Should I really max out my 401k?

[brute]

Signs point to yes, but here's the breakdown.

Mandatory contribution:  $8500          (doesn't count against my tax advantaged allotment, but is tax advantaged)
403b contrib               :  $8500
Company match          :  $11000

So, I'm already getting $28k annually into 401k/403b accounts. Should I really throw another $10k on top of it that I can't get at for 30 years, or does it make more sense to go post tax investment on this?

[RWD]

Probably
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/how-to-withdraw-funds-from-your-ira-and-401k-without-penalty-before-age-59-5/

[starguru]

Depends.  What's your income and spend rate?  Is there anything you would save the money for that you would want before you retire?  If you max your 401k could you save beyond that?  Do you have a healthy emergency fund?

In general it's a good idea as the tax free growth is very nice and there are ways to access the money (google substantially equal periodic payments).

[UnleashHell]

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/how-to-withdraw-funds-from-your-ira-and-401k-without-penalty-before-age-59-5/

no waiting 30 years!

[brute]

Gross income is $215k, expenses are ~$65k and falling. I need to buy a house, and raise capital to improve the family farm at some point. Or I guess I could just sell it. It's a money pit. Thanks for the reminders about how to access it if needed, puts my mind at ease. It's just hard to see the paycheck go down.

~$400k in post tax investments, $30k in emergency fund, $220k in retirement funds. I haven't been making that much money for long. Now that I type it out, it's obvious I should beef up the 403b

[bacchi]

Do you have a 457? And, if so, is it stable (state, university, city) and does it have decent fund choices?

[starguru]

Gross income is $215k, expenses are ~$65k and falling. I need to buy a house, and raise capital to improve the family farm at some point. Or I guess I could just sell it. It's a money pit. Thanks for the reminders about how to access it if needed, puts my mind at ease. It's just hard to see the paycheck go down.

~$400k in post tax investments, $30k in emergency fund, $220k in retirement funds. I haven't been making that much money for long. Now that I type it out, it's obvious I should beef up the 403b

At that income/expenses ratio it seems like a no brainer to max out the pre tax dollars.  Does your employer offer after tax contributions and in-service roll over to Roth?  That would be an ideal situation.

How much house do you want to buy and when?  Even with maxing out the 401k it seems like you should be able to save several tens of thousands of dollars or more every year, putting you in a good spot for a house downpayment in the reasonably near future. 

[theolympians]

Yes

[Tuskalusa]

Yep. You really should. Good to save. Good to reduce your tax bill.

[shinn497]

The way i see it you shoudl be maxing out everything and then on top of that saving in a taxable to tide you over until retirement.

[ysette9]

We maxed our 401ks out as early in our careers as we could. 10+ years later I am SO grateful that we did.

[brute]

Well, I'm convinced. Maxed it out this morning. Here's to the future.

[ysette9]

Well, I'm convinced. Maxed it out this morning. Here's to the future.

Cheers!

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Well, I'm convinced. Maxed it out this morning. Here's to the future.

Great choice, the numbers are on your side!