What are the differences between contributing to a pre-tax or post-tax 401k plan and how do they impact my retirement savings?

Answer 1

Contributing to a pre-tax 401(k) plan means you don't pay taxes on the money you put in until you withdraw it in retirement. Contributing to a post-tax 401(k) plan means you pay taxes on the money before you put it in, but won't have to pay taxes on it when you withdraw it in retirement. The choice between the two can impact your retirement savings by affecting how much you have available to use in retirement and how much you pay in taxes.