The 401(k) vs IRA vs HSA Priority Ladder: A Flowchart
A 35-year-old couple investing $8,750/year in an HSA keeps $198,000 more than the same money in a 401(k) — thanks to the only account taxed zero times.
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401(k) vs Roth IRA: The Exact Order to Fund Your Accounts
Most people contribute to their 401(k) on autopilot and skip the Roth IRA entirely — a sequencing mistake that could cost tens of thousands in retirement tax savings.
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SECURE 2.0 Changed 401(k) Catch-Up Rules: Here's Your New Limit
The 401(k) "super catch-up" bonus shrank by $500 in 2026, and the full four-year window now adds roughly $13,000 in extra tax-advantaged space — less than a single year of standard deferrals.
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Debt vs 401(k): The Interest Rate That Flips the Decision
The Fed cut rates six times since 2024 — but credit card APRs barely moved. Here's the math on where your next $500 actually works harder.
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401(k) vs Brokerage: Where to Put Your Next Dollar
A $2.4M 401(k) sounds like a win — until RMDs force $90,000+ yearly withdrawals that push you into a higher tax bracket and trigger Medicare surcharges.
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Roth vs Traditional 401(k): A Side-by-Side Tax Bracket Comparison
SECURE 2.0 rewrote the catch-up rules, and Medicare surcharges now tilt the Roth vs Traditional math for high earners. Here's how the numbers break at three income levels.
