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To: sickoflibs
My wife and I do the same thing: we have maxed out our 401(k)'s, and both are over 50 so we can can add the "catch-up" contribution. And, we contribute the maximum to our HSA, letting the balance build for later use.

It reduces our taxes significantly, and also brings our adjusted gross income down below the threshold, so we can also make the maximum Roth contributions as well.

Assuming you have sufficient funds set aside for emergencies, deferring all this income has another benefit that many people miss: it imposes spending discipline. You can't spend these retirement funds on a whim. So you adjust your standard of living to the remaining taxable income.

When you retire, you don't have to adjust to a significantly reduced income. We will have almost enough income from various sources to replace our current income, and will only have to withdraw a small amount each month to make up the difference. Or, we can splurge and do some things we've been wanting to do for a while.

I actually expect to withdraw excess funds from our IRA/401(k)'s each year and either put it in the bank or "recharacterize" it into our Roth IRAs. I'll only do enough to bring us up to the top of the 15% marginal income tax bracket. If you are married, that's currently an adjusted gross income of $92,500. This takes maximum advantage of the lower tax rate, as it jumps to 25% after that. And, it draws down the IRA/401(k) balance, so that you reduce the Minimum Required Distributions that start when you reach age 70.

122 posted on 08/11/2013 7:46:27 AM PDT by justlurking (tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
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To: justlurking; MD Expat in PA; randita
RE:”Assuming you have sufficient funds set aside for emergencies, deferring all this income has another benefit that many people miss: it imposes spending discipline. You can't spend these retirement funds on a whim. So you adjust your standard of living to the remaining taxable income.”

Which our Roths can be used for too.
I am in the same situation as you are.

One thing that is readily ignored here and on talk radio because it doesn't fit a simple black white theme is how many Americans and non-Americans ( many under 65 too as well as over) here end up in nursing homes long term on medicaid=just adding to national debt. And they are hell holes as it is, immigrants do most of the dirty work..

Many don't realize its medicaid paying for the long term nursing care not medicare. And just dumping them out on the street is not an option. And yes, many see their own savings paying for the nursing homes as 'government stealing my money' so they don't like having savings round that they think the government will 'steal' for those nursing bills.

Maybe an idea like the above will generate some personal savings $$$ to pay for SOME of their nursing home expenses that future taxpayers will get stuck with,

125 posted on 08/11/2013 8:40:54 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)
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