Maxed Out Your IRA in 2026? Here's Where to Put Your Retirement Savings Next.
Key Points
A 401(k) is a great option if it's available to you, especially if you qualify for a match.
Those with high-deductible health insurance plans can stash money in an HSA.
A taxable brokerage account could be a good choice for those hoping to retire early.
- The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›
Maxing out your IRA for the year is a big accomplishment, but if you have a lot of extra cash to spare, it can also be a frustrating ceiling. You can't contribute more to your IRA without triggering tax penalties, but that doesn't mean you're stuck waiting until January before you can set more money aside for retirement.
You have at least one and possibly several options to choose from. Here are three worth considering when deciding where to put your retirement savings for the rest of 2026.
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1. A 401(k)
Your 401(k) is an obvious choice if you have access to one through your job, especially if you qualify for an employer match and haven't claimed the entire thing. These accounts have much higher contribution limits than IRAs -- $24,500 in 2026 for those under 50 -- so you should have plenty of room to set aside more money here.
Log in to your online 401(k) account or check with your plan administrator to figure out how to change or set up your deferral amount. You can often choose between deferring a specific dollar amount or a percentage of each paycheck.
2. A health savings account (HSA)
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are supposed to be for medical savings, but they can double as great retirement accounts if you choose a plan that enables you to invest your funds. You can contribute up to $4,400 to one of these accounts in 2026 if you have a qualifying individual health insurance plan, or $8,750 if you have a qualifying family health insurance plan.
You're only eligible to contribute to one of these accounts if your insurance plan has a deductible of $1,700 or more for individuals or $3,400 or more for family plans. If you don't meet this criterion, you'll have to explore the other options on this list.
3. A taxable brokerage account
A taxable brokerage account is a nice fallback if you don't have access to a 401(k) or an HSA. These accounts don't offer the same upfront tax breaks on your contributions as the other two accounts, but if you hold your investments for more than a year before selling them, you'll pay the more affordable long-term capital gains tax, rather than the short-term capital gains tax.
The upside to stashing some money here is that you can withdraw it at any age without paying the early withdrawal penalty for taking money out of retirement accounts before age 59 1/2. So this could be a smart choice if you're considering an early retirement.
It's also fine to spread your money across several account types if more than one suits you. Think about what makes the most sense for you and act quickly to set up regular contributions for the rest of the year.
The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
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