37% of working Americans made this winning retirement savings move in 2023 — how to match their success and add sparkle to your golden years
When it comes to saving for retirement, the secret to success isn’t so much a mystery, but just plain old good sense.
In its latest retirement data analysis, Fidelity Investments found that improved market conditions helped boost average account balances to their highest level in nearly two years. But market conditions weren’t the only factor at play.
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Another key factor? Consistent contributions. More than one-third (37%) of American workers increased their retirement savings contribution rate in 2023, according to Fidelity’s 2023 fourth-quarter analysis of more than 45 million IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) retirement accounts.
Nearly three out of four (73%) eligible employees participated in their employer-sponsored retirement plan in 2023. And, by the end of that year, 78% of 401(k) savers were “contributing at a rate high enough to get the full matching contribution offered by their employer,” according to the report.
“This past year ended on a high note for retirement savers,” Sharon Brovelli, Fidelity’s President of Workplace Investing, said as part of the analysis. “When it comes to matters like market stability and economic events, 2023 gave us the highs of the highs, and the lows of the lows, but encouragingly, many retirement savers took the long view and stayed the course through it all.”
Your retirement investment options
When it comes to saving for retirement, you have options. But saving your money in a plan designed specifically for the purpose of retirement comes with a few perks, such as tax breaks. For example, your money isn’t taxed while it grows, and you benefit from paying lower income tax during your working years.
A good starting point is an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k) — if you have one—where your employer matches any money you contribute. Any investment gains you make are tax-deferred until you withdraw funds from the account in retirement.
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Another option is an individual retirement account (IRA). With a traditional IRA, you get an upfront tax break and pay income tax when you withdraw funds. With a Roth IRA, it’s the opposite: you don’t get an upfront tax break, but withdrawals are tax-free.
This year, there’s more room to contribute, so — like 37% of American workers — you can save even more. The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans has increased to $23,000, up from $22,500, while the limit on annual contributions to an IRA has increased to $7,000, up from $6,500.
How to boost your contributions
Many financial planners recommend saving 10% to 15% of your pre-tax income annually to reach your retirement goals. How much you put aside will depend on a number of factors, such as when you plan to retire and what lifestyle you plan to lead in retirement.
Even if it feels impossible to squeeze more money out of your paycheck, there are relatively painless ways to increase your contributions. Even boosting your contributions by one percent can make a big difference 20 or 30 years from now. You could also increase your contribution if you get a raise, or commit to investing your tax refund into a retirement plan.
If you’re 50+, you can also take advantage of catch-up contributions for employer-sponsored retirement plans. This could be an option if you’ve paid off your mortgage and you’re no longer supporting your children—so you can get back on track with building your nest egg. The catch-up contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans for 2024 is $7,500, meaning you can contribute up to $30,500.
If your retirement plan allows for it, sign up for automatic contribution increases so you can save on auto-pilot. Most likely, you won’t even notice the difference in your paycheck — but you will notice the gains you’ve earned come retirement.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
