A TV advertising slogan for Syms clothing stores in the 1980s stated: "An educated consumer is our best customer."
The same, of course, can be said when it comes to your money. The more financial education you gain, the more savvy you will be when it comes to finding the best place to invest your money. And it can get complicated, so knowing what you don't know is key.
For example: How do you choose between saving in a traditional retirement account and saving in a Roth account?
If you work for a large employer, you more than likely can contribute to either a traditional 401(k) plan or 403(b), a Roth 401(k) or a Roth 403(b), or both. If you're self-employed, or if a 401(k) or 403(b) isn't offered where you work, you may need to choose between a traditional Roth account or Roth individual retirement account, or both.
It's important to know that retirement accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs have a great deal in common. They all offer tax benefits for your retirement savings — like the potential for tax-deferred or tax-free growth.
However, the big difference between a traditional account and a Roth account is taxes. With a traditional account, your contributions are generally pretax. They will reduce your taxable income and, in turn, lower your tax bill in the year you make them. On the flipside, you'll typically pay income taxes on any money you withdraw from your traditional 401(k), 403(b) or IRA in retirement.
A Roth account is the opposite. Contributions are made with money that has already been taxed (your contributions don't reduce your taxable income), and you generally don't have to pay taxes when you withdraw the money in retirement. This means you need to choose between paying taxes now or in retirement.
These are complicated questions and, of course, you want to make the right decision. After doing some research and homework, it might make sense to contact a financial expert for some further guidance.
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