Most Americans save for retirement through a workplace 401(k), an IRA, or both. A 401(k) takes contributions straight from your paycheck, often with an employer match, and traditional contributions lower your taxable income now. A Roth IRA is funded with money you have already paid tax on, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. If your employer offers a match, contributing enough to get all of it is usually the first step.
An employer match is part of your pay. If your employer matches, say, half of what you put in up to 6% of salary, contributing less than 6% leaves that money unclaimed.
401(k) Employer Match Explained: How It Works and How to Get the Full Match
Traditional contributions save tax now and are taxed when you withdraw. Roth contributions are taxed now and come out tax-free later, so Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement.
401(k) vs Roth IRA: Which Retirement Account Is Better for You?
Money invested in your 20s and 30s has decades to compound. The Rule of 72 gives a quick feel for it: at a 7% annual return, money doubles in roughly ten years.
The Rule of 72: How to Quickly Estimate When Your Money Doubles
Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA phases out at higher incomes. For 2026 the phase-out for single filers runs from $153,000 to $168,000.
What Is a Roth IRA? How It Works, Rules, and Who Should Open One
Not sure how much to put in your 401(k)? Here's a simple, step-by-step framework - from grabbing your full employer match to the 15% target - plus how much that works out to per paycheck at any salary.
A 401(k) employer match is free money your company adds to your retirement account when you contribute. Here's exactly how matching works, what a "3% or 6% match" really means, and how to make sure you never leave a dollar of it behind.
A 401(k) and a Roth IRA both help you retire richer, but they're taxed in opposite ways - and using them in the right order can add tens of thousands to your nest egg. Here's the plain-English difference and which to fund first.
A Roth IRA lets your money grow completely tax-free - you pay tax now and never again on qualified withdrawals. Here's how it works, the 2026 contribution and income limits, the withdrawal rules, and who should open one.
Want to know how many years it takes to double your money? The Rule of 72 gives you the answer in about five seconds of mental math. Here's how.
