Some new developments could help you save more for retirement in 2012, including a higher 401k contribution limit and better access to 401k fee information. Of course, your ability to save and invest will largely determine your retirement success.
If you're aiming to improve your finances in the new year, try to incorporate a few of these tips into your retirement plan. Here are 12 ways to get better prepared for retirement in 2012.
Save $500 more next year. Consider resetting the automatic contribution to your 401k to include an extra $42 per month. The contribution limit for 401k's, 403b's and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan will increase by $500 in 2012, to $17,000. And workers 50 and older will be able to contribute an extra $5,500 next year.
"Always allocate a percentage to your retirement account from your paycheck before you spend, even if it is a tiny amount," says Elaine King, a certified financial planner and the managing director of wealth planning at Lubitz Financial Group in Miami. "It is the discipline that counts."
Get a 401k match. If you're unable to completely max out your 401k, at least aim to save enough to capture any 401k contribution match your employer offers. For example, if you earn $50,000 and your company offers a match equal to 3% of your pay, your nest egg could get an extra $1,500 boost.
Maximize tax breaks for retirement saving. A variety of tax breaks are available to retirement savers. You can defer taxes on up to $17,000 in a 401k and $5,000 in an IRA in 2012. Those limits jump to $22,500 in a 401k and $6,000 in an IRA if you are 50 or older. Low-income savers whose modified adjusted gross income is less than $28,750 for singles, $43,125 for heads of household and $57,500 for married couples may be able to claim the Saver's Credit, which is worth up to $1,000 for singles and $2,000 for couples.
Put some of your savings in a Roth. Consider allocating some of your retirement savings to a Roth 401k or Roth IRA account, especially if you're young or in a low tax bracket. While you won't get an immediate tax break, Roth accounts give you easier access to your money before retirement and more withdrawal flexibility in retirement. The $100,000 income limit for converting a traditional 401k or IRA to a Roth was eliminated in 2010, which means almost anyone can allocate some retirement savings to a Roth account in 2012.
Scrutinize 401k fees. Those with 401k's will have access to more information about the costs and fees deducted from their accounts, thanks to a 2010 Labor Department regulation that goes into effect in 2012. Pay close attention to mailings from your 401k plan next year, and use this information to minimize the fees you pay.
"You'll be receiving a new type of quarterly account statement from your plan sponsor that details the actual dollar amounts charged against your account and mutual fund choices," says Mark Miller, a Reuters retirement columnist and the author of "The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security."
"The easiest way to determine if you're paying too much is by making an apples-to-apples comparison between a passive index fund in your plan -- say, an S&P 500 fund -- with the same fund offered elsewhere," Miller continues. "If your plan's fund charges 75 basis points but you could buy the same thing in an IRA for seven basis points, ask your employer why -- nicely." (Will your 401k provide enough for retirement? Find out with MSN Money's 401k calculator.)
