OK... here goes. My employer has an excellent 401K program. I can contribute up to 15% (up to the Fed. max, what is it, btw?). They match 15% through the year and an additional 10% at the end of the calendar year. Their match is 100% vested and starts after 3 months of employment. Eligibility is immediately upon hiring.

I am not taking part yet, because I'm paying off some very unFoolishly high-interest debt, but in a few months, I'll be out from under that beast and ready to start investing.

The question: Should I go with the 401K, letting the Wise control my money in some (Principal Financial Group) fund because of a) the "free money" of the match and b) the tax deferral, OR, should I do it myself given that even with a simple F4, I can (likely) beat it? (And, over only a few years of better interest, assuming I do beat it, make up the match.)

Problems with doing it myself: I would want to wait until I have about $4K to invest before starting a F4 portfolio. What do I do with the money while it's accumulating? (This is an ongoing question... what do you do with the money for the twelve months and one day before you re-calculate your F4?)

I've read all the Fool 401K stuff, but haven't seen anything address whether or not it's better to do it oneself.

I'm clueless about the benefits/problems of the tax deferral issue...

Help, Oh Fools!
Musik