As a financial professional, I like to present information and ask questions that cause people to think outside the box. With this in mind, and because you may not know what a tax-free retirement account (TFRA) is, let’s delve into this topic. A TFRA is a retirement savings plan that works similarly to a ROTH Individual Retirement Account (IRA); you pay taxes on the money going into the plan, and the growth of your money is not taxed. However, unlike a ROTH, a TFRA does not have IRS-regulated restrictions on how or when you take money from your account.
Here are five of the key reasons you should consider a TFRA:
Taxes
Right now in America, taxes are at an all-time low. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax decreases expire on Dec. 31, 2025, meaning unless Congress acts, tax rates will revert to pre-TCJA levels. Based on our current national debt, I believe taxes will increase. In a 401k or an IRA, you receive a tax break now with no way of knowing what your taxes will be when you get ready to retire. When you put your money into a TFRA, you know how much your tax bill will be because you already have paid the taxes on your contribution. You also can rest easier knowing you won’t owe any taxes on the earnings inside your TFRA.
Volatility
One lesson the past few years have taught us is that the stock market is volatile. One minute, it is soaring, and the next, it crashes and takes our hard-earned money with it. One of the great features of a TFRA is that it has what I call a “floor”; in other words, it allows you to take advantage of the upside of the market while locking in your money to prevent loss. Your money is not actually in the market, but indexed to the market; when it goes up, you are credited with a gain, and when the market goes down, you do not suffer a loss.
Liquidity
Under current law, qualified retirement accounts such as 410k, IRA and ROTH IRA plans have very limited liquidity. While some of these plans may contain a maximum $50,000 loan provision, depending on your account balance, many do not. Again, depending on the plan, you may not be able to access your money without penalty. A TFRA allows access to your money without the IRS-mandated restrictions.
Living Benefits
Similar to a long-term care plan, a TFRA includes benefits for chronic, critical and terminal illness.
Permanent death benefits
Because the chassis upon which a TFRA is built is a specifically designed indexed universal life (IUL) insurance plan that takes advantage of the tax laws, there is a permanent death benefit beginning on day one. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, 50% of women and 47% of men between the ages of 55 and 66 have no retirement savings. Other statistics show that 22 percent of Americans with a retirement savings plan have not contributed within the past year. What about you?
For those who have yet to begin planning for retirement, the contributions limit for qualified plans makes it hard to compensate for past planning failures while allowing time for your money to grow. Unlike qualified plans, there are no limits on how much money you can put into a TFRA; however, it must adhere to the rules and laws of life insurance.
A TFRA could be the right option for you. A TFRA works great for businesses and their employees, no matter the business size. No annual reports are required, and there is no administrative cost for the employer. A recent survey revealed the number-one thing employees want from their employers: a retirement plan. About 75% of small businesses don’t offer any type of savings benefit. Individually or as a business. A TFRA can help you and your employees plan for retirement to look forward to.
