A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan that many employers offer their employees. Money goes into your 401(k) account directly from your paycheck, often before taxes are taken out, and you choose how that money is invested. Understanding how your 401(k) works—from how much you can contribute each year to what happens to your money when you leave a job—helps you make decisions about your retirement savings.
These articles answer common questions about 401(k) plans: how contributions work, what employer matching means, how to handle your account when you change jobs, what the rules are around withdrawals, and what taxes you'll owe when you take money out. Whether you're just starting to use your employer's plan or trying to understand a feature you've never used, you'll find straightforward explanations here.
- How 401(k) Contributions Reduce Your Taxable IncomeLearn about How 401(k) Contributions Reduce Your Taxable Income
- How 401(k) Contributions Reduce Your Taxable IncomeLearn about How 401(k) Contributions Reduce Your Taxable Income
- When You Withdraw From Your 401(k), What Gets TaxedLearn about When You Withdraw From Your 401(k), What Gets Taxed
- How 401(k) Withdrawals Get TaxedLearn about How 401(k) Withdrawals Get Taxed
- How 401(k) Contributions Lower Your Taxable IncomeLearn about How 401(k) Contributions Lower Your Taxable Income
- How 401(k) Withdrawals Are TaxedLearn about How 401(k) Withdrawals Are Taxed
- How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k) and What It CostsLearn about How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k) and What It Costs
- How to Borrow From Your 401(k) and What It CostsLearn about How to Borrow From Your 401(k) and What It Costs
- How to Borrow From Your 401k and What It CostsLearn about How to Borrow From Your 401k and What It Costs
- When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401kLearn about When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401k
- Can I Cash Out My 401kLearn about Can I Cash Out My 401k
- Can You Withdraw From Your 401k Before Age 65Learn about Can You Withdraw From Your 401k Before Age 65
- Contributing to Both a 401(k) and an IRA in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both a 401(k) and an IRA in the Same Year
- Contributing to Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same TimeLearn about Contributing to Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same Time
- Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same Year
- How to Convert a 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Convert a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Can You Have Both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA at the Same Time?Learn about Can You Have Both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA at the Same Time?
- Having Both a 401(k) and an IRA at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a 401(k) and an IRA at the Same Time
- Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same Time
- Opening a 401(k) Without an EmployerLearn about Opening a 401(k) Without an Employer
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- Rolling a 401(k) Into a Roth IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Rolling a 401(k) Into a Roth IRA: What You Need to Know
- Moving Money From a 401(k) to an IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Money From a 401(k) to an IRA: What You Need to Know
- Moving Money From an IRA Into Your 401(k): What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Money From an IRA Into Your 401(k): What You Need to Know
- Converting Your 401k to a Roth IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Converting Your 401k to a Roth IRA: What You Need to Know
- Rolling Your 401(k) Into an IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Rolling Your 401(k) Into an IRA: What You Need to Know
- Moving Money From a Roth IRA Into Your 401(k)Learn about Moving Money From a Roth IRA Into Your 401(k)
- How to Roll Over Your 401(k) Into a Roth IRALearn about How to Roll Over Your 401(k) Into a Roth IRA
- Moving Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRA: What You Need to Know
- Can You Start Your Own 401(k) Plan?Learn about Can You Start Your Own 401(k) Plan?
- How to Borrow From Your 401(k) and What It CostsLearn about How to Borrow From Your 401(k) and What It Costs
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k)Learn about How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k)
- When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)Learn about When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)
- How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)Learn about When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)
- How to Move Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Move Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- How to Move Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Move Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Moving Your 401(k) to an IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Your 401(k) to an IRA: What You Need to Know
- Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Can Actually DoLearn about Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Can Actually Do
- Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Need to KnowLearn about Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Need to Know
- How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401(k)Learn about When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401(k)
- How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401kLearn about When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401k
- How 401(k) Loans Work and What Happens If You Don't Pay Them BackLearn about How 401(k) Loans Work and What Happens If You Don't Pay Them Back
- How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k)Learn about How to Borrow Money From Your 401(k)
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- When You Can Change Your 401(k) Contribution AmountLearn about When You Can Change Your 401(k) Contribution Amount
- How to Choose Between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)Learn about How to Choose Between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)
- Contributing to Both a 401(k) and an IRA in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both a 401(k) and an IRA in the Same Year
- Contributing to Both a 401(k) and Roth IRA in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both a 401(k) and Roth IRA in the Same Year
- Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same Year
- Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both an IRA and a 401(k) in the Same Year
- Contributing to Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) in the Same YearLearn about Contributing to Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) in the Same Year
- Converting Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA: What You Need to KnowLearn about Converting Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA: What You Need to Know
- How to Convert a 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Convert a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Having Both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a 401(k) and a Roth IRA at the Same Time
- Having Both a 401(k) and an IRA at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a 401(k) and an IRA at the Same Time
- Having Both a 401(k) and Roth IRA at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a 401(k) and Roth IRA at the Same Time
- Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same Time
- Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same TimeLearn about Having Both a Roth IRA and a 401(k) at the Same Time
- Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before and After RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before and After Retirement
- How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- Moving Money from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA: How It WorksLearn about Moving Money from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA: How It Works
- Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Moving Money From an IRA to Your 401(k): What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Money From an IRA to Your 401(k): What You Need to Know
- How to Roll Over a 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Roll Over a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Moving Money From an IRA to a 401(k): What You Need to KnowLearn about Moving Money From an IRA to a 401(k): What You Need to Know
- How to Borrow Money From Your 401k and What It CostsLearn about How to Borrow Money From Your 401k and What It Costs
- How to Take Money From Your 401(k) Before and After RetirementLearn about How to Take Money From Your 401(k) Before and After Retirement
- How to Take Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Take Money Out of Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- Can You Take Money Out of Your 401(k)?Learn about Can You Take Money Out of Your 401(k)?
- Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about Moving Money From Your 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- How to Move Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRALearn about How to Move Money From a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
- Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Can Actually DoLearn about Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House: What You Can Actually Do
- Using Your 401(k) To Buy a House: What You Can Actually DoLearn about Using Your 401(k) To Buy a House: What You Can Actually Do
- When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)Learn about When and How You Can Withdraw Money From Your 401(k)
- When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401(k)Learn about When and How You Can Take Money Out of Your 401(k)
- How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before RetirementLearn about How to Withdraw Money From Your 401(k) Before Retirement
- How 401(k) Contributions Lower Your Taxable IncomeLearn about How 401(k) Contributions Lower Your Taxable Income
- Do Employers Match Roth 401(k) Contributions?Learn about Do Employers Match Roth 401(k) Contributions?
- How Employer Contributions Count Toward Your 401(k) LimitLearn about How Employer Contributions Count Toward Your 401(k) Limit
- Do Employers Match Roth 401(k) Contributions?Learn about Do Employers Match Roth 401(k) Contributions?
- How to Tell If You Have a 401(k)Learn about How to Tell If You Have a 401(k)
- When You Must Report Your 401(k) on Your Tax ReturnLearn about When You Must Report Your 401(k) on Your Tax Return
- How Taxes Work on 401(k) Withdrawals and ContributionsLearn about How Taxes Work on 401(k) Withdrawals and Contributions
- How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution LimitLearn about How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution Limit
- Does Your 401(k) Contribution Limit Include Company MatchLearn about Does Your 401(k) Contribution Limit Include Company Match
- How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution LimitLearn about How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution Limit
- How a 401(k) Reduces Your Taxable IncomeLearn about How a 401(k) Reduces Your Taxable Income
- How Employer 401(k) Contributions Count Toward Your Annual LimitLearn about How Employer 401(k) Contributions Count Toward Your Annual Limit
- How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution LimitLearn about How Employer Match Affects Your 401(k) Contribution Limit
- Does Your Company's 401(k) Match Count Toward Your Contribution LimitLearn about Does Your Company's 401(k) Match Count Toward Your Contribution Limit
- How a 401(k) Works: Where Your Money Goes and How to Use ItLearn about How a 401(k) Works: Where Your Money Goes and How to Use It
- How a 401(k) Works and Why Your Employer Offers OneLearn about How a 401(k) Works and Why Your Employer Offers One