WCI #164: Why You Should Max Out Your Retirement Accounts

Maxing out your retirement accounts will make estate planning easier, give you better asset protection, you'll pay less in taxes, all while your investments grow. A tax protected retirement account provides all this for you, whether it is a tax deferred accounts like a 401(k)s or tax free accounts like Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs. Whichever one you choose to use, you are almost always better off than investing in a taxable account. We cover the downsides in this episode but they are not very big in comparison to the upsides of maxing out retirement accounts. These accounts are protected in case of bankruptcy. A 401(k) contribution gives you a tax break up front. You can rebalance within the account without a cost for buying and selling or a tax consequence. And you will almost surely take that money out of the account at a lower tax rate than you put it in. It is important to understand that a tax deferred retirement account is your biggest tax break. I discuss the different types of retirement accounts in this episode as well as the contributions you can make to each of them. I cannot stress the importance of maxing out your retirement accounts enough.

I also answer listener questions about tax benefits of private real estate funds, why I recommended an independent agent for disability insurance, collecting on both individual and group disability policies, how long you should continue your disability insurance policy, what to do with your money in residency, asset allocation, and adding small caps to your three fund portfolio.

I estimate that 80% of doctors need, want, and should use a financial advisor and/or an investment manager. Some investment gurus such as Dr. William Bernstein think my estimate is way too low. At any rate, if you want to use an advisor temporarily or for your entire life, there is no reason to feel guilty about it—just make sure you are getting good advice at a fair price. If you need help updating your financial plan or just getting one in place, check out our list of recommended financial advisors at https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/financial-advisors. You can do this and The White Coat Investor can help.

The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you!

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