When it comes to saving for retirement, you should be taking advantage of all the help that's out there. This assistance can come in the form of employer matching contributions to your 401(k). It can also come from tax-advantaged accounts.

You should always contribute the necessary amount to your 401(k) to earn any employer matching funds. This should be your first priority when deciding where to invest for retirement. This free money from your employer can go a long way toward helping you build a secure future.

After you've earned the maximum match, though, you may not want to put more of your retirement money into your 401(k) -- at least not until you've maxed out an IRA first. Here are a few key reasons why it makes sense to divert your retirement savings dollars to an IRA after earning your employer match, rather than focusing on contributing as much to your 401(k) as possible.

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Source Fool.com