The SECURE Act 2.0 was a major change in legislation passed in 2022 that drastically affected many areas of retirement planning.[1] It changed rules for many aspects of financial planning concerning retirement, but some of the most important changes were that it:
- Pushed back the age of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)[1]
- Changed some rules for catch-up contributions[1]
- Changed some rules about access to retirement funds before you retire[1]
- Enacted some rules for automatic retirement enrollment[1]
As the SECURE Act 2.0 was put into place and examined, there were some problems implementing some of its provisions due to the way the law was worded.[2] Some key changes were made fairly recently to ensure that essential provisions would work as intended.[2]
The SECURE Act 2.0 Drafting Error
One issue with the SECURE Act 2.0 was that, because of a drafting error in the proposed changes, catch-up contributions after 2024 would not be possible.[2] Thankfully, the IRS released a notice on August 25th announcing the change would be pushed to 2026, and the bill was updated so that there was no contradictory language.[3]
For context, the SECURE Act 2.0 changed the catch-up contribution rules as such: If you are between the ages of 60-63 in 2025, you will be able to make up to $10,000 in catch-up contributions annually to a workplace plan.[4] Also, starting in 2026, if you make more than $145,000, your catch-up contributions must be made using after-tax dollars (on a “Roth” basis, in other words).[4] Originally, the SECURE Act 2.0 was going to implement that change in 2024, but because of problems with enacting the rule, the IRS pushed back the date of implementation to 2026.[4]
What are catch-up contributions, you ask? Individuals age 50 or older are allowed to make additional contributions to their retirement accounts called “catch-up contributions.”[5] The idea is that many people earn the most during this phase of their lives, and this law can allow them to “catch up” if they didn’t make enough contributions to their retirement when they were younger. However, even if you aren’t in this situation, all individuals who are at least 50 years old can make catch-up contributions.
As you can see, the retirement planning process is a complicated one. Even lawmakers make mistakes when it comes to sorting out retirement! If you are looking for someone to help guide you through the process of designing a retirement plan that may factor in changes like these in a way that caters to your needs, consider reaching out to one of our professionals today for a complimentary review of your finances.
[1] https://www.investopedia.com/secure-2-0-definition-5225115
[2] https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2023/01/24/secure-2-0-drafting-error-threatens-catch-up-contributions/
[3]https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-administrative-transition-period-for-new-roth-catch-up-requirement-catch-up-contributions-still-permitted-after-2023#:~:text=The%20notice%20also%20clarifies%20that,catch%2Dup%20contributions%20after%202023.
[4] https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/secure-act-2
[5] https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-catch-up-contributions#:~:text=More%20In%20Retirement%20Plans&text=Individuals%20who%20are%20age%2050,a%20SIMPLE%20401(k))
Because investor situations and objectives vary this information is not intended to indicate that an investment is appropriate for or is being recommended to any individual investor.
This is for informational purposes only, does not constitute individual investment advice, and should not be relied upon as tax or legal advice. Please consult the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.
There are retirement account risks that could diminish investor returns, such as, but not limited to: low interest rates, market volatility, withdrawal timing and sequence of returns risk, government policy uncertainty and increased longevity. Prospective investors should perform their own due diligence carefully and review the “Risk Factors” section of any prospectus, private placement memorandum or offering circular before considering any investment.
Advisory services offered through Asset Strategy Advisors, LLC (ASA). Securities offered through Concorde Investment Services, LLC (CIS), member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance offered through Asset Strategy Financial Group, Inc. (ASFG). ASFG and ASA are independent of CIS.
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