What account should I max out first?

Asked by: Mallory Luettgen  |  Last update: October 10, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (57 votes)

First – Contribute enough to your 401k/403b to get 100% of your Employer Match “free money”. Second – Max out eligible contributions to your HSA. Third – Max out eligible contributions to your Roth IRA. Fourth – Contribute any remaining savings to your 401k.

Which account to max out first?

Key Takeaways. Contributing as much as you can and at least 15% of your pre-tax income is recommended by financial planners. The rule of thumb for retirement savings says you should first meet your employer's match for your 401(k), then max out a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA. Then you can go back to your 401(k).

In what order should I max out my investment accounts?

Maximizing Retirement Savings: Which Accounts to Max Out and In What Order
  1. Start with a Healthy Emergency Fund. ...
  2. Max Out Your Employer Match. ...
  3. Max Out Your Health Savings Account (HSA) ...
  4. Save for Upcoming Spending. ...
  5. Save Into Taxable Investment Accounts. ...
  6. Save Into Additional Retirement Accounts and Max Out 401(k)

Which investment account should I max out first?

Now if the money is for something other than retirement, putting it in a retirement account probably doesn't make sense, but generally speaking it's best to max retirement accounts first.

Should I max out Roth or 401k first?

You should be maxing a Traditional 401k for the tax savings and then maxing a Roth IRA. Traditional 401K contributions are pre-tax. Roth 401K contributions are after-tax.

Should You Max Out Your Roth IRA or HSA?

44 related questions found

Should I prioritize Roth IRA or 401k?

Should I Max Out My 401(k) or Roth IRA First? If your employer matches contributions to their 401(k) plan, you should try to contribute at least enough to max out the match. If you have additional funds, you can then contribute to your Roth IRA.

Can I contribute full $6,000 to IRA if I have a 401k?

Do you have a 401(k) plan through work? You can still contribute to a Roth IRA (individual retirement account) and/or a traditional IRA as long as you meet the IRA's eligibility requirements.

What order should I contribute to retirement accounts?

Understanding the Order of Saving Money and the Best Saving...
  1. Emergency Fund. Your first savings dollars should go into building an emergency fund. ...
  2. 401(k) Account. The second-best place to save is your 401(k) plan. ...
  3. Roth IRA. ...
  4. Health Savings Account. ...
  5. Taxable Brokerage Account. ...
  6. Cash Value Life Insurance.

What is the first best investment rule?

1 is never lose money. Rule No. 2 is never forget Rule No. 1.” The Oracle of Omaha's advice stresses the importance of avoiding loss in your portfolio.

Should I max out 401k or brokerage?

After saving in those accounts, it can be wise to come back to the 401(k) and max that out. Only then should savers move on to a taxable brokerage account or an annuity.

What is the 10 5 3 rule of investment?

The 10,5,3 rule gives a simple guideline for investors. It suggests expecting around 10% returns from long-term equity investments, 5% from debt instruments, and 3% from savings bank accounts. This rule helps investors set realistic expectations and allocate their investments accordingly.

Should I prioritize a 401k or brokerage account?

Retirement accounts often hit you with a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you take money out before age 59 1/2, but with a brokerage account, you can withdraw funds whenever you want. For that reason, a brokerage account is often a good choice for investing money you might want before retirement.

What is the 4 rule in investing?

One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.

Why is a Roth 401k bad?

If you have a Roth 401(k), you cannot contribute more than what you earn at the company that holds your plan. With most retirement accounts, you can't access the money you contribute or any investment earnings before retirement age without incurring a 10% early withdrawal penalty, plus any applicable income taxes.

What is the correct order of priorities for your money?

Life, disability, long-term care, health, property and casualty — these are the basics of a good foundation to build off of. Without proper insurance, you are building a financial plan on a house of cards.

Which retirement account to max out first on Reddit?

If you were in a higher bracket, like 32-37%, I would recommend maxing the tax-deferred accounts first. You can max the Roth IRA for now, and put a little bit into the 401k if possible. Ideally, you will grow into be able to max out both, either by increasing income over time, or decreasing expenses.

Which investment account to max out first?

In fact, here's how we recommend you split up your retirement investing based on the type of 401(k) you have: Traditional 401(k): Invest up to the employer match. Then max out a Roth IRA. Your first goal is to invest 15% of your income.

What is Warren Buffett's golden rule?

Here's a breakdown of his golden rules to guide your trading and investment journey: 1. Never lose money. Buffett's most famous rule: "Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1."

What is the 7% loss rule?

If the asset price falls by more than 7%, the stop-loss order automatically executes and liquidates the traders' position. This level is chosen because it is relatively rare for a strong stock to lose more than 8% of their value.

Which accounts to tap first in retirement?

“Tapping taxable accounts first gives the other accounts the potential to continue growing, shielded from current taxes,” Storey says. “Tapping taxable accounts first gives the other accounts the potential to continue growing, shielded from current taxes.”

What is the 3 rule for retirement?

The safe withdrawal rule is a classic in retirement planning. It maintains that you can live comfortably on your retirement savings if you withdraw 3% to 4% of the balance you had at retirement each year, adjusted for inflation.

What retirement accounts should I max out?

Who Should Max Out Their 401(k)/403(b): If you're behind on retirement savings- Now's the time to catch up. If you believe future tax rates will be lower- Make the most of tax deferral today. If you're planning for RMDs- Max out now and use Roth conversions to reduce future tax burdens.

What is a backdoor Roth?

A backdoor Roth IRA is a strategy rather than an official type of individual retirement account. It is a technique used by high-income earners—who exceed Roth IRA income limits for making contributions—to contribute indirectly–through the back door–by converting their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

At what age is IRA withdrawal tax free?

If you wish to withdraw your earnings from a Roth IRA without paying taxes, you must be 59½ and must have held the Roth IRA for at least five years. Exceptions to these requirements include: Becoming disabled and needing the funds to live on. Needing Roth funds of up to $10,000 to buy your first home.

Is Roth IRA better than 401k?

Unlike a traditional IRA or a traditional 401(k), the Roth IRA is one of the few tax-advantaged accounts that allows you to withdraw the money you've contributed at any time for any reason without paying taxes or penalties.