A little background, I am 22 years old and make around 17k a year. I am currently investing in an employee 401k through capital group and contribute 10% of my paycheck and my employer matches up to 3%. My second fund is Vfiax (vanguard s and p500 index fund much lower .04 expense ratio) in my Roth IRA. I make sure to max out my Roth IRA every year but which fund should I prioritize first my Roth IRA or the 401k since i obviously can’t max them both out with my current income? Is there specific funds such as voo or spy (more s and p 500 based) I should be investing in my 401k? I am currently invested in American Funds 2065 Target Date (AAOTX) at a 0.81 expense ratio through capital group but it’s worthy noting I don’t really trust my employer financial advisor who runs it which has steered me away from putting much in my 401k but I don’t see too many different options to invest in other than growth funds and target funds that don’t necessarily mirror the s and p500. I am considering boosting my contributions from 10% of my income since I hear a lot of good things about 401k just not sure about this one.  Should I invest in a traditional IRA as well or just focus on the Roth IRA and 401?Also what is the difference between a 401k and a traditional IRA since they are both pretax? Also I have heard that T bills are a very secure investment that doesn’t lock up your money until retirement like most funds. Do you feel they are even worth it or are the returns so small you might as well put it in an index fund long term?  
Also how do I know if i have maximized my employer matching on the 401k?
How do people get a match of up to 6% from employer through 401k?
It sounds like you have a good start on your retirement savings strategy. Here are some pointers to consider:

1. **Prioritization**: Given your current income, it's crucial to prioritize your investments. Since your employer offers a 3% match on your 401k, you should at least contribute enough to get that match - it's essentially free money. After that, it's generally a good idea to contribute to your Roth IRA, especially given your current income level. The advantage of the Roth IRA is that your money grows tax-free, and you can withdraw it tax-free in retirement. 

2. **Fund Selection**: The expense ratio of your 401k investment is indeed quite high compared to the S&P500 index fund. If possible, try to find a lower-cost index fund within your 401k's investment options. If not, the target date fund can still be a reasonable choice, but you may want to consider reallocating more towards your Roth IRA where you have more control over the investment options.

3. **Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA**: Both types of IRAs offer tax advantages but in different ways. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be tax-deductible, but you will pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. For a Roth IRA, you contribute with after-tax dollars, but your money grows tax-free, and you can withdraw it tax-free in retirement. Given your current income level, Roth IRA may be more advantageous.

4. **T-Bills**: Treasury bills are indeed very secure, but their returns are generally very low. They can be a good choice for short-term savings (like an emergency fund) but are less suitable for long-term retirement savings where you have a longer time horizon and can potentially get higher returns with index funds.

5. **Maximizing Employer Match**: To know if you've maximized your employer's match, check the details of your employer's 401k plan. They will specify the maximum percentage of your salary they'll match.

6. **Employer Matching**: Each employer sets its own matching policy. Some may match up to 6%, others less. It's part of the benefits package companies use to attract and retain employees. If your employer only matches up to 3%, there's not much you can do to get them to match more.

Remember, it's always a good idea to consult with a financial advisor to make sure you're making the best decisions for your specific situation.
### Human
A little background, I am 22 years old and make around 17k a year. I am currently investing in an employee 401k through capital group and contribute 10% of my paycheck and my employer matches up to 3%. My second fund is Vfiax (vanguard s and p500 index fund much lower .04 expense ratio) in my Roth IRA. I make sure to max out my Roth IRA every year but which fund should I prioritize first my Roth IRA or the 401k since i obviously can’t max them both out with my current income? Is there specific funds such as voo or spy (more s and p 500 based) I should be investing in my 401k? I am currently invested in American Funds 2065 Target Date (AAOTX) at a 0.81 expense ratio through capital group but it’s worthy noting I don’t really trust my employer financial advisor who runs it which has steered me away from putting much in my 401k but I don’t see too many different options to invest in other than growth funds and target funds that don’t necessarily mirror the s and p500. I am considering boosting my contributions from 10% of my income since I hear a lot of good things about 401k just not sure about this one.  Should I invest in a traditional IRA as well or just focus on the Roth IRA and 401?Also what is the difference between a 401k and a traditional IRA since they are both pretax? Also I have heard that T bills are a very secure investment that doesn’t lock up your money until retirement like most funds. Do you feel they are even worth it or are the returns so small you might as well put it in an index fund long term?  
Also how do I know if i have maximized my employer matching on the 401k?
How do people get a match of up to 6% from employer through 401k?

### Assistant
It sounds like you have a good start on your retirement savings strategy. Here are some pointers to consider:

1. **Prioritization**: Given your current income, it's crucial to prioritize your investments. Since your employer offers a 3% match on your 401k, you should at least contribute enough to get that match - it's essentially free money. After that, it's generally a good idea to contribute to your Roth IRA, especially given your current income level. The advantage of the Roth IRA is that your money grows tax-free, and you can withdraw it tax-free in retirement. 

2. **Fund Selection**: The expense ratio of your 401k investment is indeed quite high compared to the S&P500 index fund. If possible, try to find a lower-cost index fund within your 401k's investment options. If not, the target date fund can still be a reasonable choice, but you may want to consider reallocating more towards your Roth IRA where you have more control over the investment options.

3. **Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA**: Both types of IRAs offer tax advantages but in different ways. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be tax-deductible, but you will pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. For a Roth IRA, you contribute with after-tax dollars, but your money grows tax-free, and you can withdraw it tax-free in retirement. Given your current income level, Roth IRA may be more advantageous.

4. **T-Bills**: Treasury bills are indeed very secure, but their returns are generally very low. They can be a good choice for short-term savings (like an emergency fund) but are less suitable for long-term retirement savings where you have a longer time horizon and can potentially get higher returns with index funds.

5. **Maximizing Employer Match**: To know if you've maximized your employer's match, check the details of your employer's 401k plan. They will specify the maximum percentage of your salary they'll match.

6. **Employer Matching**: Each employer sets its own matching policy. Some may match up to 6%, others less. It's part of the benefits package companies use to attract and retain employees. If your employer only matches up to 3%, there's not much you can do to get them to match more.

Remember, it's always a good idea to consult with a financial advisor to make sure you're making the best decisions for your specific situation.<eos_token>