San Diego Gas & Electric? Is a Rollover into an IRA Right for You?

Healthcare Provider Update: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) primarily offers healthcare coverage for its employees through various health insurance providers, including major players in the market such as Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente. These providers typically offer a range of plans that cover various medical needs, including preventive care, hospital visits, and prescription medications. As we approach 2026, significant healthcare cost increases are anticipated for SDG&E employees. With the potential expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, many policyholders may see their out-of-pocket costs skyrocketing by over 75%. Increased medical costs, driven by rising hospital and prescription drug prices, combined with aggressive rate hikes from insurers, could lead to premium increases of up to 66.4% in some states. This perfect storm of factors will pose a substantial financial challenge for workers relying on employer-sponsored healthcare plans. Click here to learn more

Choosing an IRA rollover means that your money remains tax-advantaged and capable of growth, as in a San Diego Gas & Electric-sponsored plan. You may also gain more investment options than what may have been available in your San Diego Gas & Electric-sponsored plan. You may also gain oversight of managing these important retirement assets from your trusted Advisor.

If you roll your retirement plan assets over into an IRA account that you already own through your Advisor, you also receive the benefit of combined statements and holistic investment planning, making it easier to track your overall financial situation.

'Receive the benefit of combined statements and holistic investment planning, making it easier to track your overall financial situation.'

Some of the benefits of rolling your money into an IRA include:

Tax-deferred growth potential: This generally avoids current income tax and distribution penalties when removed from a San Diego Gas & Electric-sponsored retirement plan.

More investment choices: This allows for additional contributions, if eligible. IRAs can be combined and handled by one provider, thereby reducing trustee costs and consolidating statements. Protection from creditors in federal bankruptcy proceedings. The combined amount of your required minimum distributions (RMDs) can be taken from any of your Traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRAs.

However, there are also some important considerations that San Diego Gas & Electric should make before rolling over their money into an IRA, these include:

• Internal management fees might be higher than in a San Diego Gas & Electric-sponsored retirement plan.
• Fees and expenses depend largely on the investments you choose.
• Loans from an IRA are not allowed.
• Early distributions may be subject to a 10% IRS tax penalty in addition to income tax.
• RMDs begin April 1 following the year you reach 70½ and annually thereafter; leaving the money in the former Fortune-500 plan may allow RMDs to be delayed until separation from service.
• IRAs are subject to state laws governing malpractice, divorce, creditors (outside of bankruptcy), and other lawsuits; leaving the money in the former San Diego Gas & Electric-plan may provide additional protection against creditors.
• Net unrealized appreciation (NUA) is the difference between what you paid for employer securities and their increased value. You lose favorable tax treatment of NUA if the funds are rolled into an IRA.

 

Hopefully, these insights will be helpful as you plan your retirement from San Diego Gas & Electric.

 

For more information about this topic, view our e-book here:   https://retirekit.theretirementgroup.com/will-your-retirement-plan-retire-with-you-e-brochure-offer

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