In recent times, many Americans are facing tough financial situations, especially due to rising prices caused by something called inflation. As a result, more people are dipping into their 401(k) savings for help.
Discover why more people are taking money out of their 401(k) savings because of tough financial times caused by rising prices. Learn how it works, what taxes you might have to pay, and what could happen afterward. Get help from professionals who know about this. Find out about taking money out of your 401(k) in simple words.
According to the Vanguard Group, a company that keeps track of these things, a lot more people—nearly 3.6%—took money out of their 401(k) plans in 2023 because they needed it urgently. This is a big jump from 2022 when it was only 2.8%. Even before the pandemic, the average was around 2%.
Now, why are they doing this? Well, these special withdrawals, called hardship withdrawals, let people take out money from their retirement savings when they have an immediate and serious financial problem. But here’s the catch: they have to pay taxes on this money, and if they’re younger than 59 and a half, there’s an extra fee of 10%.
The reason behind this increase in withdrawals is the high inflation we’re experiencing. Inflation means things cost more, which makes it harder for people to buy what they need with their regular paychecks.
Interestingly, a good number of these withdrawals—about 40%—are being used by people to prevent their homes from being taken away, something called foreclosure. This is higher than in the previous year, showing how serious the situation has become.
But taking money out of a retirement account like this isn’t a simple decision. It comes with its own set of problems. For example, when you take out money, you have to pay it back later. Plus, you’ll have to pay taxes on it, which can be a lot. And, of course, there’s the risk of losing out on future growth of your retirement savings.
There are also rules about what kind of expenses qualify for these withdrawals. They include big things like medical bills, buying a house, or funeral expenses.
If you do decide to take money out, you can’t take more than what’s really necessary for your urgent needs, and the process can take some time, about 7 to 10 days. Also, the government will take a chunk of your money right away for taxes, about 20%.
So, before you go ahead and take money out of your 401(k), it’s a good idea to talk to someone who knows about taxes and money, like a financial advisor. They can help you understand all your options and make the best choice for your situation.