My favorite line from this one:
"If you make between $50,000 and $200,000, you should memorize the several hundred pages of IRS publications and instructions that relate in some way to things being phased out. Or hire an accountant."
Phaseouts (ie. stealth taxes) are a real abomination in our tax code.
That said, the article overall is a nice quick summary of suggested steps and the types of retirement savings accounts available to most individuals. (ie. it doesn't cover things like self-employed plans).
Basically, it says some of the same things we here have been saying so many times: 1. Grab employer match - 401k at least up to match 2. Fund a Roth (if you can) 3. Build up taxable accounts (which can sometimes, in some ways, be more tax-efficient than the rest of that 401k - so take both into account) 4. Fatten up the 401k - finish maxing it out 5. Consider college costs (probably a 529) 6. Play the conversion game (maybe do an IRA->Roth) 7. Do an HSA (tricky, though - not always available, and the article doesn't mention this, but it may not make any sense for less healthy folks)
Nice to see a little exploration of the issue of tax-efficiency and investment types mixed in with the question of whether or not to finish maxing out a 401k vs. taxable investments. I don't think that's covered adequately in general out there.
Same issue has a nice article about pulling 401k money out
*while still employed* - which many folks don't know they can do:(mentions the law which allows 59-1/2 yr olds do in-service distributions, as well as some of the complex possibilities for younger folks to do so - in additon to a mention of the less common "brokerage window" some folks might have. Me - I like my 401k plan right now a *lot* and have no need to move that money out. But not everyone is as happy with their
401k as I am.)