Odds are, if you’ve ever worked a full-time job, you’ve come across a 401(k) plan at some point. Many companies offer 401(k) retirement plans as part of your compensation package. They may even offer to contribute a percentage of your salary to it. But what, exactly, is a 401(k) plan? How does it differ from other types of retirement accounts, and how does it fit into your overall financial and retirement plan?

What is a 401(k) plan?

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan that allows you to put aside a percentage of your salary into an investment account. It’s an easy way to set and forget your retirement savings, as your contribution will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. With a traditional 401(k), your contribution will be made pre-tax – you won’t pay any income tax on that portion of your salary, and will instead pay taxes when you withdraw the funds in retirement.

Many employers will also match contributions up to a certain amount, such as 2 to 3% of your salary. If you qualify for an employer matching contribution, we suggest that you always contribute at least enough to get your full match. Otherwise, you’re leaving money on the table.

If you want to get into the technicalities, a 401(k) plan is what’s known as a “qualified” retirement plan, which means that the IRS has rules that give the plan tax benefits. 401(k) plans are named after the section of the IRS tax code that establishes those benefits, as well as the rules around how you can use the plans and funds.

Another type of “qualified” retirement plan is a pension, but unlike a pension, 401(k) plans are “defined-contribution” plans as opposed to “defined-benefit” plans. Defined-contribution means that the balance of your 401(k) is dependent on you making contributions to the plan, unlike a pension, where your balance is based on things like work and salary history. Both of these types of plans are very different from non-qualified deferred compensation plans, which are designed for very high earners such as CEOs or other executives.

Roth 401(k)s - another available tax option

While most people choose traditional 401(k)s, there is another option: the Roth 401(k). Unlike traditional 401(k)s, Roth 401(k)s take post-tax contributions. Since your contributions have already been taxed, you can withdraw money from the account tax-free in retirement. Employers cannot contribute to Roth 401(k) accounts – if they match contributions, their contribution would go in a traditional 401(k) account. Because of this extra overhead, many employers do not offer Roth 401(k) accounts at all.

What are the 401(k) contribution limits?

The IRS sets a contribution limit for how much money you can put aside in a 401(k) account in a given year. In 2023, the 401(k) contribution limit stands at $22,500 for employee contributions and $66,000 for combined employee and employer contributions. Individuals aged 50 or older can avail themselves of an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions, increasing the employee contribution limit to $30,000.

Moving forward to 2024, the 401(k) contribution limit for employee contributions increases to $23,000, with the combined employee and employer contributions reaching $69,000. Again, those aged 50 or older can make an extra $7,500 in catch-up contributions, raising their employee contribution limit to $30,500.

If you’re designated as a “highly compensated employee” (HCE) by your employer or the IRS, you may have additional limitations as to how much you can contribute. The average contribution by HCEs cannot be more than 2% higher than the average contributions made by non-HCEs. If your company fails in this regard, it may be forced to return some of your contributions.

What are my 401(k) investment options?

Your 401(k) plan investment options are highly dependent on your employer and who manages their 401(k) plans. In most cases, plans are managed by financial groups such as Vanguard or Fidelity, who will offer their own funds as options.

While you may be able to choose between a variety of funds, you are usually limited to the specific funds your plan’s manager offers. This is different from an individual retirement account (IRA), which is not employer-sponsored and usually allows you more freedom in directing your investments.

What are my 401(k) distribution rules?

Typically, individuals are not allowed to withdraw money from their 401(k) until they turn 59 ½. If you do withdraw money early, in most cases you will be required to pay income taxes on that withdrawal along with a 10% tax penalty.

Unlike an IRA plan, which will allow you to withdraw money without explanation, you must have a qualifying event in order to withdraw money from a 401(k) account. Qualifying events include:

• Leaving the job for whatever reason, including retirement
• Turning 59 ½
• Death
• Specific hardship as defined by the plan
• Termination of the plan

401(k) rollovers - what it means to roll over your plan

People rarely stay with their employer forever, which means that over the course of a typical career, you may have multiple 401(k) retirement accounts. Once you leave your job, you have the option of transferring the balance of your 401(k) into an IRA or your current 401(k). This is called a rollover.

There are many reasons why you would want to roll over your funds into other accounts. First, if you transfer your funds into an IRA, you’re no longer tied to a former employer and you’ll get a lot more freedom in how you can invest that money. Additionally, consolidating your accounts allows you to more easily keep track of your retirement savings. Plus, when you retire and need to start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), it’ll be a lot easier to calculate if your funds aren’t strewn across multiple plans.

You can initiate a rollover with the administrator of your 401(k) plan. Make sure you do a direct rollover – this means that the money will go straight from your old account to the new account, with no tax implications for the withdrawal. If you do what’s called an indirect rollover, the money will be sent to you first. If you do not deposit it into a qualified retirement account within 60 days, you will owe full income taxes and the 10% fee on the withdrawal.

RMDs - the post-retirement distribution rules

While you can start taking fee-free distributions from your 401(k) at age 59 ½, you don’t have to start taking them until you turn 72. Then, unless you are still employed by the sponsor of your 401(k) plan, you need to start taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs. You need to start taking RMDs by the first April 1st after your 72nd birthday.

Your withdrawals from your traditional 401(k) will be taxed as ordinary income.

Taking a loan out of your 401(k) account

Some employers allow you to take a loan out of your 401(k) account. You can borrow up to 50% of your vested balance or $50,000 – whichever is lower. You usually need to repay your loan within five years, though you may be able to get a longer repayment period if you are purchasing a primary residence.

The 2020 CARES Act doubled this limit to $100,000 for individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This expired on December, 31, 2021.

A 401(k) loan has its pros and cons. One major benefit of taking a loan out of your 401(k) account as opposed to a commercial loan is that the interest you pay on the loan goes back into your 401(k) account. A major downside is that you lose out on potential investment gains that you would have made if that money was still in your account. Additionally, if you do not pay the loan back in time, the unpaid balance will be considered a distribution, and you will owe both income taxes and the 10% fee on that balance.

What if my employer doesn't offer a 401(k)?

Not all employers offer 401(k) retirement plans. Depending on the type of company you work at, you may have a 403(b) plan instead. If you work in state and local government, you may be offered a 457 plan. While each of these plans do have their own specific rules, they operate relatively similarly, with the major difference being who is allowed to participate in them.

You can also open an individual retirement account, or IRA. IRAs are not employer-sponsored and can be opened at a number of financial institutions. Typically, you can invest in just about anything with an IRA – index funds, individual stocks, bonds, etc. – with a lot more freedom and flexibility than with a 401(k) account. However, contribution limits for IRAs are lower – the 2023 contribution limit for IRAs is $6,500 per year, or $7,500 if you are 50 or older in 2024.

If you’re self-employed, you have a number of retirement account options, including 401(k)s, IRAs, SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, and defined benefit plans. Each one of these options has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Bottom Line

For the majority of Americans, 401(k) plans are a crucial part of the retirement puzzle. 401(k) plans are an easy way to save for retirement, plus, they carry great tax benefits. If your employer offers a match of your contributions, we suggest making sure you contribute at least enough to your account in order to get that full benefit. If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table.

Need more help with your retirement plan? Have questions about 401(k)s, Social Security, and more? Join us at Retirable and get an affordable, professionally prepared retirement plan today.