Topic
Fees quietly shape how much a 401(k) grows, yet most savers never look at them. This guide explains the main costs inside a workplace plan, where to find them in the documents you already receive, how to compare funds, and what to do if your plan looks expensive.
A 401(k) can sometimes be tapped before retirement through a plan loan or a hardship withdrawal, but the two work very differently. This explainer covers how each is set up, how repayment and taxes work, what happens if you leave your job, and the long-term costs of pulling money out of a tax-advantaged account.
Most people have more places to save for retirement than money to put in them. A common framework ranks the options: capture the employer match first, then weigh high-interest debt, an emergency cushion, an HSA, an IRA and finally the rest of the 401(k). This guide explains the logic and where it bends.
Once you turn 50, the IRS lets you put extra money into 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and IRAs. This guide explains who qualifies, how catch-up contributions work in each account, the SECURE 2.0 changes for ages 60 to 63 and the Roth rule for higher earners, plus the year-end deadlines that matter.
