Family Finance
If an IRA is part of your legacy, here’s what you should know
Family Finance
If an IRA is part of your legacy, here’s what you should know
If you’re like many people, a good portion of your retirement savings is tucked away in an IRA, and the odds are you will need every penny once you put your working years behind you.
But what if it turns out you don’t need that money? What if you’re one of those fortunate people who has other assets that can be used to pay the bills and fund your retirement lifestyle? Instead of spending the money accumulating in your IRA, you decide to include it as part of the legacy you plan to leave to your beneficiaries.
If you take that route, there are a few things worth knowing to make sure you limit how much your heirs owe in taxes when the IRA comes into their possession and maximize the amount of inheritance they can call their own.
Finally, let’s say that instead of bequeathing an IRA to someone, you are the one on the receiving end of an inherited IRA. What should you do with this sudden, possibly large chunk of money that’s now in your possession?
Although you might be tempted to withdraw all that money at once, pay the taxes, and splurge on some luxury item for yourself, that’s not the most prudent approach. You would be better off just stretching those withdrawals out over the 10 years because at least the money’s there for you for a decade.
But you do have other options and, with the right planning, can make those withdrawals in a thoughtful manner that will benefit you the most. For example, you might time your withdrawals with your overall tax situation, drawing out more money during a low-income year and less during a high-income year when the withdrawal could bump you into a higher tax bracket.
You might also want to make withdrawals based on the market, shifting some of the money into other investments when the time seems opportune.
Because of the many complications involved, anyone who expects to leave an IRA as part of their legacy should seek the advice of not just a financial adviser, but also a tax professional and an estate attorney so you can make sure you’re making the best decisions for your particular situation. When handled correctly, you can structure a long-lasting inheritance for your loved ones.
After all, your goal is to make sure as much of that money as possible goes to those you leave behind.
This article was written by Benzinga Contributor from Benzinga and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
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