Some alternatives for retirement savers include IRAs and qualified investment accounts. IRAs, like 401(k)s, offer tax advantages for retirement savers. If you qualify for the Roth option, consider your current and future tax situation to decide between a traditional IRA and a Roth.
Good alternatives to a 401(k) are traditional and Roth IRAs and health savings accounts (HSAs). A non-retirement investment account can offer higher earnings, but your risk may be higher, too.
Though there are pros and cons to both plans, pensions are generally considered better than 401(k)s because all the investment and management risk is on your employer, while you are guaranteed a set income for life.
The 401(k) is simply objectively better. The employer-sponsored plan allows you to add much more to your retirement savings than an IRA – $20,500 compared to $6,000 in 2022. Plus, if you're over age 50 you get a larger catch-up contribution maximum with the 401(k) – $6,500 compared to $1,000 in the IRA.
In many cases, a Roth IRA can be a better choice than a 401(k) retirement plan, as it offers a flexible investment vehicle with greater tax benefits—especially if you think you'll be in a higher tax bracket later on.
Key Points. A Roth IRA can be a great partner on your financial journey if you're seeking to build a million-dollar portfolio. For 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000 to a Roth IRA if you're under 50. If you make the most of your annual contributions, you can turn $6,000 into $1 million before you retire.
401(k) and 403(b) plans are both employer-sponsored retirement plans that help you make tax-deferred contributions toward your retirement. Whereas 401(k)s are for for-profit companies, 403(b)s are for nonprofits and certain government agencies such as public schools.
Making your 401(k) and IRA work together
If your 401(k) has limited investment options consider opening either a traditional or a Roth IRA and contribute the annual maximum. Next, if you can, put more money in your company plan until you max it out.
Taxes are a key consideration when it comes to deciding on a Roth 401(k) over a traditional 401(k). If you're young and currently in a low tax bracket, but you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you retire, then a Roth 401(k) could be a better deal than a traditional 401(k).
You can have both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA at the same time. Contributing to both is not only allowed but can be an effective savings strategy for retirement. There are, however, some income and contribution limits that determine your eligibility to contribute to both types of accounts.
The safest place to put your retirement funds is in low-risk investments and savings options with guaranteed growth. Low-risk investments and savings options include fixed annuities, savings accounts, CDs, treasury securities, and money market accounts. Of these, fixed annuities usually provide the best interest rates.
There's more than a few reasons that 401(k)s are a bad idea, including that you give up control of your money, have extremely limited investment options, can't access your funds until you're 59.5 or older, are not paid income distributions on your investments, and don't benefit from them during the most expensive ...
But even when you're close to retirement or already in retirement, opening this special retirement savings vehicle can still make sense under some circumstances. There is no age limit to open a Roth IRA, but there are income and contribution limits that investors should be aware of before funding one.
Key Takeaways
One key disadvantage: Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax money, meaning that there's no tax deduction in the year of the contribution. Another drawback is that withdrawals of account earnings must not be made until at least five years have passed since the first contribution.
You can have more than one Roth IRA, and you can open more than one Roth IRA at any time. There is no limit to the number of Roth IRA accounts you can have. However, no matter how many Roth IRAs you have, your total contributions cannot exceed the limits set by the government.
Typically, Roth IRAs see average annual returns of 7-10%. For example, if you're under 50 and you've just opened a Roth IRA, $6,000 in contributions each year for 10 years with a 7% interest rate would amass $83,095.
The Bottom Line
As long as you meet eligibility requirements, such as having earned income, you can contribute to both a Roth and a traditional IRA. How much you contribute to each is up to you, as long as you don't exceed the combined annual contribution limit of $6,000, or $7,000 if you're age 50 or older.
While Roth IRAs allow your contributions to grow tax free, you can contribute a much larger amount to your 403(b) plan. In addition to higher limits, 403(b) plans also offer the option for employer matches, which is essentially free money toward your retirement. Using both tools is a wise strategy for your retirement.
Your contributions to your 403(b) can't be taken away or forfeited. Contributions to your 403(b) made by your employer may be subject to vesting requirements. In this case, any money that isn't vested as of the date you were fired or laid off is no longer yours.
Both of these accounts allow for tax-deductible contributions and tax-free growth for employees with eligible income. A 403(b) – which is only available to employees of certain organizations – has higher annual contribution limits, while an IRA can offer a variety of options for tax and investment purposes.
The ultra-wealthy have made full use of Roth individual retirement accounts. Here's how you can do the same. Peter Thiel, one of Paypal's founders, had $5 billion in a Roth IRA as of 2019, after a value of under $2,000 in 1999, according to a new ProPublica report.