401(a) vs 403(b) vs 457 (b)

I am not qualified to know all the ins and outs of these plans, but most of our retirement funds are in a 457(b) because that is what was available to us and I am somewhat familiar with that part of the tax code. The feature I liked most is that with a 457 there is no penalty for withdrawal before age

59.5 as long as you have separated from service. Because of this provision I would recommend that you use the 457 plan for at least some of your retirement funds. You will, of course, not be required to take the funds before age 59.5, nor even when you separate from service. But with funds available to you before age 59.5 you will protect yourself from tax penalties should something happen where you need that money at a younger age. You might get injured and need the money, or you might decide to retire early, or you might find you want to work at something that pays less but you enjoy more, or . . .

Elizabeth Richardson

If your employer is contributing to only the 401a, then I would at least make as much contribution to the 401a to get the max employer contribution first.

For Fidelity, what's are your choices of investment vehicles? I have Fidelity and access to practically all their funds. But then my employer did a terrible thing and redo the contract, so now I only have access to about 15 funds, mostly bad choices. In general Fidelity offers more investment options than TIAA-CREF.