John Crowley

At $250K, small plan fees matter more. Review every fund’s costs, compare available options, and ask HR about lower-cost choices inside your plan.
Check your actual stock-and-bond mix against your target. If one area drifted too far, rebalance and limit concentrated employer-stock exposure where needed.
For 2026, federal rules allow $24.5K in 401(k) deferrals, with higher catch-up limits for older savers, depending on plan adoption and eligibility.
A fee-only fiduciary can stress-test choices around taxes, public benefits timing, healthcare surcharges, withdrawals, and Roth strategies before decisions get complex near retirement.
Protect progress by updating beneficiaries, keeping emergency savings outside retirement accounts, and discussing staged Roth conversions with a tax professional before age 72.

401(k) Hits $250K: Smart Moves

The federal retirement benefit trust fund is projected to run short by 2032, making policy action central to preserving future payments for retirees.
$1.5T investment-fund proposal would borrow money, invest across stocks, bonds, and other assets, then hold proceeds in escrow for 75 yr before repayment.
Supporters say diversified investing could improve long-term returns, pointing to retirement systems that use equity exposure while keeping benefits publicly managed for participants.
Critics caution borrowed investment money carries market risk and would add $1.5T to national debt, favoring revenue-focused reforms instead for long-term durability.
Workers are advised to build personal savings alongside future benefit checks, creating more flexibility whether policy changes prevent reductions over time or not.