Poll of the Day > What's better: A 401k or 401k Dollars?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Topic
---

401k dollars, invest using half

That's basically the dream 401k right there durr
---

Definitely $401,000

Unless you're making crazy bank and getting matched well from your employer
---

I think you guys are overestimating how much $401,000 actually is. In today's world, it's really not. Is it a nice nest egg to support you if you go on a long stretch of being unemployed? Sure. But are you going to walk away from work and retire on $401k? Of course not.

Now obviously this is an open-ended topic -- can I take my newly-acquired $401,000 and just throw it in an IRA? Or perhaps choose the $401,000, quit my job, then get a new job with a 401k and throw my money in there?

In the short term, $401,000 is nice, but in the long term, a 401k will net you more (again, there are exceptions, but just assume that you have gainful employment with reasonable matching employers for ~40 years -- that'll net you far more than $401,000).
---

Muffinz0rz posted...

I think you guys are overestimating how much $401,000 actually is. In today's world, it's really not. Is it a nice nest egg to support you if you go on a long stretch of being unemployed? Sure. But are you going to walk away from work and retire on $401k? Of course not.

Now obviously this is an open-ended topic -- can I take my newly-acquired $401,000 and just throw it in an IRA? Or perhaps choose the $401,000, quit my job, then get a new job with a 401k and throw my money in there?

In the short term, $401,000 is nice, but in the long term, a 401k will net you more (again, there are exceptions, but just assume that you have gainful employment with reasonable matching employers for ~40 years -- that'll net you far more than $401,000).

Nobody so far said they would just walk away with the money...
---

Depends how much is in the 401k.
---