i have a keogh retirement plan in which i can put away about 34k a year...it's similar to a sep IRA...i have no kids, not married and soon won't have a condo (selling it) and really don't have a lot to write off...i'm a partner at a large medical group so have a higher income and my financial adviser tells me that i shouldn't max out my 401k because i don't get any matching... and even for me the thought of not having access to my money for another 30 years is unsettling....