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January 9th - UK government bonds surged at the start of the year as the British government reduced long-term borrowing and weak inflation fueled market bets on a Bank of England rate cut. UK bonds rose across the board, with 10-year bonds poised for their biggest weekly gain since October, significantly outperforming less volatile German and US bonds. Craig Inches, head of rates and cash at Royal London Asset Management, said the prospect of a rate cut, coupled with reduced sales of long-term bonds, made UK bonds "very cheap" compared to similar assets. He stated, "UK bonds are an excellent place to put your money." The money market currently estimates a near 90% probability of another 25-basis-point rate cut by the Bank of England in April. The probability of a second rate cut by December has risen from less than 50% two weeks ago to 70%. He added, "We believe the Bank of England will have to cut rates again in February, which, combined with supply shortages, will lead to lower yields, a flattening yield curve, and allow UK bonds to outperform their global counterparts."Italys retail sales rose 1.3% year-on-year in November, up from 1.30% in the previous month.Italys seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0.5% month-on-month in November, compared with 0.50% in the previous month.January 9th - Analysts point out that US job growth may slow in December due to companies remaining cautious about hiring amid import tariffs and increased investment in artificial intelligence. However, the unemployment rate is expected to fall to 4.5%, which could support market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged this month. The non-farm payroll report, expected to be released tonight, is anticipated to show that the US labor market remains in what economists and policymakers call a "no hiring, no laying off" mode. This would also confirm that the US economy is in a phase of jobless expansion. In the third quarter of last year, economic growth and worker productivity surged, partly attributed to a surge in AI spending. Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, stated, "This isnt entirely due to weak demand, as the economy appears to be performing well, but companies are very cautious about hiring new employees. This could be related to a willingness to control costs, perhaps due to tariff pressures, or perhaps because many companies believe that AI-driven automation will lead to productivity gains."On January 9th, Zhu Meina, Deputy Director of the Standards and Technology Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, introduced at a special press conference of the State Administration for Market Regulation that the next step for the State Administration for Market Regulation will be to further accelerate the development of national standards related to the new energy vehicle, lithium battery, and photovoltaic industries. At the same time, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on-site promotion meetings for standards will be held to help the industry accurately grasp the content of the standards, implement and apply the standards in a timely manner, and promote the rapid implementation and effectiveness of the standards, so as to lead and drive the high-quality development of the "new three products" through standards.

What Is a 401(k) Retirement Plan?

Larissa Barlow

Mar 25, 2022 15:01

A 401(k) plan is a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan offered by many American businesses. It is called after a provision of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America.

 

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When an employee enrolls in a 401(k), he or she agrees to have a portion of each paycheck immediately deposited into an investing account. Employers may match a portion or the entire amount of that contribution. The employee has a variety of investing alternatives, most often mutual funds.

 

The 401(k) Plan's Operation

 

The United States Congress created the 401(k) plan to encourage Americans to save for retirement. Among the advantages they provide are tax savings.

 

401(k) plan that is conventional (k)

 

Employee contributions to a standard 401(k) are taken from gross income, which means the money comes directly from the employee's paycheck before income taxes are subtracted. As a consequence, the employee's taxable income is reduced by the year's total contributions, which may be claimed as a tax deduction for that tax year. There are no taxes owed on either the contribution or the profits until the employee withdraws the funds, which is often during retirement.

 

Roth 401 (k) (k)

 

Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are deducted from the employee's after-tax income, which means they are deducted from the employee's compensation after income taxes are subtracted. As a result, there is no tax deduction for the contribution in the year it is made. When money is taken during retirement, neither the employee's contribution nor the investment earnings are subject to further taxes.

 

However, not all workplaces provide the Roth account option. If the Roth is available, the employee may choose one or the other or a combination of the two, up to the annual contribution limitations for tax-deductible contributions.

 

Contributing a 401(k) Plan Contribution

 

A 401(k) is a qualified retirement plan that is defined contribution in nature. The employee and employer may contribute to the account up to the IRS-mandated monetary restrictions (IRS).

 

A defined contribution plan is an alternative to the typical pension, referred to as a defined-benefit plan by the Internal Revenue Service. With a pension, the company agrees to provide a certain amount of money to the employee for the duration of his or her retirement.

 

In recent decades, as businesses moved the burden and risk of retirement savings to their employees, 401(k) plans have become more prevalent and conventional pensions have become rare.

 

Additionally, employees are responsible for selecting particular assets for their 401(k) plans from a list offered by their company. Typically, these solutions contain a mix of stock and bond mutual funds, as well as target-date funds, which are meant to mitigate the risk of investment losses as an employee approaches retirement.

 

Additionally, they may include insurance company-issued guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) and, on occasion, the employer's own stock.

 

Contribution Restrictions

 

The maximum contribution an individual or company may make to a 401(k) plan is changed on a quarterly basis to account for inflation, which is a metric used to assess an economy's growing costs.

 

Employee contributions are limited to $19,500 per year for workers under the age of 50 in 2021, and to $20,500 per year in 2022. Individuals aged 50 and beyond, on the other hand, can pay a $6,500 catch-up contribution in 2021 and 2022.

 

If the employer contributes as well, or if the employee elects to make extra, non-deductible after-tax contributions to their standard 401(k) plan, a total employee-employer contribution sum is calculated for the year.

How Do You Begin a 401(k) Plan? 

Employers are the simplest method to establish a 401(k) plan. Numerous employers offer 401(k) plans, and some match a portion of their employees' contributions. In this situation, the firm will handle your 401(k) paperwork and payments during onboarding. If you are self-employed or co-own a small business with your spouse, you may qualify for a solo 401(k) plan, sometimes referred to as an independent 401(k) (k). These retirement plans enable independent contractors and freelancers to fund their own retirement, regardless of whether they are employed by another organization. Most internet brokers allow for the creation of a solo 401(k).

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