[JKnight]

Keep in mind that many 401k plans offer a brokerage option that allows you to invest your pre-tax income with waaayyy less restrictions on what you can invest in. Usually they’ll allow everything a brokerage account will, although options are sometimes not allowed.

The pre-tax part is important! Your principle will be higher (compared to post-tax) and every percent of growth will be more impactful $ wise. Obviously you have to pay taxes eventually, so your personal situation might affect whether this is the right way to go. Personally, I will maximize my pre-tax contributions to get as much growth over the next 25 years, then do additional post-tax savings into a brokerage so I can have some savings where income tax is already paid (will still have to pay cap gains, qualified divs, etc).