401(k) vs. Roth IRA: Which Option is Best for You?

The law of compounding tells us that the earlier you start saving, the more you will have when retirement arrives. So it makes financial sense to begin saving as early as possible.

For those who just get their first full-time job (likely in your early 20s) and ready to save, there is often the decision between picking a company-sponsored 401(k) plan or Roth IRA.

How do you decide where to put your retirement savings? Is a 401(k) or a Roth IRA better when you’re young?

What is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is a retirement fund, typically offered by employers, meant for any and all employees to invest and save for retirement in a stashed away account.

401(k)'s are tax-favored accounts, which means that taxpayers can deduct the contributions they make to the account, up to a predetermined limit, from taxable income. 

Probably the most desirable aspect of a 401(k) is the employer-match that comes with it. If you elect to contribute to an employer-sponsored 401(k), generally speaking, employers will match a percentage of your contribution.

Consider this: If you choose to contribute 4% of every paycheck to your 401(k) and your employer offers a 4% match (up to 100%), then it's really like you're contributing 8% to your 401(k) every pay cycle -- except the additional 4% is free money coming from your employer and not from your pocket. 

There is a maximum contribution amount set by the government every year, which limits how much you are allowed to save to your 401(k).

The biggest downside to a 401(k) are the limited investment options and some of the fees that go along with it. Other than that, if your employer offers a 401(k), the best thing you can do is opt in to it. 

What is a Roth IRA?

Similar to a 401(k), a Roth IRA is also a retirement account that offers beneficial tax breaks, but not everyone may be eligible to contribute to one. 

Roth IRA's individual retirement accounts that are tax-advantaged. Unlike traditional IRA contributions, Roth IRA contributions are made through after-tax dollars -- you withdraw the money tax-free, so there is no initial tax benefit.

One important thing to note about a Roth IRA is that it is not a retirement fund like a 401(k). It is an account that holds your investments, from which you open at a brokerage and select all of your investment options. 

Fact: Older investors (50 and up) can contribute $1,000 more than the standard contribution limit (as a catch-up clause) and if you as an individual earn less than the contribution limit, you are only legally allowed to contribute as much as you've earned for that year (e.g., if you made $7,000 in a year, you could only contribute at most $7,000).

The upside to Roth IRA's: you can withdraw your contributions without any tax-penalty before your retirement date (this is because you've already paid your taxes on your Roth IRA upfront).

The downside to Roth IRA's: you may not be eligible to open one, and if you may the big bucks, they won't be a viable option to you.

401(k) vs. Roth IRA

When you're young, it can be difficult to even think about the idea of retiring, let alone which retirement account you should be contributing to. We've put together some of the main things you should think about when deciding which account is right for you:

Employer-matches come first

When choosing between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA, you first want to consider whether or not your employer offers matching contributions. A matching contribution is essentially free money and you should take advantage of it. Not doing so is one of the mistakes you can make when savings for retirement.

It would be wise to invest at least the maximum amount that your employer will match before you make contributions to any other retirement plans.

When you take distributions from a 401(k) plan during retirement, you will owe taxes, but your contributions are tax-deductible.

Notable benefits of a 401(k) plan

A 401(k) plan also offers a way for account owners to borrow some of their own money without paying early withdrawal penalties. If your 401(k) plan administrator allows loans, you can borrow from your retirement savings.

Loans from 401(k) plans are not typically recommended since the reduced balance of the account will result in less earnings over time.

However, it remains an option in the event of a financial emergency.

When you make loan repayments, you’re paying yourself back (with interest).

If you leave the company, you will have to repay the full balance of the loan or else it will be considered an early distribution from a retirement plan and you’ll have to pay income tax on the amount withdrawn and a 10 percent penalty.

Tax breaks of a Roth IRA

Roth IRA contributions, unlike traditional IRA contributions, are made through after-tax dollars -- you withdraw the money tax-free.

If you believe you are in a low tax bracket when you were in your 20s compared to your retirement years, it makes sense to save the majority of your retirement savings in a Roth IRA.

For most young people in the early stages of their careers, this happens to be their situation.

However, always start with a 401(k) plan if the employer matches your contributions, and contribute just enough to get the matching contribution (free money!) but then the rest of your retirement savings can be saved in a Roth IRA.

You’ll pay less in taxes if you belong to a lower tax bracket and avoid taxes when your tax rates rise.

Notable benefits of a Roth IRA

Starting a Roth IRA in your 20s means you could potentially have a few thousand dollars saved by the time you are thinking about buying your first house.

You can withdraw up to $10,000 from a Roth IRA without a 10% early withdrawal penalty if the money is used for the purchase of your first house.

You have to open your Roth IRA at least five years before you intend to use money from the account toward a home purchase to qualify for the penalty-free early withdrawal.

Because you make contributions to a Roth IRA with after-tax dollars, you can take withdrawals on your original contribution amount for any reason and at any age -- without paying taxes or penalties.

But you cannot take any of the investment earnings the Roth IRA has earned without a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.