Loan rollover means extending your current loan into a new term, while adding more fees and interest. It’s a common practice for payday lenders and can lead borrowers into a cycle of debt that’s difficult to escape.
Rollover options also exist in certain savings accounts and specific reward programs. Tracking your rollover accounts is an integral part of managing finances and making the most of your money. Below, you will find more information on the different rollover types and their uses.
Rollover with Loan Terms
In some states, you may be able to rollover your loan. Most loans will offer a rollover or refinance option, from mortgages to online personal loans. A rollover with a loan happens when a borrower cannot repay their loan, and the lender extends it. The lender will add the principal amount, interest rates, and fees collected during the initial loan period within the rollover process.
When it comes to refinancing a loan, the process is similar to a rollover. Still, the main difference is that with refinancing, the borrower usually does so by choice and to save on interest long term. In comparison, a rollover with a loan occurs when the borrower cannot pay the loan back.
Rollover with Saving Accounts
Some advantages can come from rolling over savings accounts. Different types of savings accounts will have rollover options. Here are a few:
- 401k Accounts— One of the main reasons people opt-in for an IRA retirement rather than a 401k plan is savings with taxes. You can transfer the funds from a 401k into the IRA account without paying taxes or facing early payment penalties.
- CDs—When a CD’s terms are over, you can transfer them into a new CD or account, or you can choose to renew your current CD.
- Savings Bonds—Like CD’s, you can renew saving bonds at the end of their term or roll them over into a new type of account.
Whether you have your money in a 401k, a CD, or a regular savings account, it’s important to focus on saving money.
Potential Risks with the Process
When transferring money between accounts with rollovers, there are risk factors to think through. Although you can plan for some risks, economic and market conditions will be a huge determinant in whether you come out positive or negative with your rollover.
Here are potential risks to consider before choosing to use this process as a financial tool:
- Liquidation of a Rollover Account — in some cases, with retirement or savings accounts, you may not be able to use the funds for cash right away after a rollover.
- Fees, Interest, and Other Payments — if interest rates are generally high, then a rollover with a loan, big or small, will reflect those market trends. For example, cashing out during higher tax trends will mean more money out of your savings account.
- Loss of Value After the Process — Moving funds from one account to another may seem like the better choice, but it could lead to a loss if not planned or looked at accordingly. Additionally, the maturity of a savings rollover account can help or hurt its value. Generally, the shorter the loans, the less risk.
- Not Having the Option — let’s say that you take out a loan and are relying on a rollover to extend the due date. Well, depending on economic conditions, a lender may refuse to offer that option. Then you are left to scramble for those payments. Whether a rollover will be an option with a loan largely depends on the current economy, which you cannot always predict.
With rollovers, it is essential to remember that the advantages and availability of the process largely depend on things like current interest rates and the general state of the economy. While when looking at refinancing a loan, the borrower’s personal financial habits and credit score will have more say in whether the process is worthwhile.
Rollover is the process of transferring debt or savings from one account to another. Or it can be a renewal of an older account. Many people choose an IRA Rollover to save on taxes. While with loans, rollovers can act as an extended repayment period or a part of the loan terms (i.e., rollover mortgages).
Often, rollovers and refinancing overlap, but they are two different processes that come with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. You can refinance a home, a car, or even student loans. Just make sure you do plenty of research. For example, it’s important to learn whether refinancing a car will affect your credit.
There are risks with rollovers, as they largely depend on economic health and market trends. And so, for more significant savings, or loans such as mortgages, it may be best to discuss things with an expert before planning to rollover an account. When done right, it can mean getting the most out of your savings and reducing payments on debts.
References:
Rollover Mortgage
Rollovers of Retirement Plans and IRA Distributions
What is a Rollover IRA?