Maxing out a 401(k) is one of the most reliable foundations for retirement wealth. This workplace account lets you make pre-tax contributions to a retirement plan, and in many cases your contributions also unlock matching funds from your employer. For 2026, the employee contribution ceiling sits at $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025. Workers age 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution on top of that, for a total of $32,500. That catch-up figure itself rose from $7,500 in 2025, making 2026 one of the more generous years for older savers. Under a SECURE 2.0 Act provision now in effect, employees between ages 60 and 63 can make an even larger “super catch-up” of $11,250 instead of the standard $8,000, pushing their total to $35,750 if their plan allows.
Even so, many people who max out their 401(k) are unsure where additional savings should go. If you have a maxed-out workplace account and are trying to figure out your next step, here are seven options worth considering.
1. A fully-funded emergency fund
If you don’t already have an emergency fund parked in a high-yield savings account, building one should sit at the top of your priority list alongside your 401(k) contributions.
A well-constructed emergency fund holds three to six months of living expenses, though you may want more cushion if you are the sole earner in your household, your income is variable, or you have ongoing health concerns. The fund’s purpose is to absorb financial shocks without forcing you to touch your retirement savings. If you lose your job or face a serious illness, a solid reserve keeps the mortgage current and the bills paid while you recover.
Early withdrawals from a 401(k) trigger a 10% penalty plus ordinary income taxes on every dollar taken out. Avoiding that cost alone makes a properly funded emergency reserve one of the highest-return decisions you can make, because the “return” is simply a penalty you never have to pay.
2. Debt payoff
Carrying debt does not mean you should abandon other financial goals, but the type of debt you hold shapes the right approach. High-interest debt from credit cards, medical bills, or personal loans deserves aggressive repayment. Eliminating those balances delivers a guaranteed, risk-free return: every dollar paid down stops generating interest that would otherwise compound against you for months or years.
Lower-interest debt is a different calculation entirely. Student loans and mortgages are structured for long repayment timelines, and their interest is often tax-deductible depending on your income and filing status. When the after-tax cost of that debt is modest, directing extra cash into the stock market can produce a better long-run result than accelerating the payoff schedule. The key is comparing your loan’s effective interest rate against a realistic expected investment return, then making a deliberate choice based on the numbers.
3. A traditional or Roth IRA
A 401(k) is not the only account that provides tax-advantaged retirement savings. Depending on your income, you may also be eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA. For 2026, the annual IRA contribution limit is $7,500, up from $7,000 in 2025. Savers age 50 and older can add a $1,100 catch-up, bringing their total to $8,600. That bump to $1,100 is notable: it is the first increase to the IRA catch-up amount since 2006, made possible by SECURE 2.0 now indexing that figure to inflation for the first time.
A traditional IRA delivers benefits similar to a 401(k): contributions may be deductible and growth is tax-deferred, though there is no employer match. The real upside is freedom of choice. You can open an IRA with any brokerage and invest in nearly anything, from individual stocks to mutual funds to gold or cryptocurrency with the right provider. A 401(k) typically confines you to a curated menu of funds, so an IRA meaningfully widens your investment universe.
A Roth IRA works differently. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so there is no upfront deduction. In exchange, qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. For 2026, the Roth IRA income phase-out range for single filers runs from $153,000 to $168,000. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out range is $242,000 to $252,000. One additional 2026 development worth knowing: high earners whose FICA wages exceeded $150,000 in the prior year must now make any 401(k) catch-up contributions on a Roth basis under a SECURE 2.0 provision that took effect January 1, 2026. For those savers, the after-tax nature of Roth accounts is no longer optional for catch-up dollars. Those above the Roth income thresholds can still access Roth benefits through a backdoor conversion, which involves contributing to a traditional IRA and then converting those funds to a Roth.
Both IRA types share one combined annual contribution limit, well below the 401(k) ceiling. The additional tax diversification they provide is still worth pursuing when your income allows it.
4. A health savings account (HSA)
If you are enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan, you have access to one of the most tax-efficient savings vehicles available: a Health Savings Account. Many financial planners argue that an HSA deserves priority even ahead of maxing out a 401(k), once you have captured your full employer match.
The appeal is the HSA’s triple tax advantage. Contributions go in pre-tax, the money grows tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualifying medical expenses. No other common savings account combines all three benefits at once. A 401(k) and a traditional IRA each give you a tax break either now or later, not both. An HSA does both simultaneously. For 2026, you can contribute up to $4,400 with self-only HDHP coverage, or $8,750 with family coverage. Those 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up.
If you stay healthy and avoid large medical bills, the account still works in your favor. After age 65, you can withdraw HSA funds for any purpose without penalty, though non-medical withdrawals are taxed at ordinary income rates, making the account function much like a traditional IRA for general use. Healthcare is consistently among the largest expenses retirees face, so the HSA’s flexibility makes it a powerful complement to any long-term savings plan.
5. Saving for other financial goals
Retirement accounts are not the only place your extra savings can do meaningful work. Depending on where you are in life, you may want to direct money toward a home down payment, a future vehicle purchase, or a significant trip. These are legitimate uses of capital, and structuring your savings for them is worth the effort.
For goals a few months to a few years out, a high-yield savings account or a Certificate of Deposit can keep your money accessible while earning a competitive return. For longer-horizon goals like funding a child’s college education, a 529 plan provides tax-advantaged growth designed specifically for educational expenses. Many states also offer a deduction or credit on state income taxes for 529 contributions, adding another layer of benefit. Throughout, the key is matching the account type to the timeline: the longer the runway, the more you can afford to invest rather than simply save.
6. A taxable brokerage account
Once you have maximized your tax-advantaged options, a taxable brokerage account is the natural next destination for additional savings. These accounts come with no special tax deductions and no tax-free withdrawals, but they carry one important advantage: flexibility. There are no income limits, no contribution caps, and no penalties for withdrawing your money at any time.
The tax treatment is also more favorable than many people expect. Assets held for at least one year qualify for long-term capital gains rates, which are lower than ordinary income tax rates for most investors. For anyone pursuing early retirement, a taxable brokerage account is especially valuable. You can draw income from it freely while waiting to reach age 59½, the age at which penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) or IRA become available.
7. Alternative investments
Beyond traditional markets, alternative investments such as cryptocurrency, real estate, precious metals, and private credit offer diversification that stocks and bonds alone cannot provide. The tradeoff is higher risk and, in many cases, lower liquidity. Outsized returns are possible in some alternatives, but so are significant losses. A financial advisor can help you assess what, if any, alternative assets belong in your portfolio given your risk tolerance and time horizon.
Every option on this list has merit, and the right combination depends on your income, goals, and stage of life. Working with a financial advisor to build a personalized plan is often the most efficient way to put additional savings to work.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect that the 2026 standard 401(k) catch-up contribution for savers age 50 and older rose to $8,000, up from $7,500 in 2025, and to include the SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up mandate that took effect January 1, 2026, requiring high earners with prior-year FICA wages above $150,000 to make all catch-up contributions on a Roth basis.
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