<prompt> Human: Hi all. I am a 25 yo making 70k a year as a consultant started working about a year ago after graduating from school. I have been contributing maximum amounts to my Roth IRA since I was 15, more or less. I get a small company bonus to my 401K each year but other than that I havent been putting anything into it. Ive been putting money into stocks and mutual funds for quite a while, even while I was in school.Heres the problem I have been battling with for a while: I feel like I should be putting the maximum amount into my 401K to reap the tax benefits it provides, but I also like the liquidity available in regular mutual funds and stocks. I feel like I will eventually want to pretire and move to a job that is less demandingrequires less travel. That is, start my own business doing something I enjoy, such as coaching. Ive also been very interested in real estate since I was young, and I feel like I want to have lots of liquidity available if the right opportunity were to arise. Additional info: I am single, do not plan on having a family, though I fear the right woman could force one out of me. My parents have their own retirements in shape so I dont anticipate too much will need to be covered by me. I may need some money available to help my younger sister make her way through Dental school, but it is what it is. I dont know if this affects my decisions in any way, but I thought it couldnt hurt to share, just in case Im overlooking something.In essence: Should I be putting my maximum 401K contribution each year, or, given the goals I have for myself of pretiring and property ownership, do I need to keep money liquid? If you need any additional information, please ask. Im really afraid Im making a really stupid mistake by not putting money into my 401K its no match, by the way, just a bonus each year.  <response>: You can roll over money from your 401k to a Roth IRA and then take the money from there five years later without penalties. One source This way, you can get to the money within your 401k before retirement age. So that could be a reason for you to put the money in the 401k anyway... As long as you keep planning ahead for when youll want to take money out. 