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Starting at 50, you can contribute an extra $7,500-$11,250 to retirement accounts annually. Over 15 years, that's $300K+ extra.
+$7,500
401(k) Catch-Up
Total: $31,000/year (2024)
+$1,000
IRA Catch-Up
Total: $8,000/year
$300K+
15-Year Extra Savings
With growth at 7%
$500K at 50: With Catch-Up (green) vs. Standard (gray)
Account Catch-Up Amounts
| Feature | Standard Limit | With Catch-Up (50+) |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b)/457 | $23,500 | $31,000 (+$7,500) |
| SIMPLE IRA | $16,000 | $19,500 (+$3,500) |
| Traditional/Roth IRA | $7,000 | $8,000 (+$1,000) |
| HSA (Family) | $8,300 | $9,300 (+$1,000) |
| Solo 401(k) | $69,000 | $76,500 (+$7,500) |
SECURE 2.0: Super Catch-Up at 60-63
Max 401(k) First
$31,000/year. Get full employer match, then catch-up. Largest tax shelter.
Max Roth IRA
$8,000/year. Tax-free growth, no RMDs. Use backdoor Roth if income is too high.
Max HSA (if eligible)
$9,300 family. Triple tax advantage: deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawal for medical.
Mega Backdoor Roth (if available)
After-tax 401(k) contributions up to $69K total, converted to Roth. Not all plans allow.
Taxable Brokerage
After maxing all tax-advantaged accounts, invest in index funds. No contribution limit.
Max Tax-Advantaged (50+) = $31,000 (401k) + $8,000 (IRA) + $9,300 (HSA) = $48,300/year
That's $48,300/year in tax-advantaged space — use it all
Key Takeaways