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Sorry, but this is terrible advice. You could be sheltering $16,500 per year from all taxes until retirement, not to mention possible employer matches.

Right now, you probably have to earn about $23,000 (assuming 30% tax rate) just to invest the same $16,500. Then, you have to pay capital gains taxes or regular income tax every time you receive dividends, yields, or sell a stock at a profit. These taxes can eat anywhere from 20% to 38.5% of your profit on every single transaction.

If you sat down with a calculator and figured out the difference between saving $16,500 in a 401k and saving that much in a non tax advantaged account, you are literally throwing away over $1 million throughout the course of your career.

Not to mention, you can take a loan against your 401k if you really need the money.



It does leave money on the table. I wasn't necessarily giving advice, just telling what I do.

Also, I find the concept of taking a loan on my own money detestable.




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