<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=331510594798275&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Skip to Content Oregonians Credit Union Oregonians Credit Union
  • Save & Spend
    Save & Spend See an Overview
    • Current Rates
    • Disclosures
    • Fee Schedule
    • Credit Calculators
    • Savings
      • Regular Share Accounts
      • Youth Savings
      • Homebuyer Savings
      • Money Market Accounts
      • Club Accounts
      • Share Certificates
      • IRA Accounts
    • Checking
      • My Rewards Checking
      • My Interest Checking
      • Checking Comparison
    • Credit
      • Credit Cards
      • Overdraft Line of Credit
    • Digital
      • Digital Banking Online
      • Mobile App
      • Digital Payments
      • Mobile Wallets
  • Borrow
    Borrow See an Overview
    • Current Rates
    • Mortgage Rates
    • Loan Calculators
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Auto
      • New & Used
      • First Time Auto Buyer
      • Local Car Search
    • Home
      • HELOCs
      • Fixed Rate Equity
      • Mortgages
      • Home Improvement
    • Personal
      • Personal Loans
      • Line of Credit
      • Share Secured Loans
    • Recreational
      • Bicycles & Electric Bikes
      • RVs & ATVs
      • Motorcycles
  • Plan
    Plan See an Overview
    • Retirement Calculators
    • Financial Planning
    • Insurance
      • Auto
      • Home
      • AD&D
      • Life
    • Protections
      • Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
      • Mechanical Repair Coverage (MRC)
      • Debt Protection

    Featured Program

    Oregonians Financial Planning image with father and baby walking

    Oregonians Financial Planning

    Plan for the road ahead and manage your wealth along the way.

    Learn more
  • Business
    Business
    • Current Rates
    • Disclosures
    • Fee Schedule
    • Business Checking
      • Business Membership
      • Small Business Checking
      • Business Interest Checking
    • Business Loans
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Investment & Rental Property
      • Equipment Loans
      • Term Loans
      • Credit Cards
      • Line of Credit
    • Business Resources
      • See all
  • Learn
    Learn See an Overview
    • Education Explore videos, blogs, fraud prevention tips, and our knowledge base of information..
      • InfORmed Blog
      • FAQs Knowledge Base
      • Fraud Watch
    • Financial Tools Browse calculators, applications, disclosures, and apply for hardship assistance.
      • Resources & Disclosures
      • Calculators
      • Hardship Assistance

    Featured Resource

    It’s a Money Thing

    Get money savvy fast with fun videos and lesson plans on earning, saving, and more!

    Learn more
  • About
    About
    • About Us
      • Who Can Join
      • Community Involvement
      • Scholarships
      • Latest Annual Report
      • Careers
    • Locations
      • Beaverton
      • Gresham
      • Milwaukie
      • NE Portland
      • Oregon City
      • Prineville
      • St. Johns

    CO-OP logo

    30,000+ fee-free ATMs

    Get cash at 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, many of which will take deposits into your Oregonians accounts.

    Find an ATM
  • I want to...
    • Become a Member
    • Talk to Someone
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Open an Account
    • Check Loan Status
    • See Current Rates
Account Access
  • Forgot Password
  • Forgot User Name

Don't have an account?

Enroll
Routing #: 323075709
  • Locations
  • Rates
  • Contact
Call or Text: 503-239-5336
Join
  • I want to...
    • Become a Member
    • Talk to Someone
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Open an Account
    • Check Loan Status
    • See Current Rates
  • Locations
  • Rates
  • Contact
Account Access
  • Forgot Password
  • Forgot User Name

Don't have an account?

Enroll
Blog
    • Everyday Finance
    • Budgeting
    • Fraud Prevention
    • Finances
    • Savings
    • Holidays
    • Scams
    • Home Financing
    • Debt
    • Saving
    • Credit Cards
    • Investing
    • Car Buying
    • Fraud Watch
    • Home Improvement
    • Community
    • Homeownership
    • identity theft
    • Taxes
    • bills
    • Insurance
    • Travel Tips
    • Financial Wellness
    • Mortgage
    • retirement
    • vacation
    • Financial Security
    • shopping
    • Credit
    • General Health
    • Home Loans
    • car
    • house
    • investment
    • marriage
    • school
    • summer
    • 401(k)
    • Cash
    • frugal living
    • heloc
    • interest
    • job hunting
    • parenting
    • thanksgiving
    • winter
    • Auto Loans
    • DIY
    • Debit
    • First-Time Homeowner
    • Home Equity Loan
    • Home Inspection
    • Housing Market
    • Mobile Wallets
    • Mortgages
    • Personal Loans
    • Scholarships
    • Selling Your Home
    • Share Secured Loans
    • Spending
    • Student Loan
    • Telemarketing
    • Your Credit
    • camping
    • credit card
    • financing
    • gas
    • goals
    • grant
    • hacker
    • health insurance
    • heritage
    • insurance myths
    • insurance policy
    • kids and money
    • life insurance
    • malware
    • medical history
    • money management
    • mother's day
    • motorcycle
    • mutual funds
    • rv
    • samsung pay
    • security
    • single parents
    • skip payment
    • skipapay
    • spanish
    • stimulus
    • technology
    • thriving
    • trade in
    • wellness

All You Need to Know about 401(k)s

Oregonians Credit Union Oregonians Credit Union Aug 28, 2024 2 min

One of the most effective tools for a comfortable retirement is a 401(k) plan. This employer-sponsored retirement savings plan has many benefits, making it a cornerstone of retirement planning for millions of Americans.

Here’s what you need to know about the 401(k) and how to maximize it.

How do 401(k)s work?

A 401(k) plan allows employees to save and invest a portion of their paycheck before taxes are paid. This pre-tax contribution means that the money put into the 401(k) reduces the individual’s taxable income for that year, potentially lowering their overall tax bill. 

Employers often match a portion of employee contributions, which is essentially free money added to your retirement savings.

Tax benefits and compound growth

One of the most attractive features of a 401(k) is the tax deferral on earnings. Investments in a 401(k) grow tax-deferred until you withdraw the money, usually after age 59½. This tax deferral allows your investments to grow faster than they would in a taxable account, since money that would have been used to pay taxes is being invested and earning returns. With compound interest, this can lead to exponential growth in your retirement savings. 

Diversification and investment options

401(k) plans typically offer a range of investment options, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and sometimes even company stock. This variety allows you to diversify your portfolio, which is a key strategy for managing risk. 

Potential drawbacks 

While 401(k) plans offer significant advantages, there are potential drawbacks to consider. One is the limited control over investment choices compared to an individual retirement account (IRA). The investment options in a 401(k) are selected by the plan administrator, and while you can choose from this selection, it may not include all the assets you’d choose yourself.

It’s also important to remember that 401(k)s have penalties for early withdrawal. If you withdraw money from your 401(k) before age 59½, you’ll typically owe a 10% early withdrawal penalty on top of regular income taxes. 

Finally, some 401(k) plans have high administrative fees or expensive investment options that will decrease your overall savings. 

How to maximize your 401(k) benefits

To get the most from your 401(k), start by contributing enough to get the full employer match. Next, consider increasing your contributions over time. Lastly, take advantage of catch-up contributions if you’re age 50 or older. 

Getting started

If you’re interested in opening a 401(k), check with your employer to see if they offer the quintessential retirement account to employees. Most businesses do, and getting started is as easy as filling out some paperwork. Once you’ve enrolled in a 401(k), you’ll be offered a selection of investment opportunities for your funds. Make your choices and your 401(k) is good to go! 

Use this guide to learn how to open a 401(k) and manage it effectively.

Topics Covered

  • Everyday Finance
  • retirement
  • Finances
  • Saving
  • 401(k)
  • Savings

Subscribe to our Blog

Get the latest insights sent directly to your inbox.

Related Posts

Nov 9, 2022 2 min
Step 10 of 12 to Financial Wellness: Plan for Retirement
retirement
Mar 26, 2025 2 min
2025 Changes to Retirement Plans
retirement
Sep 29, 2021 2 min
Your Complete Guide to Retiring Alone
retirement
Jan 9, 2019 2 min
Should I Refinance Before I Retire?
Home Financing
Oregonians Credit Union

6915 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR 97267 

Call or Text

503-239-5336

Out of Area

800-982-2974

Routing #

323075709

Download our App

  • App Store Download
  • Google Play Store Download
  • Save & Spend
    • Open a New Account
    • Savings
    • Checking
    • Credit
    • Digital Banking
  • Borrow
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Vehicle Loans
    • Home Loans
    • Recreational Loans
    • Personal Loans
    • Business Loans
  • Plan
    • Insurance
    • Protections
    • Financial Planning
  • Learn
    • Informed Blog
    • Fraud Watch
    • It's a Money Thing
    • Calculators
    • Hardship Assistance
  • Business
    • Business Accounts
    • Business Loans
    • Business Resources
  • About
    • Become a Member
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
    • Privacy & Disclosures
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Site Map
    • Digital Banking Login

  • NCUA
  • Equal Housing Opportunity
©2025 Oregonians Credit Union All rights reserved.

You are leaving OregoniansCU.com

By accessing this link, you will be leaving Oregonian Credit Union's website and entering a website hosted by another party. Please be advised that you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of, the privacy and security policies of Oregonian Credit Union's website. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy and security policies of the site you are entering, which may be different than those of Oregonian Credit Union.

 

Subscribe