How 403(b)s & 457(b)s can help you save for retirement

When thinking about saving strategies planning for retirement, you have a lot of options to choose from. Although individual retirement accounts (IRAs) tend to get a lot of attention, employer-sponsored plans can provide an effective way to build your nest egg. Many organizations offer employees access to 401(k) plans, but 403(b) and 457(b) plans also can be useful tools for creating the retirement you envision.

So, how do you choose? Although they have many similarities, 403(b) vs. 457(b) retirement savings plans carry distinct differences.

Both are tax-advantaged accounts offered by governmental or nonprofit employers that allow you to save for retirement. Employers typically provide only one or the other, but your employer may offer you the choice to contribute to both. Understanding the differences can help you evaluate what's available and make the right choice to support the future you're planning for.

403(b) retirement plans are common offerings from employers such as educational institutions, hospitals and churches. Depending on what your employer plan allows, you may be able to contribute on a tax-deferred or Roth basis.

457(b) plans tend to come from state and local government employers, however some non-profit organizations offer them as well. They also may offer tax-deferred and Roth options.

While these employer-sponsored retirement plans have several similarities, they are decidedly different. Here are the key details to understand for each.

You can contribute up to $22,500 through payroll deductions as well as an additional $7,500 in "catch-up" contributions if you are 50 or over. This is true of both plans—the distinction lies in how your employer's matching contributions (if any) affect this limit:

• Employer contributions into a 403(b) plan do not count toward the $22,500 salary deferral limit. Instead, salary deferrals and employer matching contributions combined cannot exceed the annual additions limit of $66,000.
• Matching contributions to a 457(b) plan are rare. However, they do count toward the $22,500 contribution limit.

In addition to the standard $7,500 catch-up for people 50 or over, each plan has a unique catch-up feature as well:

• 457(b) plans allow you to double your maximum contribution in the three years preceding retirement. However, there are two main points to keep in mind regarding this rule:
  
  • You cannot make a double contribution in the same year as the $7,500 catch-up.
  • Double contributions are limited to any previously unmet maximum contribution limit. If you've contributed the maximum amount each year you've had the plan, then you can't exceed a single limit.
• 403(b) plan participants who have been with their employer for at least 15 years may contribute an additional $3,000 per year up to a lifetime limit of $15,000 if they hadn't fully funded their salary deferral contributions in prior years.

Withdrawals from employer-sponsored plans and IRAs taken before you reach 59½ are generally subject to an early withdrawal penalty equal to 10% of the amount withdrawn. 403(b) and 457(b) plans may provide an exception to this rule:

• You may be able to take penalty-free withdrawals from your 403(b) if you separated from your employer in the year you turn 55 or older.
• If you no longer work for the employer sponsoring your 457(b) plan, you can take penalty-free withdrawals regardless of your age.

The employer decides which plans are available to which groups of employees. So, you may be able to contribute to both plans. If both are available to you, you can contribute the maximum amount allowed under both plans. Unlike contributions to other employer plans like 403(b), 401(k) and SIMPLE IRAs—which you must combine to determine if you've met the maximum salary deferral limit—contributions to 457(b) plans are separate.

Neither plan is universally better than the other for all retirement savers. If you have to choose between them, consider their unique features and differences to choose the one that will best fit your needs. For example, if you plan to retire early, then a 457(b) may be the better option due to the opportunity for penalty-free withdrawals.

The differences are summarized below in this 403(b) vs. 457(b) comparison chart:

When you're saving for retirement, a financial advisor can help you spot opportunities and make tax-efficient choices. Try using the Thrivent retirement income planning calculator and reaching out to a financial advisor for personalized insights and trusted guidance.