If The Secure Act 2.0 Becomes Law, What Changes?

November  23, 2021

When the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act became law on January 1, 2020, it altered rules for retirement accounts with a goal of helping both retirees and pre-retirees. More rule changes might be ahead, because a legislative sequel, known popularly as SECURE Act 2.0, is now proceeding through Congress.

The SECURE Act 2.0 would give retirement savers aged 62-64 the chance to make much larger "catch-up" contributions to common workplace retirement plans, starting in 2023. During those three years, they could make their standard yearly catch-up contribution, plus an additional yearly catch-up contribution of up to $10,000. Businesses that sponsor such defined-contribution plans would have to automatically enroll eligible employees at a base 3% contribution rate, which would rise 1% a year to a ceiling of 15% unless workers choose to fund their accounts differently. Some retirement accounts have required minimum distributions (RMDs) starting at age 72; the SECURE Act 2.0 would gradually reset that RMD threshold to age 75 during 2022-2032, potentially allowing more compounding for retirement accounts. In addition, the menu of investments in retirement plans could potentially include income contracts, and plans sponsored by non-profits could become more like the ones sponsored by for-profit businesses.¹