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Our December 2024 Newsletter: 5 Changes Coming to IRAs in 2025

Our December 2024 Newsletter: 5 Changes Coming to IRAs in 2025

December 01, 2024

The SECURE 2.0 Act is a piece of legislation, enacted in 2022, containing changes to be made to IRA and 401(k) rules being phased in over several years. The primary goal of The SECURE 2.0 Act is to encourage workers to save more for retirement, and who doesn’t want more money for retirement?

There are five changes going into effect in 2025 that are aimed to do just that!

1.     People aged 60-63* can take advantage of super-sized 401(k) contributions

2.     New job, or new 401(k) plan? You’ll be automatically enrolled!

3.     People aged 60-63* with a SIMPLE IRA can contribute $5,250 more to those plans

4.     Have you inherited an IRA? There’s a new 10-year rule in effect

5.     Do you have an inherited IRA with RMDs? If you haven’t taken the RMDs yet, make sure you do in 2025 to avoid a 25% penalty

Click hereto read “Five Changes Coming to IRAs and 401(k)s in 2025” and learn all the specifics and see how you can save more for retirement. Questions or concerns? Feel free to call us and discuss: 518-584-2555.

2025 IRS Contribution Limits

The IRS updates it’s contribution limits for retirement savings annually, and they announced their 2025 rules on November 1, 2024. Here’s a quick summary:

  • The 2025 annual workplace plan limit is $23,500
  • Those ages 50 and over* may contribute an additional $7,500
  • Those ages 60-63* may contribute an additional $11,250

Click hereto see the entire list of 2025 contribution and benefit limits.

Medicare Premiums Reimbursed by Your HSA?

Although Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have existed for 20 years, they have a lot of very specific rules, and therefore can still be a bit confusing. It’s common knowledge that your HSA can reimburse you for all qualified medical out-of-pocket expenses, but did you know that you can use your HSA to reimburse yourself for your Medicare premiums? Yes, that’s correct!

Even if your Medicare premiums are paid directly from your SS Benefits, you can withdraw the money tax-free from your HSA to reimburse yourself. After turning 65 your HSA can be used to pay Medicare parts B & D as well as Medicare Advantage premiums. It is important to note however, that you cannot use these funds to pay premiums for Medicare supplement policies.

It is also important to note that you can use these funds to pay for medical expenses from past years; they don’t all have to be from the current calendar year. Make sure you keep receipts showing you paid for qualifying expenses, so there is no question should you be audited. This may be brand new knowledge to you, and if you’ve been paying your premiums out-of-pocket, now you know you can reimburse yourself for the past premium payments at any time with no tax repercussions!

Are you older than your spouse and no longer able to contribute to your own HSA, or vice-versa? If your spouse is still qualified to contribute to their own, you (or anyone else) can also contribute to it! Your spouse can then deduct these contributions. As long as you remain married, you can use your respective HSAs to reimburse each other’s expenses to exhaust the balances of your accounts.

Click hereto read “How Your HSA Can Reimburse You for Medicare Premiums Paid” and learn all the tips and tricks to get the most out of your HSA.

Did You Know: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

  • HSAs were created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act, signed into law on December 8, 2003, and went into effect on January 1, 2004
  • You can deduct the amount you deposit in an HSA from your taxable income.1
  • There are no time restrictions on using the funds. They can be rolled over from year to year, and even from one employer plan to another if you change jobs2
  • At the end of 2022 there were over 35 million HSAs, and the total amount of money in HSAs reached $104 billion3
  • Since some HSAs can be invested, more and more people are using them as a savings vehicle for healthcare expenses in retirement and capitalizing on the tax-free growth they offer3
  • Triple Tax Advantage! There are NO taxes charged on:4
    • Money you put into it
    • Interest earned on it
    • Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses

It's Time to Get Festive!

It’s the most wonderful time of year here in Saratoga Springs! There’s a chill in the air and a twinkle in all the lights. The downtown sidewalks are filled with shoppers supporting our local retailers, and the feeling of excitement is palpable as children (and children at heart!) take in all the beautiful displays and decorations eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival.

December is a notoriously busy month filled with holiday gatherings, traditions, and lots of fun community activities. Here are a few things happening in and nearby Saratoga Springs that you may want to add to your holiday must-do list:

  • Holiday Light Display at Quick Response: FREE to the public Wednesdays through Sundays from 5:00 – 11:00, now through January 6th
  • Ballston Spa Holiday Parade: Friday 12/6: Parade kicks off at 6:30 pm on the north end of Milton Ave, and ends at Wiswall park where Santa & Mrs. Claus light the Village’s holiday tree
  • Saratoga New Year’s Eve 2025: Tuesday 12/31 and Wednesday 1/1: The celebration kicks off with a FREE outdoor concert and a fireworks display from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The excitement continues with live performances at downtown venues, featuring headliner and renowned musician Ben Folds at the Saratoga Springs City Center! The celebration will conclude with the Saratoga First Day 5K on New Year’s Day.

Click hereto check out the entire listing of local events!

* by the end of the calendar year

1 source: healthcare.gov

2 source: ml.com

3 source: hsasearch.com

4 source: cms.gov