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I am currently in my mid-twenties and have a long way to go before retirement. However I would like to move to Europe (EU-member countries only) in the not too distant future. I plan on staying there for quite some time (greater than ten years) but I don't want to rule out never returning to the US.

If my current employer offers a 401k should I set aside part of my paycheck for it? Would the answer change if my employer provided a match (currently they don't).

I am a US citizen with EU family (so a work visa in Europe shouldn't be difficult to get)

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    Are you a US citizen?
    – littleadv
    Nov 24, 2015 at 8:20
  • 1
    @littleadv yes, made the edit
    – KDEx
    Nov 24, 2015 at 8:21

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The fact that you are planning to move abroad does not affect the decision to contribute to a 401(k).

The reason for this is that after you leave your employer, you can roll all the money over from your 401(k) into a self-directed traditional IRA. That money can stay invested until retirement, and it doesn't matter where you are living before or after retirement age.

So, when deciding whether or not to use a 401(k), you need to look at the details of your employer's plan:

  1. Does your employer offer a match? If so, you should definitely take advantage of it.

  2. Are there good investments available inside the 401(k)? Some plans offer very limited options. If you can't find anything good to invest in, you don't want to contribute anything beyond the match; instead, contribute to an IRA, where you can invest in a fund that you like.

  3. The other reason to use a 401(k) is that the contribution limits can be higher. If you want to invest more than you are allowed to in an IRA, the 401(k) might allow that.

In your case, since there is no match, it is up to you whether you want to participate or not. An IRA will allow more flexibility in investing options. If you need to invest more than your IRA limit, the 401(k) might allow that. When you leave your employer, you should probably roll any 401(k) money into an IRA.

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A few years ago I had been contributing with my employer to a 401(k). When I then moved abroad, I found it difficult to stay in touch with my 401(k). The toll-free numbers I had used inside the US, to contact the plan administrators, did not work from overseas.

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  • Any U.S. based financial adviser can help you roll your 401(k) over into an IRA. If you have a new question, click the "Ask Question" link at the top of the page.
    – Ben Miller
    Dec 22, 2015 at 19:55

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