Hitting your 401(k) match is a great start. But if you're already doing that and want to save more, there are five lesser-known accounts and tricks that can boost your retirement nest egg even further. A certified financial planner (CFP, a licensed money expert) says most savers stop right after the match — and miss out on real money because of it.

Quick Take

• HSAs (health savings accounts) offer triple tax breaks and can double as a stealth retirement account.
• You can actively choose between pretax and Roth 401(k) contributions instead of sticking with the default.
• High earners can use a "mega backdoor Roth" to save way beyond normal 401(k) limits.
• A separate "backdoor Roth IRA" can be stacked on top of that, for even more tax-free growth.
• A plain taxable brokerage account gives you flexibility the other accounts don't.

Use Your HSA Like a Hidden Retirement Account

A health savings account, or HSA, is a special account for medical costs. But it's also one of the best tax deals around.

Money goes in pretax (or is tax-deductible), grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free if used for medical expenses. That's three tax breaks in one account.

For 2026, you can put in up to $4,400 if you have self-only health coverage, or $8,750 for family coverage. People 55 and older can add another $1,000.

Here's the trick: you don't have to spend it right away. Pay medical bills out of pocket now, save your receipts, and let the HSA grow for years. Later, you can pay yourself back tax-free — even decades later — as long as you kept good records.

"I've worked with people in their 50s who'd been quietly saving old medical receipts for this exact reason, without ever calling it a strategy."

Pick Pretax or Roth on Purpose

Most people never choose between pretax and Roth savings in their 401(k). They just keep whatever option was set up when they started the job — even if that was 10 years ago.

Pretax money lowers your taxes now, but you pay taxes when you take it out later. Roth money is taxed now, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.

The right choice depends on whether you think your tax rate will be higher or lower in retirement. For 2026, you can put up to $24,500 into your 401(k), plus $8,000 more if you're 50 or older.

One new rule: if you earned more than $150,000 last year from your employer, your "catch-up" contributions in 2026 must go into a Roth account, not pretax. Easy rule to miss.

Try a Mega Backdoor Roth

This move is for people who've already maxed out their regular 401(k) and still have extra cash to save.

Some plans allow "after-tax" contributions on top of your normal 401(k) savings. For 2026, the total amount that can go into your 401(k) — from you and your employer combined — is $72,000. Add catch-up contributions, and that climbs to $80,000, or $83,250 for those age 60 to 63.

If your plan allows it, those after-tax dollars can later be converted into Roth money. Not every plan offers this, so check with HR first.

Stack a Backdoor Roth IRA Too

Here's something many people miss: a mega backdoor Roth and a backdoor Roth IRA are two separate things. You can do both in the same year.

A backdoor Roth IRA works by putting money into a regular IRA (that doesn't give you a tax deduction), then converting it to a Roth IRA. For 2026, the IRA limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 more if you're 50 or older.

"Your IRA contribution limit is separate from the limits that apply to your workplace plan."

One catch: if you already have money in other traditional IRAs, a tax rule called the "pro-rata rule" can make the conversion more complicated. Talk to a tax professional before moving money around.

Don't Ignore a Regular Brokerage Account

After all those special accounts, a plain taxable brokerage account might sound boring. But it has one big advantage: freedom.

There's no contribution limit, no income cap, and no penalty for pulling money out early. That makes it useful if you want to retire before age 59½, when most retirement accounts charge an early withdrawal penalty.

For 2026, married couples filing jointly pay 0% federal tax on long-term investment gains up to $98,900 of taxable income. You can also use investment losses to offset gains — or up to $3,000 of regular income — through something called tax-loss harvesting.

Why It Matters

None of these moves require you to do everything at once. The goal is simple: send your extra savings to the account that fits your tax situation and your timeline best. Over 20 or 30 years, these small, smart choices can add up to a much bigger, more flexible retirement fund.

Still catching up? Start with Got a Big Inheritance Check? Here's How to Cash It Without a Headache