Maxed out my 401(k): now what?

Once you hit the employee deferral limit, further payroll deferrals are not allowed for that year. For many households the next accounts are an HSA if eligible, an IRA if the income rules allow it, and then a taxable brokerage account.

Arc · Published September 18, 2026 · Updated September 18, 2026

The limit is the employee deferral

Employer contributions do not count toward the employee elective deferral limit. They count toward a higher overall plan limit. Hitting $24,500 of your own 2026 deferrals does not mean the match stops, if the match is still within plan rules.

A common next sequence

HSA, if your health plan qualifies, up to that year’s limit.
Traditional or Roth IRA, if you are allowed to contribute or deduct.
Taxable brokerage for the rest of the savings rate.
After-tax 401(k) contributions and a mega backdoor Roth, only if the plan allows them and you understand the steps.

Do not invent room

Backdoor Roth IRAs and mega backdoor Roths are plan-and-statute specific. A general article cannot tell you that your plan allows after-tax contributions or that a backdoor will be tax-free. If those phrases are new, that is a question for the plan document or a tax professional, not a reason to guess.

Common questions

Should I stop at the match if I cannot save more?

If the choice is the match or nothing, take the match. “Maxed out” is a different situation: you already filled the deferral and still have savings left.

Sources

IRS, 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026. 2026 employee elective deferral is $24,500. Age-50 catch-up is $8,000. Confirm the year you are funding.