09/04/2026
Your 401(k) is not tax-free. It’s tax-deferred. That means you may get a tax deduction today, but withdrawals in retirement are generally taxed as ordinary income. And if your income is higher when you retire, you could end up paying more than you expected.
The real question isn’t just how much you can save today. It’s how much of your retirement money you’ll actually keep after taxes. A strong tax strategy considers your current income, future tax bracket, and the right mix of tax-deferred, tax-free, and taxable accounts.
Don’t let a small tax break today become a bigger tax problem tomorrow.
Comment RETIREMENT if you want to understand how to plan for taxes before you retire.
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Jerry Pani, MA, MBA, FCCA
Tax Strategist for High-Income Earners
TaxPlanStrategists.com