Retirement Accounts

An employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that lets you contribute a portion of your paycheck, often before taxes, to invest for retirement. Contributions grow tax-deferred until withdrawn in retirement, and many employers match part of what you put in, which is effectively free money toward your savings. In 2025 the employee contribution limit is $23,500, with an additional catch-up contribution allowed for those age 50 and older.

tax-advantaged retirement account you open and fund on your own, independent of an employer. Contributions may be tax-deductible depending on your income and whether you have a workplace plan, and your investments grow tax-deferred until you withdraw them in retirement, when they are taxed as ordinary income.

An employer-sponsored retirement account that blends features of a traditional 401(k) and a Roth IRA. You contribute after-tax dollars, so there’s no upfront tax break, but qualified withdrawals in retirement, including earnings, are completely tax-free. It uses the same high contribution limit as a traditional 401(k) with no income eligibility restrictions, and employer matching funds go into a separate pre-tax account.

A tax-advantaged retirement plan for employees of public schools, nonprofits, churches, and certain tax-exempt organizations, functioning much like a 401(k) but for the public and nonprofit sector. You contribute pre-tax dollars that grow tax-deferred until withdrawal in retirement, and Roth versions are sometimes available.

A tax-advantaged retirement plan for state and local government employees and certain nonprofit workers, functioning much like a 401(k) or 403(b). You contribute pre-tax dollars that grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Its standout feature is no early withdrawal penalty once you leave your employer, so withdrawals before age 59½ avoid the usual 10% penalty (though they’re still taxed as income).

An employer-sponsored retirement plan typically offered by government agencies, public schools, and certain nonprofits, where the employer largely controls the plan’s structure. The employer sets contribution rules, and participation or contribution amounts are often mandatory rather than optional. Contributions grow tax-deferred until withdrawal, and vesting schedules determine when employer contributions fully become yours.

A registered account that lets your savings and investments grow without being taxed, meaning interest, dividends, and capital gains earned inside it are tax-free. Contributions are made with after-tax money, so withdrawals (including earnings) generally aren’t taxed and can be taken out anytime. Annual contribution room is capped and set each year, with unused room carrying forward to future years.