Retirement guide category

401(k) & IRA

Workplace plans, IRAs, Roth decisions, rollovers, RMDs, and investment fees.

Published guidance includes rules verified for 2026 · Latest source check July 28, 2026

The short answer

Start with the whole decision.

A retirement account decision should consider taxes, fees, investment fit, withdrawal timing, and account rules together. A lower fee or a Roth conversion can help in the right situation, but neither is automatically the best move for every household.

Translate percentages and tax choices into long-term dollar effects.
Keep account fees, advisory costs, taxes, and investment fit separate.
Check rollover, conversion, and RMD rules before moving money.

Explore the decision

Questions this section helps answer

Fees and investment costs

Find costs in plan disclosures and compare their possible compounding effect in dollars.

Traditional, Roth, and conversions

Understand when taxes are paid and why a conversion decision belongs in a multi-year plan.

Rollovers, withdrawals, and RMDs

Review account-movement choices, withdrawal order, and age-based distribution rules.

Reviewed and sourced

401(k) & IRA guides

2 published guides

401(k) & IRA

Should You Split Roth and Traditional Contributions?

Learn when splitting Roth and Traditional contributions may reduce tax uncertainty, how to choose a starting mix, and which household factors to review.

16 min read · Updated July 28, 2026Read guide →

401(k) & IRA

How Much Are 401(k) Fees Costing You? A 20-Year Example

See how annual 401(k) fees can change a $500,000 portfolio over 20 years, where to find the costs, and which numbers deserve a closer look.

11 min read · Updated July 22, 2026Read guide →

Primary-source standard

Where we verify the rules

Clear Nest Egg uses official U.S. government sources for changing rules and clearly separates educational examples from personalized financial advice.

Our category-page rule

Every published guide must identify its author, sources, rules year, verification date, next review date, related calculator, and related reading.

Read our editorial policy →

Common questions

401(k) & IRA FAQ

Plain-English orientation before you use a calculator or make an irreversible decision.

How much can a small 401(k) fee matter?

The effect depends on the balance, return, contributions, fee, and time horizon. Fees reduce both the account and the future growth that money might otherwise have earned.

Is a Roth conversion always tax-saving?

No. A conversion accelerates taxable income. Its value depends on current and future tax rates, Medicare and ACA thresholds, available cash, and the rest of the household plan.

Should I automatically roll a 401(k) into an IRA?

No. Compare fees, investments, services, creditor protections, withdrawal rules, and access to institutional funds before deciding.

Make the guidance personal

See how the decision fits your retirement.

Start with the calculator, then carry the topic into your free Retirement Snapshot.

Calculate fee impact →