Tag: 401k

NQDC Plans: Worth the Employer Risk?

Non-qualified deferred compensation can cut your tax bill, but the balance is an unsecured IOU from your employer. Here is when an NQDC plan is worth the risk.

Which Account to Drain First

Taxable, then traditional, then Roth is a fine default at 65 and a costly one at 45. The bracket-filling alternative, with the 2026 tax math worked out.

Financial Order of Operations

Where your next dollar should go, in exact priority order. A deterministic flowchart for engineers who want the math to make the decision, not vibes.

Roth vs Traditional: Which One?

Roth vs Traditional isn't a personality quiz. It's a math problem. Here's the break-even logic, the tax-diversification argument, and when each one wins.

Rolling Over Your Old 401k: A Checklist

Left a job with an old 401k sitting there? Here's exactly what to do, all four options, the direct vs indirect rollover trap, and a step-by-step checklist.

Backdoor Roth IRA: A Step-by-Step Guide

Earn too much for a Roth IRA? The backdoor conversion still gets you in. Step-by-step 2026 guide with pro-rata rule explained and full Fidelity walkthrough.

401k Math: What You're Actually Saving

Maxing your 401k doesn't cost $23,500. At a 35% tax rate it costs $15,275. Here's the math, the 2026 limits, and how to stop leaving money on the table.

Mega Backdoor Roth Explained

The mega backdoor Roth lets you funnel up to $46,500 extra into a Roth account per year. Most plans don't support it. Yours might. Here's the full mechanics.

The HSA Triple Tax Advantage

Your HSA is the only account with three tax advantages. Here's how to turn it into a stealth IRA, and the math that makes it worth maxing every single year.