How does a 401(k) plan differ from an individual retirement account (IRA)?

A 401(k) plan is designed to be established through an employer, allowing employees to save for retirement directly from their paychecks. This arrangement often includes a feature whereby employers may match employee contributions, enhancing the retirement savings potential.

While traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs are accounts that individuals can open independently through financial institutions, the 401(k) is intrinsically tied to the employment relationship, which means its structure and benefits are heavily influenced by the employer.

The other choices present common misconceptions. An IRA is accessible to a wide range of individuals, not just those who are self-employed. Additionally, 401(k) plans generally do have higher contribution limits compared to IRAs. Lastly, while both accounts offer tax advantages, they differ in terms of specific tax treatment and eligibility rules, thus not qualifying as the same in terms of tax benefits.