The SECURE 2.0 Act’s Five Biggest Winners

High-Net-Worth Retirees

One clear winner: high-net-worth retirees, who benefit from the new RMD rules increasing the age for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from age 72 to age 73 in 2023 and then to age 75 in 2033.

RMDs force people to withdraw money from certain retirement accounts. But wealthy savers can often afford not to tap these funds to cover their expenses. Therefore, with more time before RMDs kick in, they can make their savings last longer, plus enhance their ability to pass on wealth to the next generation.

That’s because these retirees will have additional years to transfer funds from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored plans to a Roth IRA, known as a Roth conversion. Although the amount you convert is taxed, Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs, and withdrawals are tax-free. Heirs who inherit your Roth IRA can then enjoy the same tax benefits during the 10 years they would have to completely withdraw the funds.

Student Loan Borrowers

With an average student debt of more than $30,000, workers struggling with student loans typically have a difficult choice to make: pay down debt or save for retirement. Choosing the former can mean having to delay saving for retirement while missing out on compounding returns and any matching contributions.

Not for much longer.

Starting in 2024, student loan payments will be treated like retirement plan contributions. Therefore, employees who make student loan payments would qualify for matching contributions from their employer in a retirement account, even if they do not make contributions themselves.

Parents Saving for College

A concern among parents saving in a 529 plan is the chance their child chooses to skip college or funds may go unused. In this scenario, parents can pass the account to another beneficiary, or withdraw funds for nonqualified expenses, resulting in income taxes and a 10% penalty on any earnings.

When 2024 rolls around, parents will have another option. A SECURE 2.0 provision allows for tax- and penalty-free rollovers to Roth IRAs from 529 college accounts that have been open for at least 15 years. There is also a $35,000 lifetime limit on these transfers per account beneficiary, plus a few other limitations.

Business Owners

Retirement plans are a win-win for both employers and employees. They can help employers attract and retain talent, while helping employees prepare for leaving the workforce. If you’re a business owner in this position, a few provisions will help you set up a plan and ensure employee participation.

Starting this year, you could get a tax credit of up to 100% of qualified plan startup costs.

You may also be eligible for an additional tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee based on the amount your company contributes to their accounts.

Furthermore, employers starting new plans in 2025 and thereafter will be required to automatically enroll eligible employees in their plans, setting aside at least 3%, but no more than 10%, of their paychecks. Contributions would be increased by one percentage point each following year, until they reach at least 10% (but not more than 15%).

Existing plans won’t need to follow these new rules. Small businesses with 10 or fewer workers, new businesses operating for less than three years and church and governmental plans are also exempt.

Older Adults Saving Extra for Retirement

Currently, you can put an extra $6,500 annually in your employer’s retirement plan once you reach age 50. SECURE 2.0 is increasing the limit to $10,000 starting in 2025 for savers ages 60 to 63. Catch-up amounts also would be indexed for inflation.

Catch-up contributions to IRAs – $1,000 more for people 50 and over – will also be indexed to inflation beginning in 2024.

Just one catch: The new bill requires those who earn more than $145,000 to put catch-up contributions into a Roth 401(k) starting in 2024, which means they’ll pay income taxes on it before making the deposit.

Still, it cannot be overstated how big of a win this is for individuals who may need the additional savings, such as women, who often leave the workforce to care for children.

Low-Income and Part-Time Workers

The biggest criticism leveled against the new bill is that most provisions benefit higher-income folks. But SECURE 2.0 does provide some retirement help to low-income wage earners and part-time workers.

Starting in 2027, lower- and middle-income workers will receive what amounts to a federal matching contribution – up to $1,000 per person – that must be deposited into their IRA or retirement plan.

Other provisions will help alleviate a common obstacle to saving for retirement: emergency expenses. Taking effect in 2024, companies can let workers set up an emergency savings account through automatic payroll deductions, with a cap of $2,500. Also, employees will be able to withdraw up to $1,000 from their retirement accounts for emergency expenses without having to pay the typical 10% early-withdrawal tax penalty.

For part-time workers, a rule change will require workers to have to work only between 500 and 999 hours in two consecutive years, instead of three, to become eligible for their company’s plan. This is a big win for individuals who currently find themselves among nearly half of private sector employees from ages 18 to 64 who do not have the option to save for retirement at work, according to AARP.

Whether you’re a big winner or not, SECURE 2.0 likely offers something special for you. So, you may want to meet with a fee-only fiduciary financial adviser who’s up to speed on all these changes to help you take full advantage of them.

That sounds like a win in my book.

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This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.