Guides and research
Make sense of your 401(k).
Clear, carefully sourced answers to the questions that determine what a workplace retirement plan is really worth.
How to Research an Employer's 401(k) Plan Before You Take a Job
A recruiter may give you one line about the 401(k). A serious comparison needs two sources: public filing history for the plan and current employer documents for today's match and rules.
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Employer 401(k) Rankings
How to Research an Employer's 401(k) Plan Before You Take a Job
A recruiter may give you one line about the 401(k). A serious comparison needs two sources: public filing history for the plan and current employer documents for today's match and rules.
12 min read →Jul 17, 2026 · 02Companies With the Best 401(k) Matches in 2026: How to Compare Employers
The best 401(k) match is not the biggest percentage in a benefits headline. Compare maximum employer dollars, how much you must save to get them, vesting and the evidence behind each claim.
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Withdrawals & Loans
Can You Use a 401(k) to Buy a House? Loan vs. Withdrawal
A house down payment can make a 401(k) balance look tempting. Before touching it, understand the big difference between borrowing from the plan and permanently withdrawing money.
11 min read →Aug 25, 2026 · 02401(k) RMD Rules in 2026: When Required Withdrawals Start and How They Work
Most traditional 401(k) money eventually becomes subject to required minimum distributions. Your age, work status, ownership and account type determine when they begin.
10 min read →Jun 12, 2026 · 03401(k) Early Withdrawal Penalty: The 10% Rule and Major Exceptions
The 10% early-withdrawal tax is real, but it is not the only cost and it does not apply to every early distribution. The reason for the withdrawal matters.
10 min read →Jun 5, 2026 · 04401(k) Withdrawal Rules in 2026: Ages, Taxes, Penalties and How Withdrawals Work
You can take money from a 401(k) in more situations than many people realize, but “allowed by the plan” and “free of tax or penalty” are two different questions.
11 min read →Apr 10, 2026 · 05401(k) Loans Explained: Rules, Interest, Repayment and Risks
A 401(k) loan is not free money, even though the interest generally goes back to your account. Here is how the limits, repayment schedule and job-change risk work.
13 min read →Apr 3, 2026 · 06401(k) Hardship Withdrawals: Rules, Reasons, Taxes and Alternatives
A hardship withdrawal can provide access to 401(k) money for an immediate and heavy financial need, but the money usually cannot be put back. Know the plan rules and tax cost first.
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Changing Jobs & Rollovers
How to Find an Old or Lost 401(k): A Step-by-Step Guide
Changing jobs can leave retirement accounts scattered across old employers. Start with your records, then use federal databases and plan filings to track down the plan administrator.
10 min read →Aug 25, 2026 · 02Rule of 55 for 401(k)s: How It Works and When You Can Use It
Leave a job in or after the year you turn 55? Some 401(k) withdrawals may avoid the 10% early-distribution tax. The account you use and timing both matter.
11 min read →Apr 17, 2026 · 03401(k) Rollover to IRA: Should You Move Your Old 401(k)?
A direct rollover can move an old 401(k) to an IRA without current tax in many cases, but you may give up useful employer-plan features. Compare before transferring.
12 min read →Mar 27, 2026 · 04What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Leave a Job?
Your 401(k) does not disappear when you quit. The best next step depends on fees, investments, age, vesting, account size and whether you have an outstanding loan.
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Investments & Returns
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Roth & Tax Strategy
Traditional 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k): Which Is Better for You?
The traditional-versus-Roth choice is mostly a question of when you want to pay income tax. The best answer depends on tax rates, cash flow and how much flexibility you want later.
11 min read →Jul 31, 2026 · 02After-Tax 401(k) Contributions: How They Work and When They Make Sense
Some 401(k) plans let you keep contributing after you hit the normal employee limit. Those after-tax dollars can create extra retirement space, especially when the plan also supports Roth conversions.
12 min read →May 29, 2026 · 03Roth 401(k) Explained: Taxes, Employer Match, Limits and When It Makes Sense
A Roth 401(k) lets you pay tax now instead of later on qualified withdrawals. The account can be powerful, but “Roth” is not automatically the right choice for every worker.
10 min read →May 15, 2026 · 04Roth 401(k) vs. Roth IRA: Which Should You Fund First in 2026?
Both accounts can give you tax-free retirement income, but they solve different problems. The best first dollar often depends on your employer match, plan quality and Roth IRA eligibility.
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Contributions & Matching
How to Max Out Your 401(k) in 2026: Exact Amounts Per Paycheck
Maxing a 401(k) is mostly a payroll math problem—but match timing, bonuses and job changes can make a simple annual limit surprisingly easy to mishandle.
10 min read →Jul 24, 2026 · 02401(k) Catch-Up Contributions in 2026: Limits, Ages and the New Roth Rule
Catch-up contributions can raise your 2026 employee 401(k) limit above $24,500. The exact amount depends on your age, and a new Roth rule can matter for higher earners.
11 min read →Jun 19, 2026 · 03How Much Should I Contribute to My 401(k)? A Practical 2026 Guide
The right 401(k) percentage is not a magic 10% or 15%. Start with the full employer match, then work toward a savings level your budget can keep supporting.
10 min read →Mar 13, 2026 · 04401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
The 2026 employee 401(k) limit is $24,500, but that is only one of several limits. Here is how employee, employer, after-tax and catch-up contributions fit together.
12 min read →Mar 6, 2026 · 05Average 401(k) Match in 2026: What Employers Actually Contribute
A 4% match can be more valuable than a 6% headline depending on the formula, vesting and contribution required. Here is how to compare the numbers that matter.
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Plan Rules & Benefits
401(k) Beneficiary Rules: What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Die?
Your 401(k) beneficiary form matters. Spouses often have special rights, non-spouse heirs face different distribution rules, and divorce or remarriage is a reason to review the designation.
11 min read →Mar 20, 2026 · 02What Does Vested Mean in a 401(k)?
Your 401(k) balance and your vested balance may be different. Here is how vesting works, what you can lose when leaving a job and how to value a vesting schedule.
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401(k) Basics
401(k) vs. 457(b): Limits, Withdrawals, Matching and Key Differences
A governmental 457(b) looks a lot like a 401(k), but one difference is huge: its deferral limit is generally separate, and early distributions after leaving the employer usually avoid the 10% additional tax.
10 min read →Jun 26, 2026 · 02401(k) vs. Pension: Which Retirement Benefit Is Actually Better?
A pension promises a benefit formula; a 401(k) gives you an account balance. Neither is automatically better—the value depends on the formula, employer money, vesting and how long you stay.
11 min read →May 22, 2026 · 03401(k) vs. IRA: Which Should You Prioritize for Retirement?
A 401(k) is tied to work; an IRA is yours. The better first account depends on employer match, plan quality, contribution room and which IRA rules apply to you.
11 min read →May 8, 2026 · 04What Is a 401(k) and How Does It Work?
A 401(k) is a workplace retirement plan that combines payroll saving, tax advantages, investments and often employer contributions. Here is what matters in practice.
12 min read →May 1, 2026 · 05401(k) vs. 403(b): What's the Difference?
A 401(k) is not automatically better than a 403(b), or vice versa. The employer type differs, while contribution limits and many core features are surprisingly similar.
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