Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.

Compensation was paid to utilize rankings. Click here to read full disclosure.

Biden Seeking to Turn 401(k)s Into a Wealth Redistribution Scheme

By

Vice President Joe Biden during a reception for the National Guard adjutants general of the states and territories of the United States at the Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 22, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

Joe Biden wants to use the 401(k) system to redistribute wealth from wealthy taxpayers to lower-income savers. Daisy Maxey reports for Barron’s:

President-elect Joe Biden hopes to encourage lower- and middle-income workers to save more by changing the existing tax preferences for savings in retirement accounts. A divided Congress is likely to hinder his plans.

Currently, workers contribute pretax dollars to 401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings plans, then pay taxes when they withdraw money in retirement. This upfront tax break is more valuable for richer households because they fall into higher tax brackets.

Biden’s plan would institute tax credits for each dollar saved, leveling the playing field by offering the same incentive for retirement saving regardless of a worker’s income. He hasn’t said what percentage the credit would be, but the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center has estimated that a 26% credit would be roughly revenue-neutral over the first 20 years and beyond.

Currently someone who is single and making $120,000 falls into the 24% tax bracket. If he contributes $18,000, or 15% of his pay, to his 401(k), he would save $4,320 in taxes. But a single filer making $50,000 falls into the 12% tax bracket. If he contributes $7,500, or 15% of his pay, he would save $900 in taxes.

Assuming a 26% credit under Biden’s plan, the person earning $120,000 and contributing $18,000 to his plan would receive a tax credit of 26 cents on each dollar, or $4,680. However, the person earning $50,000 and saving $7,500 in his plan would receive a credit of $1,950, more than double what he would now save on taxes.

The initiative faces opposition from some asset managers and investment industry trade groups. Asset managers have in the past opposed plans that they feel might decrease usage of defined-contribution plans.

The Investment Company Institute, which represents mutual fund firms, said after news of the plan that it “supports tax deferral and the current, voluntary employer provided retirement system—and, as in the past, will oppose changes that undermine the success of this system for American savers.”

One result of Biden’s move might be to drive taxpayers into Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, in which the taxes are paid up front. That would raise more revenue for a possible Biden administration. That’s most likely the real target of the plan.

Action Line: Talk with your tax professional about how Joe Biden’s change might affect your savings.

Be Intelligent: Join Dick Young & Get My Friday Email
The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.

Recent Posts from YourSurvivalGuy.com

Your Survival Guy in Paris: Your Prior Planning

Your Survival Guy learned long ago from his mother: you need to prior plan. This is how I want you to think about your next visit to Paris. Prior planning. The other night, we had dinner at Allard, as mentioned to you here, which is also in the 6th, and we walked by Le Relais […]

America’s Aging Power Grid Could Stunt AI Growth

According to Microsoft’s Azure CTI Mark Russinovich, the aging American power grid could stunt the growth of artificial intelligence by limiting the size of data centers. Reed Albergotti reports in Semafor: The data centers that make generative AI products like ChatGPT possible will soon reach size limits, according to Microsoft Azure Chief Technology Officer Mark […]

California’s Gas Pump Price Controls

California’s legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom have enacted a law aimed at preventing price spikes for gasoline. That’s rich from a state charging residents $0.676/gallon in taxes. That doesn’t include local gasoline taxes. That’s more than double the rate from 2016. In addition, heavy regulations on importers and refiners of gasoline in California were enacted […]

Your Survival Guy in Paris: The Greatest Cafés

Your Survival Guy and Gal went for a late lunch recently at Café de Flore on the Left Bank, in the 6th, in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés. This is where you want to be. It’s a favorite because you have Café Bonaparte, Les Deux Magots, and Brasserie Lipp—just to name a few—right […]

ROGUE BUREAUCRATS: Trump Declares War on the Deep State

You know the federal government has a bureaucracy problem. In his first term, Donald Trump declared war on the Deep State, and created a path forward for removing “rogue bureaucrats” from the system. The Biden administration has sought to reverse Trump’s plans to protect the bureaucrats from accountability, but Trump has promised to move forward […]

Kamala Harris’s Latest Big Mistake

UPDATE 10.14.24: Things just keep getting worse for Kamala Harris. Her lead in national polls is disappearing, and Donald Trump is ahead in nearly every swing state, according to the RealClearPolitics averages of polls. In the New York Post, Miranda Devine discusses the different effects the two major party presidential candidates’ picks for VP have […]

Your Survival Guy in Paris: Pot of Gold

 Be Intelligent: Join Dick Young & Get My Friday Email Action Line: Click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter. P.S. Read all about my latest adventure in Paris. Your Survival Guy in Paris: Go Big, Not Broke: You don’t go to Paris to save money. You do that before […]

Harris’s Record of Radicalism

Kamala Harris has had a sheltered existence as a candidate so far. She didn’t need to compete in a primary, and she hasn’t done many interviews. The American people don’t know much about her without doing some digging. In The American Conservative, Rep. Jim Banks digs in and exposes Kamala Harris’s record of “radicalism.” Banks […]

Inflation Flare Up Frightens Fed

You have probably been watching the Fed’s actions with suspicion as it lowers rates despite continued above “target” inflation numbers. Jerome Powell and other Fed officials have explained that the momentum of disinflation is strong enough to continue to bring prices down even with rate cuts. Despite Powell’s assurances, inflation remains stubbornly high. In the […]

Your Survival Guy in Paris: Go Big, Not Broke

You don’t go to Paris to save money. You do that before you arrive. You save ‘til it hurts and live within your means. Paris is for spending. With a little prior planning, you don’t have to break the bank. You can have your cake and eat it too. Literally. There are plenty of Michelin-star […]

Chicago Already Regrets Electing Progressive Mayor

Radical progressive politicians have seized power in many of America’s Big Blue Blob cities. Instead of protecting the interests of their constituents, these politicians put their personal political agendas first and foremost. Perhaps none have done such a poor job for voters as Chicago’s radical progressive mayor, Brandon Johnson. John O. McGinnis explains in City […]

Your Survival Guy in Paris: 14,000 Steps

Your Survival Guy and Gal walked 14,000 steps for lunch yesterday from Le Bristol Hotel to Breizh Café for oysters, crepes, and cider. It’s not exactly a walk to your corner bistro. There are at least a couple of Breizh Cafés in Paris. This one, our favorite, is in the Marais, a cool neighborhood perfect […]

The Rift Between Biden and Harris Grows Wider

You have probably noticed a number of moments recently when it seemed that perhaps Joe Biden is not entirely happy with Kamala Harris coopting his political campaign and taking his place as the Democrats’ nominee for the presidency. Recently, Biden told reporters in the White House briefing room that he was “back in” the race. […]

David Dorn’s Wife SLAMS Soros and Kamala Harris in Heart Wrenching Op-Ed

UPDATE 10.9.24: Americans voting in November should remember that when Kamala Harris had to choose between supporting the police and supporting criminals, she chose the criminals. Originally posted August 24, 2022. The killer of former police officer David Dorn, who died defending a small business from BLM rioters in 2020, was convicted of his crimes […]

Your Survival Guy in Paris: “Time Stand Still”

One of the more misunderstood components of compound interest is time. Everyone understands the rate of return. It’s all you hear about, from your uncles to your nephews. “What did it return this year?” they ask. Time, on the other hand, is boring except when you do it over a couple of generations. Then it […]