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401k loan and over-saving for retirement?

This is a two for one question: first, your opinions on a 401k loan based on our situation. Second, do you think we're over-saving for retirement?

Here's the situation. I've been maxing out my 401k contributions at 12% since age 21. I've recently changed jobs (first job change) and at age 30, both my husband and I are eligible for pensions. My employer offers a 401k as well into which I'm investing 10% with a match of 100% up to 6.5%.

I estimate our combined pension benefit at age 65 (35 years from now) to be approximately $80k per year and the 401k balance to be well above $2m by retirement.

Today we are in need of cash to pay off high interest credit card debts that we're drowning under. We've changed our spending habits drastically, to the point of moving to a lower cost of living state, and now need to eliminate the debts.

I've looked high and low for alternatives, but it seems that a 401k loan is our only option to access enough cash to get these debts off our plate once and for all. So in your opinion, is the loan a sensible option in this situation and do you believe we're over saving for retirement by stashing 10% with plans to increase to 12 over the next year on top of pensions?

1 Answer

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Downsides of taking out a 401K loan.

    - You are not allowed the company match while repaying

    (you lose the nice "free money".

    - You pay back the loan with after tax money.

    Then, when you retire, you pay taxes on that same money again

    Insane isn't it? Yet people do this.

    - If you lose your job, that loan is immediately re-payable or it will count as a distribution.

    This puts many into a higher tax bracket. Don't forget taxes and 10% penalty.

    Suggestion: Reduce or stop making company match contributions.

    And take the money to repay debt.

    Once you catch up, you can start putting money back in.

    You are not oversaving your retirement.

    Google: Retirement Calculator

    And you are not maxing out your 401K.

    The max is $17,000 a year for each of you.

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