Workplace Retirement & 401(k) Strategy
Am I actually getting everything my plan allows — or just maxing it out?
For most high earners the 401(k) is a set-and-forget deduction. But the plan inside your paycheck is often the most underused tool you own. Mega-backdoor Roth room, after-tax conversions, in-service rollovers, and concentrated company stock decisions can quietly move six figures over a career. We work the plan as hard as you worked to earn it — coordinated with your equity, your tax picture, and the rest of your wealth.
What this covers.
Four levers inside the plan.
Contribution & match capture
- Full employer-match optimization
- True-up timing so you never leave match on the table
- Pre-tax vs. Roth deferral mix by bracket
- Catch-up & super catch-up sequencing
After-tax & mega-backdoor Roth
- After-tax contribution room analysis
- Mega-backdoor Roth conversions
- In-service distribution & in-plan Roth rollovers
- Coordination with backdoor Roth IRA
Concentrated company stock
- NUA (net unrealized appreciation) analysis
- Company-stock concentration & diversification
- Coordination with RSU/ESPP equity stack
- Lump-sum vs. rollover decision modeling
Rollover & wind-down
- 401(k)-to-IRA rollover strategy at transition
- Consolidation of legacy & orphaned plans
- RMD planning & bracket management
- Roth conversion runway before RMDs begin
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
I already max out my 401(k) — is there anything left to do?
Usually, yes. Maxing the standard deferral is the floor, not the ceiling. Many executive plans allow after-tax contributions well beyond the elective limit, which can be converted to Roth (the "mega-backdoor") — room most people never use. We confirm what your specific plan permits and build the sequence around it.
What is a mega-backdoor Roth, and does my plan allow it?
It's a strategy that uses after-tax 401(k) contributions plus in-plan Roth conversions or in-service rollovers to move large sums into Roth — tax-free growth far above the normal Roth limits. Whether it's available depends on your plan's specific provisions; we review your plan document to confirm before recommending anything.
I have a lot of company stock in my 401(k). Is that a problem?
It can be both a concentration risk and a tax opportunity. The NUA rules can let you pay long-term capital gains rates rather than ordinary income on the appreciation — but only if the distribution is handled correctly. We model it against simply diversifying, in coordination with your broader equity comp.
Should I roll my old 401(k)s into an IRA?
Sometimes — and sometimes not. Rolling to an IRA can simplify and broaden your options, but it can also close off strategies like NUA or backdoor Roth contributions. The right answer depends on your stock, your future Roth plans, and creditor-protection considerations. We walk through the tradeoffs rather than defaulting to a rollover.
How does this fit with the rest of my plan at Lake House?
The 401(k) doesn't sit in isolation. Your deferral mix, Roth conversions, and stock decisions all interact with your equity compensation, your tax bracket in a given year, and your liquidity events. We coordinate the plan inside your paycheck with everything else, rather than optimizing it in a vacuum.
Let's see what your plan is actually capable of.
A short review of your plan's provisions and your current setup. No pitch. No obligation.