

Exceptions to the 10-year distribution requirement include assets left to a surviving spouse. As well as a minor child, a disabled or chronically ill individual. This includes beneficiaries who are less than ten years younger than the decedent.

#3- Expansion of retirement plan access for all American workers.

The SECURE Act aims to help Americans save more for retirement. Advisory services and financial education are now included as part of all company retirement plans. Small businesses previously left out of offering retirement plans due to the high cost of plan administration, will now be grouped with other small businesses to allow for cost-sharing. These groups of small business retirement plans are Multiple Employer Plans or MEPs, and the law provisions on these grouped plans don’t take effect until 2021.

#4- Increasing lifetime income options in all retirement plans.

The act will encourage employers to add lifetime income options, such as annuities, to their retirement plans. Additionally, employees can convert their retirement savings into guaranteed income within or outside of the employer plan while still employed.

The SECURE Act additionally protects the employer from being sued if the guaranteed income insurer the employee chooses within the retirement plan is unable to make payments in the future.

#5- The law creates a side effect for IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).

After turning age 70 ½, clients can make qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) of up to $100,000 per year directly from an IRA. Active for QCDs made in any tax-year after 2019. The $100,000 limit is reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate deductions before 2019. If a client made deductible qualified IRA contributions in the year that they turned age 70 ½ and before 2019, their annual QCD might be reduced for 2020 forward. Clients should consult their tax professional for clarification on this provision change

For those that have used QCD in the past as part of their estate planning, the law changes will impact their ability to lower their taxable income starting in 2020.

If you have any questions on how the SECURE Act may impact you, contact our office at any time.

Additional Disclosure: No Government Agency has not endorsed this material. The sources used to prepare this material is/are believed to be true, accurate and reliable, but are not guaranteed.

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As a retirement income specialist and 38-year veteran of the financial services industry, August H. Velten understands what his clients need in order to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Augie is a former instructor for the Life Underwriter Training Council and once occupied the legislative seat for the Maine Association of Life Insurers. At August H Velten & Associates, we know that it is your retirement, and you should have control over it. We offer our experience and knowledge to help you design a custom strategy for financial independence. Contact us today to schedule an introductory meeting!