Traditional tax-deferred accounts, also called pre-tax accounts, allow individuals to defer paying taxes on earned income by putting it into a retirement account where it grows tax-free until withdrawal, at which point it is taxed as income. This type of account, like the 401k, is beneficial for individuals expecting to have a lower tax rate in retirement. On the other hand, Roth accounts require individuals to pay taxes upfront on contributions, but the money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria. The choice between traditional and Roth accounts is essentially a decision on whether to pay taxes now or later, with most retirement account options now offering a Roth variant, such as the Roth IRA.

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