401k vs Roth vs taxable help

[Retire42]

I've read a few articles and would love to get several opinions. The MMM post on do you have To much money in your 401k had me thinking. I know about all the ways to convert your ira to get the money early. How do you decide where to invest if you cut funding to your 401 the money that would be  going into 401k you would pay 25 % that you wouldn't have to in the 401k. Pensions 401k and social security would all be tax at ordinary income long term capital gains less. Do you  diversify where you put money. I want to do the best thing to maximize retirement in income and have options to retire early if I chose to.
Thanks

[MDM]

How do you decide where to invest if you cut funding to your 401 the money that would be  going into 401k you would pay 25 % that you wouldn't have to in the 401k.

1) It is unlikely that a taxable account will be better than a 401k.  Do you have reason to believe it will be?
2) See Tax-efficient fund placement - Bogleheads for general thoughts.

[respond2u]

How do you decide where to invest if you cut funding to your 401 the money that would be  going into 401k you would pay 25 % that you wouldn't have to in the 401k.

If you're not making much money now, the tax savings for the 401k contribution aren't much, and the taxes on dividends and capital gains are probably $0. Not value in the 401k.

OTOH, if you're in the 25% tax bracket, you're much better off putting money into the 401k. If I could go back in time and tell myself about 72t and the tuition clause (for my child), I would have loaded much more in and saved much more money on taxes.