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Valuing Assets in Retirement Saving Accounts

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  • Poterba, James M.

Abstract

This paper compares the value of one dollar of an asset held in a tax–deferred account with one dollar of a similar asset held in a taxable account from the standpoint of providing future retirement income. Taxes that are due when assets are withdrawn from some retirement saving plans can make a dollar held inside a retirement account less valuable than a dollar held in a similar asset outside these accounts, particularly for those who are considering withdrawing assets from the tax–deferred accounts in the near future. This effect is more than offset, however, particularly for younger workers, by the benefits of many years of asset growth at pre–tax rates of return. This paper calibrates the value of the tax burden, and the benefit of compound growth, for assets held in retirement accounts, and describes the differences in relative valuation for households of different ages.

Suggested Citation

  • Poterba, James M., 2004. "Valuing Assets in Retirement Saving Accounts," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 57(2), pages 489-512, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:57:y:2004:i:2:p:489-512
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2004.2S.06
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    Cited by:

    1. Yothin Jinjarak & Jie Zhou, 2011. "New Evidence on Asset Location from the Survey of Consumer Finances," Public Finance Review, , vol. 39(4), pages 594-615, July.
    2. Wolff, Edward N., 2007. "The retirement wealth of the baby boom generation," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 1-40, January.
    3. Ebrahim, M. Shahid & Mathur, Ike & ap Gwilym, Rhys, 2014. "Integrating corporate ownership and pension fund structures: A general equilibrium approach," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 553-569.
    4. Edward N. Wolff, 2005. "Is the Equalizing Effect of Retirement Wealth Wearing Off?," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_420, Levy Economics Institute.
    5. Gene Amromin, 2008. "Precautionary Savings Motives and Tax Efficiency of Household Portfolios: An Empirical Analysis," NBER Chapters, in: Tax Policy and the Economy, Volume 22, pages 5-41, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Auerbach, Alan J., 2006. "The Choice between Income and Consumption Taxes: A Primer," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt9q85f6qz, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
    7. Giuseppe Cappelletti & Giovanni Guazzarotti & Pietro Tommasino, 2019. "Tax Deferral and Mutual Fund Inflows: Evidence from a Quasi‐Natural Experiment," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(2), pages 211-237, June.
    8. Auerbach, Alan J., 2006. "Tax Reform in the 21st Century," Berkeley Olin Program in Law & Economics, Working Paper Series qt444479wh, Berkeley Olin Program in Law & Economics.
    9. Garlappi, Lorenzo & Huang, Jennifer, 2006. "Are stocks desirable in tax-deferred accounts?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(12), pages 2257-2283, December.
    10. Yan Li & Bao Sun & Shangyao Yu, 2019. "Employee stock ownership plan and stock price crash risk," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-33, December.
    11. Saul W. Adelman & Mark L. Cross, 2010. "Comparing a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA: Theory Versus Practice," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 13(2), pages 265-277, September.

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