“401k and IRA: Understanding the Differences and Similarities in 2020”

by | Apr 25, 2023 | 401k | 26 comments

“401k and IRA: Understanding the Differences and Similarities in 2020”




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Reasons to invest in Retirement Accounts
In this video I’m going to answer What is the difference between an IRA and 401k?

Before we get into 401k vs IRA and 401k and IRA similarities, here’s seven quick reasons to invest in retirement accounts. Invest in retirement accounts before brokerage accounts like WeBull and Robinhood because its more passive. Retirement accounts require initial research and becomes automated investing. For retirement account investing it doesn’t take any more work and you don’t have to pay attention to the stock market or stock market news. retirement account investing is a good way to get started if you are a busy student or working professional. You can grow your wealth tax free dependign on which retirement account you choose between a traditional 401k vs ROTH IRA.

What are retirement accounts
Retirement accounts are investing accountes designated specifically for retirement. You should not touch the money in the retirement accounts until age 59.5+ or else you will get 401k penalties or IRA penalties.

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What is a 401k?
A 401k is a retirement account setup by your company. Your company will choose a 401k provider that has various index funds and other funds to pick from. The limit for 401k in 2020 is $19,500. 401k allow you to automate your investing, diversify, and build your wealth passively.

What is an IRA?
An IRA is an individual retirement account. The biggest difference is you have to go and set up an IRA by yourself. The benefits of an IRA are you also get to diversify your investing, you get many more options to invest in, you also get the benefits of diversification, you can invest in individual stocks or other financial instruments, and you have extremely low expense ratios.

401k Taxes and IRA Taxes
For a 401k there is something called a traditional 401k or traditional IRA, all this means is you invest the money now, let it grow, and when you take it out for retirement you get taxedThere’s also something called a ROTH 401k and ROTH IRA, you pay taxes now, you let your investments grow and when you take money out for retirement you do not get taxed

What Should I Invest in 401k | What Should I invest in IRA
You should look into Life Cycle funds for your retirement accounts. This is the easiest way to get started in retirement account investing. These funds will adjust your investments for you as you get older. When you are younger the fund will take more risks and be more aggressive as the goal is to build your wealth. As you move closer to retirement the fund will be more conservative and take less risks as the goal is to preserve your wealth.

See also  Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules If You Are Age 59 and Under

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As you look toward your future and saving for retirement, you’ve most likely come across both 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Both options provide a great way to save for the future, but which one is right for you?

First, let’s explore the similarities between the two. They’re both retirement savings plans that offer tax advantages. This means that the money you contribute to either a 401(k) plan or an IRA is not taxed until you withdraw it in retirement. Additionally, any investment gains you earn from either type of account will also be tax-free.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two. One of the most obvious differences is that 401(k) plans are typically provided by employers, while IRAs are chosen and set up by the individual. However, there are other key points that distinguish the two.

Contribution Limits
The maximum contribution limits for both types of accounts can fluctuate year to year. In 2020, the maximum contribution limit for a 401(k) is $19,500 for those under 50 years old, while those 50 and older can contribute up to $26,000 with a catch-up contribution. On the other hand, the maximum contribution limit for an IRA in 2020 is $6,000 for those under 50 years old, with a catch-up contribution of $1,000 allowable for those 50 and older.

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Employer Match
One of the biggest benefits of a 401(k) plan is the potential for an employer match. This means that your employer will contribute a certain percentage of your salary to your retirement account, which can amount to thousands of dollars each year. Many employers choose to match 50% of your contribution up to a certain percentage of your salary, making it a great perk for saving for retirement. IRAs, on the other hand, do not typically offer an employer match.

Investment Options
401(k) plans often offer a limited number of investment options, while IRAs offer a wider range of options. 401(k) plans often have pre-determined investment options, such as mutual funds, and each investment has an associated risk level. IRAs offer more flexibility and a wider choice of investment options.

Early Withdrawals
Withdrawing money from a 401(k) plan before the age of 59 ½ can result in a 10% penalty, while IRA withdrawals before the age of 59 ½ may result in a penalty as well, but there are exemptions for certain situations, such as first-time home purchases or higher education expenses. It’s important to note that any early withdrawals will still be subject to income taxes.

In conclusion, 401(k) plans and IRAs are both great options for saving for retirement, but they have some key differences. Consider your options and seek advice to choose the best plan to meet your needs for retirement savings. Whether you choose a 401(k), an IRA, or both, taking the time now to invest in your future is sure to pay off over time.

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26 Comments

  1. AH

    Thank You for the video, Very easy to understand and very informative. I enrolled into 401k after this video thanks.

  2. Let'sGoHammy!

    Very good video, my man!

  3. Wayne Personal

    Please correct your information. Investing $6,000 a year for 40 years, presuming the market never crashes at the average of 9% annual return would earn you over $2million. But 401k typically come with 17-21 hidden fees which will cost you typically 2-3% of your annual returns. Over the 40 year period you will lose 40% of your retirement due to fees. So you are correct that you would be a millionaire but wait, these are tax deferred accounts and anything over $97k is taxed at 32%. So really, out of your 2 million you should walk away with, you're walking away with about $700k.

    The 401k was never designed as a retirement account. It was designed as a tax dodge for CEOs. It's a terrible retirement plan and even it's creator has made campaigns against it.

  4. BrainStrains

    Hello Davis, thank you for explaining these similarities and differences, sometimes we think we all know these concepts but it is refreshing that you remind us. Very clear explanation, love your style of educating us. New here, new to stay! Cheers and congrats from Brainstrains

  5. Daily Dose of Knowledge

    self employed single owner LLC what is the best ira ? sep? tradional,roth?

  6. samphe

    this was soso informative! I honestly didn’t know the differences until watching this — you’re super articulate and edited together at just the right pace! awesome vid!

  7. The Millionaire Mindset

    Hey Davis, so you won a giveaway (Amazon Gift Card & Shoutout) on my channel… check it out, get in contact with me, post your Instagram on the video so I can contact you. Thanks!

  8. Andrew Warner

    Great explanation of it. If your place if work matches then that's awesome. Nicely done

  9. Nick Scuderi - RealLife Money

    Great video man! Like the b roll you had going on. Investing in every way possible is definitely a good start and I also liked how you mentioned if you plan on seeing your income grow over time a ROTH might be a better bet. I think ROTHs are really underutilized so thanks for the insight! 🙂

  10. ItsJps

    I have a feeling these videos are gonna make me rich LOL

  11. Make / Save / Invest

    I love my IRA!! Works good for me since my job 401k does not do any matching!! Very good and important video and information Davis!! Thanks for sharing!!

  12. Man of God

    401K name really has nothing to do with whats it's actually about well said! Knowledge is power, and your video is full of it. I'm planning on starting up a ROTH IRA soon! Awesome content keep up the hustle, and videos!

  13. Everything Options

    I'm looking to retire early so I don't find a retirement account suitable for myself but this is some great info on the key differences between these types of retirement accounts. Great video man!

  14. Babbs

    Hey Davis! You did a great job explaining the difference and when I can I contribute to both!

  15. ATL Resale

    Awesome video! Roth IRA after company match on 401k for sure!

  16. Drs. Gan and Mo

    Great video on explaining the differences between Roth IRA and 401K and how to take advantage of them, many people do not know how to take utilize both for the long run and how beneficial they are at the end of the day…compound interest!! We recently did a video on the top mistakes people make with their Roth IRA, which was a suprise after all the research was done and even realizing some of the "loopholes" as well! Great video, happy to support a fellow finance channel!

  17. Rohit Sharma

    Great information Davis. Thank you

  18. Richard Walls - Career Dev & Finance

    Great video! I've doubled up on 401K and Roth IRA – adding in a separate account for a separate investment account. Gotta take advantage of all the tax sheltered growth vehicles first!

  19. LifeWithVinceLuu

    Great breakdown, Davis! Definitely took advantage of the 401k when I was working for an employer! Ended up rolling it over to my IRA when I left the company.

    #TeamVanguard

  20. Trent Dressel

    great breakdown turning two complex financial tools into a digestible video! Fantastic work!

  21. Strength To Train

    Hi from England, I like your video, very well done. Liked 38 and subscribed your channel!

  22. Stephen Summy

    This guy seems way smarter than my friend Davis. I wish I could trade

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