5 Retirement Savings Strategies Beyond Your 401(K) Match

TL;DR

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A Kiplinger report describes five strategies for workers who already receive their full 401(k) match: use an HSA strategically, review pretax versus Roth contributions, and consider additional Roth and IRA options. Eligibility, plan rules and tax circumstances determine which approaches are available or suitable; the figures cited are 2026 limits.

Kiplinger has outlined five strategies for workers who already contribute enough to collect their full 401(k) match and want to save more for retirement. The report focuses on health savings accounts, tax treatment of 401(k) contributions, and Roth and IRA options, while noting that eligibility and employer-plan rules affect which strategies are available.

One approach is to use a health savings account (HSA) as more than a source for current medical bills. Kiplinger says eligible contributors may receive tax advantages on contributions, investment growth and withdrawals used for qualified medical expenses. For 2026, the report lists contribution limits of $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage, plus $1,000 for people 55 or older. Saving receipts to seek reimbursement later may be possible if the expense occurred after the HSA was established, was not reimbursed or deducted elsewhere, and records are retained.

The report also recommends reviewing whether to make pretax or Roth 401(k) contributions rather than accepting a plan default without reconsideration. Pretax contributions generally lower taxable income in the year they are made, while withdrawals are generally taxed later; Roth contributions do not provide a current deduction, but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Kiplinger gives the 2026 employee deferral limit as $24,500, with an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution for people 50 or older.

For some savers, the report describes a mega backdoor Roth and a separate backdoor Roth IRA. The former depends on a workplace plan permitting after-tax contributions and an in-plan conversion or in-service rollover. The IRA approach involves a nondeductible traditional IRA contribution followed by a Roth conversion. Kiplinger lists the 2026 IRA limit as $7,500, plus $1,100 for people 50 or older, and says IRA limits are separate from workplace-plan limits.

How the Strategies Expand Retirement Saving

The report matters to workers whose savings have outgrown the basic employer match, because the next available option may depend on tax treatment, account eligibility or plan features, not simply on increasing a 401(k) contribution. An HSA may combine retirement saving with qualified health-cost planning, while Roth and pretax accounts can create different tax outcomes when money is withdrawn.

These approaches are not interchangeable or universally available. The report says some strategies require eligibility for an HSA, higher savings capacity, or specific employer-plan provisions. The practical takeaway is to check account terms and tax circumstances before acting, rather than assume every worker can use all five strategies.

From Employer Match to Additional Accounts

A 401(k) match is an employer contribution tied to an employee’s own saving, subject to the plan’s terms. Kiplinger’s report addresses what workers might examine after contributing enough to receive the full match. It presents the recommendations as strategies that can be overlooked, rather than as a new government program or change to retirement-account rules.

The report gives several 2026 limits and describes a rule for certain catch-up contributions: it says that if an employee’s 2025 FICA wages from the employer sponsoring the plan exceeded $150,000, 2026 catch-up contributions generally must be Roth. Account rules and individual tax situations can affect the application of these figures. The material supplied here describes four strategies in detail and begins a fifth, but does not provide its full explanation.

““The bigger opportunities — and the ones I see even diligent savers miss — are found a level up from there.””

— Kiplinger report

Eligibility and Plan Rules Vary

The source material does not identify a specific reader’s eligibility, tax bracket, employer-plan provisions or medical expenses, so it cannot establish which strategy would suit an individual. HSA eligibility and qualified-expense rules, the availability of after-tax 401(k) contributions, and permitted Roth conversion routes need to be checked against current account and plan terms.

The supplied report excerpt starts a section on a fifth strategy but ends before naming or explaining it. Its details are therefore not confirmed by the material provided and are not included here. The report also does not establish that using these strategies will produce a particular investment return or retirement outcome.

Check Accounts Before Contributing

Workers considering the options can begin by checking their employer’s plan documents or asking the plan administrator whether after-tax contributions and Roth conversion routes are permitted. Those considering an HSA should confirm eligibility and keep records of any expenses they plan to reimburse later. For tax-sensitive decisions, Kiplinger recommends comparing current and expected retirement tax circumstances, potentially with a retirement-planning tool or professional guidance.

The next step is personal verification, not a single deadline or action announced in the report. Contribution limits and tax rules are specific to the year cited, so savers should confirm the applicable rules before making contributions or conversions.

Key Questions

What is the main development in this report?

Kiplinger has published five retirement-saving strategies for people who already contribute enough to receive their full 401(k) match. The supplied material details HSA use, pretax versus Roth 401(k) contributions, mega backdoor Roth contributions and a backdoor Roth IRA.

What are the 2026 401(k) employee contribution limits cited?

The report lists a $24,500 employee deferral limit for 2026, with an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution for people 50 or older. It also describes a separate combined employee-and-employer limit for certain plan contributions, subject to plan rules.

Can every worker use a mega backdoor Roth?

No. According to the report, the workplace plan must allow after-tax contributions and a conversion route, such as an in-plan conversion or in-service rollover. Workers should check their plan terms rather than assume the option is available.

What conditions apply to delayed HSA reimbursement?

The report says an expense must have occurred after the HSA was established, must not have been reimbursed or deducted elsewhere, and must be supported by adequate records. HSA eligibility and qualified medical expense rules also apply.

Does the supplied source explain all five strategies?

No. The provided excerpt begins the backdoor Roth IRA section but cuts off before its full explanation and does not include the fifth strategy. The missing details cannot be confirmed from the source material supplied.

Source: rss