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Maxing out your retirement accounts is a common piece of advice from financial experts. It sounds like a smart, ambitious goal, and for some people, it is. Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey‘s company Ramsey Solutions calls it a “Shaquille O’Neal-level slam dunk” for building wealth over time. But just because it’s ideal on paper doesn’t mean it’s doable for everyone.

For this year, the maximum 401(k) contribution is $23,500. Those over 50 can add another $7,500, and some aged 60 to 63 can go even higher. Add a Roth IRA on top, with its own annual limit, and the total climbs quickly. According to Vanguard last year, only 14% of workers max out their 401(k) each year.

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In a recent Reddit thread on r/MiddleClassFinance, titled, “How many of you can afford to max your 401k and Roth IRA every year?” one commenter joked, “If you read Reddit, it’s closer to 120% of workers maxing out.”

The Reddit thread turned into an unrestrained discussion about who can realistically afford to hit those limits. While some users in high-earning households said they consistently max out both their 401(k) and Roth IRA, others described how tight their budgets would become if they tried.

“I make about $90K a year. I would have to contribute 26% of my check to max it out,” one person wrote. “It’s just not doable, especially with other savings goals. I feel OK with 15%.” Another added, “I could technically afford to do it, but then I’d have no life. Like 0 vacations & 0 fun. So I’m taking a more balanced approach.”

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On the other side, a single mom said, “I’m in no position to do this whatsoever. I contribute $300 a month. I’m fighting for full custody of my children.”

One person who says they’re middle class said, “There is no way with all our other bills we could max anything out. We have student loans and a mortgage and had daycare bills, medical payments, etc. We are lucky we can put anything in retirement.”

Ramsey Solutions advises waiting until you’re completely debt-free—including your mortgage—before trying to max out retirement accounts. According to the company, there are three situations where it makes sense to go all-in: you’re debt-free, a high-income earner, or trying to catch up on retirement savings.

“If you’re 100% debt-free and have an annual salary of around $156,600 or more, you could max out your 401(k) simply by investing your entire 15% through your workplace retirement plan,” Ramsey Solutions says.

For those who aren’t there yet, they suggest a step-by-step approach: contribute enough to get the employer match, then fund a Roth IRA, and finally return to the 401(k) to reach 15% of gross income.

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In the same Reddit thread, people shared a wide range of savings strategies shaped by life stage, income level and financial obligations. Some pointed out that employer matches and other benefits mean they don’t need to hit the maximum to stay on track. Another user said they maxed out both accounts for years but backed off after a divorce: “Feels like I got set back 10 years.”

Others stressed that liquidity matters too. “There is such a thing as being retirement poor, where all your wealth is tied up in retirement accounts with no access,” one person wrote.

Maxing out your 401(k) and Roth IRA can offer big long-term rewards, but most middle-class earners balance that goal against housing costs, childcare, debt and day-to-day living.

Financial experts like Ramsey offer a precise roadmap, but even they acknowledge that it’s not one-size-fits-all. Build toward those targets when you can, but don’t wreck your budget trying to force it.

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This article Financial Experts Say To Max Out Your 401(k) And Roth IRA Annually, But How Many People Can Actually Afford To Do It? originally appeared on Benzinga.com