Roth IRA vs 401(k): Which Should You Prioritize?

At some point in your late twenties, you start to piece together that there are multiple types of retirement accounts and that you're probably supposed to be using more than one of them. The Roth IRA vs 401k question comes up constantly — and most people never get a clear answer.

You have a 401(k) through work — contributions come out before you see your paycheck, some portion of it your employer matches, and honestly you haven't thought much about it beyond that. But you keep hearing about Roth IRAs. Are they the same thing? Is one better? Should you be doing both?

This guide gives you a clear, direct answer — including the one thing most Roth IRA vs 401k explainers skip: it's not actually an either/or choice. We'll walk through contribution limits, tax treatment, the SECURE 2.0 changes affecting 2026, and exactly how to prioritize your dollars.

Astor is an SEC-registered investment advisor built for tech professionals navigating equity compensation, retirement accounts, and portfolio strategy.