Strategies and Tactics to Maximize Your 401k (and common mistakes to avoid) SB1740

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Sep 26, 2025

Guest

Lacey Langford

Paula Pant, a personal finance writer and host of the Afford Anything podcast, shares insights on maximizing 401(k) strategies and the Roth vs. Traditional debate. Jesse Kramer, from Personal Finance for Long Term Investors, emphasizes the importance of fee analysis and smart investment approaches. Meanwhile, Lacey Langford, who hosts The MILMO Show, discusses unique military benefits like the Thrift Savings Plan. Together, they tackle common 401(k) mistakes, practical tips for capturing employer matches, and the significance of understanding fees for better retirement outcomes.

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ADVICE

Always Capture The Employer Match

Get your full employer match before doing anything else in retirement accounts.
Treat the match as free guaranteed return and prioritize contributions up to the match immediately.

ADVICE

Start Small And Keep Contributions

If you feel you "can't afford" contributions, try starting small and increase later.
Set contributions and leave them; many people never lower them after trying.

ADVICE

Pick A Strategy And Diversify

Choose an investment strategy rather than leaving money in cash or default.
Use risk tolerance and a simple diversified plan (e.g., total market index or target date) to start.

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What if tweaking just a few “knobs” in your 401(k) could mean the difference between retiring with confidence or wondering if you’ll ever stop working? In this spirited episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug are joined by three of our favorite money minds — Paula Pant from AffordAnything, Jesse Cramer from Personal Finance For Long Term Investors, and Lacey Langford from The MILMO Show — to break down everything you thought you knew (and a few things you probably didn’t) about retirement planning.

From the basics of employer matches and contribution strategies to the great Roth vs. Traditional debate, we’re exploring the smart moves that can supercharge your 401(k) — and the missteps that can quietly drain your future nest egg. Along the way, you’ll pick up clever tips, a few head-scratching stories, and some beer-fueled trivia that will leave you laughing harder than your HR rep when you ask if “401(k)” is the Wi-Fi password.

And because this is Stacking Benjamins, the conversation goes far beyond just investment allocations and tax advantages. We dig into why behavioral traps can derail your savings plan, how military families can maximize their benefits, and why understanding fees is one of the most underrated wealth-building moves you can make. So grab a pretzel, pull up a chair, and let’s talk about how to make your money work harder — so future you can kick back with a stein and say, “I nailed this retirement thing.”

How to “tune” your 401(k) like a pro — from employer matches to smart contribution strategies.
The real differences between Roth and Traditional accounts (and how to decide which is right for you).
Why understanding your 401(k) fees could add thousands to your future balance.
How military families can make the most of unique retirement benefits.
The biggest mistakes people make with their 401(k)s — and how to avoid them.
Plus: A special Oktoberfest-themed trivia showdown and plenty of basement banter.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/tweaking-your-retirement-account-1740

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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