What if I’ve maxed out all my traditional accounts?

You can always invest in a taxable account, which you can open through just about any brokerage firm. This comes with a lot of flexibility: You can put in as much as you want, invest it just about wherever you want, and take the money out whenever you want. That’s nothing to scoff at: If you’re planning on retiring early, or simply withdrawing your assets early, you’ll want to have the money somewhere that you won’t get penalized for doing so. Many brokerages now offer low-cost electronic financial advice— so-called robo-advisers—to help your planning. One key area of investment to consider for your taxable accounts: index ETFs (exchange traded funds). These track common market benchmarks like the S&P 500 or the Russell 3000, which tend to grow over time. ETFs often have very low fees, and provide diversification and tax efficiency, important considerations for retirement.