I am trying to figure out if I am missing something - I constantly see advice to max out your 401K after you no longer have any debt. I can, of course, see the general reasoning behind it (taxes and saving for regular retirement at 65 or whatever), but this is what confuses me - right now, I put in enough just for company match. The majority of my extra money goes to downpayments on rental properties. I have one now and almost have enough money for a second. We plan to have four total, and then once we have acquired them we are going to work to pay them off and at some point when we feel comfortable, retire. I am think this will be 5 years or less, by the age of 33. If we used the money to max out our 401K instead, I know there is a tax advantage, but we won't be able to use that money at the age of 34 without a huge penalty, will we???
Based on my readings of MMM, he did not max out his 401K, and did a mix of rentals and Vanguard. Why is the advice on here different - what am I missing??
Please help, and no facepunching - I am really trying to understand so I know if I am making the right choice for me.