A 457(b) plan is a Tax-Deferred Retirement Plan available to employees of state and local governmental agencies, including public school employees. They are similar to 401(k) plans because they allow you to place a percentage of your salary into an employer-sponsored plan that helps you save for retirement. You will not have to pay taxes on what you contribute or earnings made until you withdraw the money.

Benefits Include:

• Investment options: fixed annuities, variable annuities, or mutual funds
• Flexibility: start, stop, and adjust your contributions as allowed by your employer’s plan
• Receive periodic account statements
• No 10% federal penalty on interest or earnings for early withdrawal
• No current federal income taxes on the money you put into the plan until it is time to take withdrawals

Contribution Limits:

• Participants may contribute up to $19,500 for year 2020.
• Participants age 50 and older at any time during the calendar year are permitted to contribute an additional $6,500 in 2020, for a total of $26,000.