talk about legitimate ways of sheltering money

[lookout123]

i'll take a 401K over a pension any day of the week.

your taxdeferred earnings compounding over a long period of time is incredibly powerful. Keep in mind that you aren't going to take your entire 401K balance out at once at retirement. You will leave your company, roll the 401K to a traditional IRA and begin withdrawing only what you need - you control the taxes. In fact, you should meet with your planner and accountant to run numbers on converting your traditional IRA to Roth so that you have even greater long term gain and control your money even further.

If you aren't funding a Roth (and you're eligible) do it, even if that means not putting as much into your 401K. Hopefully you can fully fund both, but if you can't fund your 401K to the amount you need to get any available match, then fund your Roth, then finish what you can in your 401K. Obviously I don't know, your particulars so talk to your planner, accountant, and grandmother.

<insert a bazillion disclosures here>