401K versus Roth IRA
Right now I'm military (no 401K) and am fully funding my Roth IRA.
Some of the companies I'm looking at have a 401K with matching funds.
Long term, which will benefit more? The tax free withdrawal from the IRA or the matched funds from the tax deferred 401k?
What I'm thinking is if the company has a 401k, but doesn't match funds the first year, it would be to my advantage to keep putting money into the IRA. Once I qualify for matching funds, say 2%, I'll put 2% into the 401k and then put the rest of my investment into the IRA. If I subsequently qualify for 4% matching funds, then I'd put 4% into the 401k and the rest into IRA (right now I invest about 15%).
Is that the best way to optimize the matching funds and benefit of the Roth? Or should I fully fund the 401k up to the $15,500 allowed first then put money in the Roth IRA, or fully fund the Roth IRA first then put money into the 401k?
Also keep in mind that I anticipate not investing as large of a percentage as I am now the first couple years with the airlines, especially if I need to start with a regional.