Starting 2026, earners over $150,000 lose the 401(k) catch-up deduction, costing a 32% bracket taxpayer roughly $2,560 in immediate tax shelter.
Forced RMDs from a $2.3M 401(k) at age 73 generate ordinary income taxed up to 40%, versus 23.8% on taxable brokerage gains.
Contribute only enough to capture the employer match, redirect between $12,000 and $16,000 annually to a taxable brokerage, and run Roth conversions before RMDs begin at 73.
A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans' retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here.
A reader on a Bogleheads forum recently posed the question that frames this entire piece: at 58 with $2.3 million already saved in a traditional 401(k), why keep stuffing more pretax dollars into an account future-you will hate?
Forced RMDs from a $2.3M 401(k) at age 73 generate ordinary income taxed up to 40%, versus 23.8% on taxable brokerage gains.
Contribute only enough to capture the employer match, redirect between $12,000 and $16,000 annually to a taxable brokerage, and run Roth conversions before RMDs begin at 73.
A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans' retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here.
A reader on a Bogleheads forum recently posed the question that frames this entire piece: at 58 with $2.3 million already saved in a traditional 401(k), why keep stuffing more pretax dollars into an account future-you will hate?
3 months ago
