A retirement account is a tax-advantaged account designed to save for retirement, with specific rules on contributions, withdrawals, and tax treatment. The main US options: 401(k) (employer-sponsored, pre-tax or Roth), Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP-IRA (self-employed), Solo 401(k), 403(b) (nonprofits/education), 457(b) (government employees), HSA (medical + retirement). Each has different contribution limits, income restrictions, and withdrawal rules. The general rule of priority: capture employer match → max HSA → max Roth IRA → max 401(k) → taxable brokerage. Coordinate withdrawals across account types in retirement for tax efficiency.
Article
403(b)
A 403(b) plan is a retirement plan for employees of public schools, nonprofit hospitals, charities, and religious organizations…
457(b)
A 457(b) plan is a retirement plan for state and local government employees and certain nonprofit employees. Unique…
Annuitization
Annuitization is the process of converting a lump sum (or accumulated annuity value) into a guaranteed income stream,…
Annuity
An annuity is an insurance contract paying a stream of income, often for life — designed to provide…
Backdoor Roth Conversion
The Backdoor Roth Conversion strategy enables high earners who exceed Roth IRA income limits to fund a Roth…
Beneficiary IRA
A Beneficiary IRA (Inherited IRA) is a retirement account inherited from a deceased owner. Post-SECURE Act 2019, most…
Retirement Account
August 22, 2026 · Aditya Gupta
Personal Finance
Related terms
403(b)
A 403(b) plan is a retirement plan for employees of public schools, nonprofit hospitals, charities, and religious organizations…
457(b)
A 457(b) plan is a retirement plan for state and local government employees and certain nonprofit employees. Unique…
Annuitization
Annuitization is the process of converting a lump sum (or accumulated annuity value) into a guaranteed income stream,…
Annuity
An annuity is an insurance contract paying a stream of income, often for life — designed to provide…
Backdoor Roth Conversion
The Backdoor Roth Conversion strategy enables high earners who exceed Roth IRA income limits to fund a Roth…
Beneficiary IRA
A Beneficiary IRA (Inherited IRA) is a retirement account inherited from a deceased owner. Post-SECURE Act 2019, most…
