Investors can have both a 401(k) and an individual retirement account (IRA) at the same time, and it is quite common to have both types of accounts. These plans share similarities in that they offer the opportunity for tax-deferred savings, or in the case of the Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA, tax-free savings. However, depending on your individual situation, you may or may not be eligible for tax-advantaged contributions to both of these accounts in any given tax year.

If you (or your spouse, if you're married) have a retirement plan at work, your tax deduction for a traditional IRA may be limited – or you may not be entitled to a deduction – depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Click here for an IRS chart to tell you where you stand.

401(k) Benefits and Drawbacks

A 401(k) retirement savings plan is offered to employees by many companies; it has large contribution limits, and in some cases, an employer-matching contribution for those who participate. If your company matches contributions, contributing enough to get the full employer match should always be your first step. Otherwise you are leaving free money on the table.

Investments are limited to the options offered by the plan. While many companies go to great lengths to expand the diversity of the funds offered, some 401(k) plans are still hindered by limited investment choices, high-cost fund options and poor performers.

For 2018, the amount of income you can defer is $18,500, and in 2019, it increases to $19,000, with a possible additional contribution of $6,000 if you're age 50 or over. Your plan may restrict contributions to a lower amount.

IRA Benefits and Drawbacks

The investment choices for IRA accounts are vast. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs are all eligible for IRAs, which makes finding a low-cost, solid-performing option easy.

However, annual contributions are limited by the IRS. For 2018, the maximum allowable contribution to an IRA is $5,500, or $6,500 if you are age 50 or older. For 2019, the maximum allowable contribution to an IRA is $6,000, or $7,000 if you are age 50 or older.

An added feature of IRAs is the tax deductibility of contributions, but as discussed above, the deduction is only allowed if a person meets certain modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) requirements.

Which Account Is Better?

Neither account is necessarily better than the other, but they each offer different features. Generally speaking, 401(k) investors should invest at least enough to earn the full matching contribution offered by their employers. Beyond that, the quality of investment choices may be a deciding factor.

If 401(k) investment options are poor, investors may want to consider directing further retirement savings toward an IRA. It may come down to investor preference, but both 401(k)s and IRAs are available to all individuals with earned income. Those earning more – or those where the taxpayer or his/her spouse participate in a retirement savings plan at work – may have limitations on tax-deductible contributions to an IRA. Check with your tax advisor for further advice and where you should invest.

Advisor Insight

Stephen Rischall, CFP®, CRPC
1080 Financial Group, Los Angeles, CA

Yes, you can have both accounts and many people do. The traditional individual retirement account (IRA) and 401(k) provide the benefit of tax-deferred savings for retirement. Depending on your tax situation, you may also be able to receive a tax deduction for the amount you contribute to a 401(k) and IRA each tax year.

When you retire after age 59.5, distributions will be taxed as income in the year they are taken. The IRS sets annual limits on how much you can contribute to a 401(k) and IRA. Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) contribution limits are the same as their non-Roth counterparts, but the tax benefits are different. They still benefit from tax-deferred growth, but contributions are made with after-tax dollars and distributions after age 59.5 are made tax free.