06/05/2026
Most people invest in whatever account is easiest to access.
The order you use these accounts matters more than how much you put in them.
I've watched people dutifully max out a brokerage account while leaving their employer 401k match unclaimed.
That's like turning down part of your paycheck because you didn't feel like filling out the paperwork. The match is free money and it's the first dollar you should always capture.
Here's the sequence that actually makes sense.
Start with your 401k but only up to the employer match. If your company matches 4% of your salary, contribute at least 4%. That match is an instant 50 to 100% return on your money before a single investment gain. Nothing else on this list competes with that.
Then fund your Roth IRA. In 2026 that's $7,500 if you're under 50 and $8,600 if you're 50 or older. Tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals in retirement, no required minimum distributions during your lifetime.
If you qualify, this is one of the best deals in the entire tax code.
Then your HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan. Triple tax advantage. Money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free for medical expenses.
Invest it and let it grow. Healthcare in retirement will be one of your biggest expenses and this account is built specifically for that.
Then go back and max out the 401k beyond the match. In 2026 that's $24,500 total, or $32,500 if you're 50 or older.
After all of that, a taxable brokerage account with no contribution limits and full flexibility.
The sequence isn't complicated. Most people just never learned it.
