Can you simultaneously invest in 401a and 401k?

[kenmoremmm]

My post is premature, but I've interviewed for a position with a govt agency that would provide a 401a plan. My current position offers a 401k plan and I would likely be able to work part-time with that company if I moved into this new position. The PT work would only be 5-10 hours/week, but I'm thinking, if it's possible, that I would take whatever money earned through the PT work and contribute to my existing 401k.

Doable?

I read through these threads, but didn't see anything:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/401a-403b-or-457/
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/401(a)-and-403(b)-contributions/

[terran]

Whenever I've seen a 401(a) it's where employer contributions and mandatory employee contributions go with voluntary contributions going to a 401(k) or 403(b). Is this how your potential employers plan works, or does the 401(a) hold voluntary contributions too?

Either way, I would count on the overall $55k (employer, mandatory, and voluntary) and the $18.5k (voluntary) limits being cumulative across all plans.

[Morning Glory]

Yes you can!! The 401a doesn't count toward the 18,500 limit. I found this out through many calls to HR after I thought I went over the limit last year.

[DreamFIRE]

Yes.  And you can combine those maximums for your total contribution.  The employer contributions to the 401a counts toward the $55K limit.

In my case, I have a 457B and 401a, and I can voluntarily contribute up to $79,500 pre-tax dollars (my contribution plus employer match combined) as a total sum of the 457B and 401a contributions per year.  However, I'm only contributing a little over $40K this year.  I also max out my Roth IRA through Vanguard.