The Account Decision Tree — Mrs. Dow Jones
The Account Decision Tree

Your 401k is not the plan. It’s one seat on the plane.

You got handed exactly one retirement instruction — contribute to your 401k. That’s the whole curriculum. And it works right up until your situation looks even slightly different, and then there’s no step two.

Three questions. You’ll get the accounts you should open, in the order you should open them, for your exact situation.

Question 1 of 3

Do you have a retirement plan through work?

A 401k, 403b, 457, or TSP — anything your employer set up.

Question 2 of 3

Does your employer match your contributions?

A match means they put in money when you do. Check your benefits portal if you’re not sure — it’s worth two minutes.

Question 3 of 3

Any of these true?

Tap all that apply. Or none — skip ahead.

Your plan

Unlock the rest of your plan.

We’ll email you the full list so it’s there when you actually sit down to do it. No spam, and you can leave whenever.

You’ll also get the newsletter. It’s good, we promise.

Everybody skips this part

Opening the account isn’t the finish line.

People open a Roth IRA, move money in, feel accomplished, and leave it sitting in cash for three years. The money’s in there. It just isn’t doing anything.

Money in the account is not money invested. There’s a second button after the transfer, and that second button is the whole point. Fund it, then invest it.

Not financial advice. Just the map nobody handed you.