Understanding and Benefiting From the 401(k)

In this edition of our Motley Fool Conversations series, Fool personal finance expert Dayana Yochim and retirement planning analyst Dan Caplinger discuss the ins and outs of 401(k) plans and whether they're a smart way to save for retirement. With higher contribution limits, 401(k)s let you save far more toward your retirement than alternatives like IRAs. At the same time, though, you have to be careful about evaluating the limited investment options that most employers provide, and when you invest, picking the best investments available is crucial to your long-term financial success.

Dan and Dayana also lead you through some of the pitfalls involved with 401(k)s, including various fees and other costs that you may end up having to pay. They also give some guidance on the best movefor your 401(k) money after you leave your job, with specific attention to whether rolling a 401(k) over to an IRA makes sense.

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The article Understanding and Benefiting From the 401(k) originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger and personal finance expert Dayana Yochim appreciate your comments. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanCaplinger. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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