
401(k) vs. IRA vs. Roth: What’s the Difference?
Explains how a 401(k) and IRA differ, and how Roth changes the tax picture, covering contribution limits, early withdrawals, and RMDs.
Investing means putting money into assets, such as stocks, bonds, or property, in the hope that they grow in value over time. Retirement saving is investing with a long horizon, often through accounts that the tax code treats in special ways. Government touches this area through tax rules, through securities regulators that police markets and punish fraud, and through agencies that set rules for retirement plans and digital assets.
An independent team explaining how government works

Explains how a 401(k) and IRA differ, and how Roth changes the tax picture, covering contribution limits, early withdrawals, and RMDs.

President Trump called them "tax-free investment accounts for every American child" during his State of the Union address, and that phrase is promising more than the…

For more than 50 years, quarterly earnings reports have set the rhythm of American capitalism. Every 90 days, publicly traded companies face a "moment of reckoning,"…

Before 1934, American financial markets were dangerous territory for average investors. A patchwork of state-level regulations known as "blue sky laws" governed securities trading. These laws…
Investment Basics and Types covers the main kinds of investments and how they are taxed, and Retirement Accounts covers the tax-favored accounts people use to save for later life.
Investment Protections and Fraud Prevention covers the regulators and laws that guard against fraud, and Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets covers how digital assets fit, or do not fit, into older financial rules.
Remember when a movie ticket cost five bucks? When you could fill up your gas tank for twenty dollars? When a decent cup of…
Today, Bitcoin exists in a complex web of federal and state oversight that would challenge even the most seasoned compliance officer. The Securities and…
Created in 2008 by a pseudonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin introduced a radical concept to the world: a form of…
When you earn money in America, how it gets taxed depends entirely on where it comes from. The tax system treats your paycheck very…
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a cornerstone of retirement planning for U.S. federal employees and members of the uniformed services. Functioning similarly to…
Navigating how the IRS taxes your stock dividends doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're new to investing or looking to optimize your existing…
When you sell an investment or asset for more than you paid for it, that profit is called a capital gain. If you sell…
Retirement savings accounts like Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) and employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s are designed to help individuals save for the long term.…
Navigating retirement savings can seem complex, but understanding the tools available is crucial for long-term financial security. The 401(k) plan is one of the…
Individual Retirement Arrangements, commonly known as IRAs, represent a cornerstone of personal retirement savings strategy in the United States. Established under federal law and…