What is the logic to max 401/403/etc (beyond employer match) while in debt? Serious question that'll help some ppl.
(Roth is different... obviously awesome with untaxed gains and freedom to buy whatever you want... for decades)
These days, with 7+ percent student loans, most 401/403 make sense up to match (if vest immediate or reasonable), but after that match amount (and to 23k limit), the 401/403 have really crappy ETF choices (or even mutual funds) with bogus dividends and high fees (relative to just indexing VOO or VTI or whatever in Roth or cash or any self-directed account). Beyond the match, it seems they're pretty unlikely to beat 7-8% sure return from paying off student loans (or any other higher interest consumer/CC debts)... 401/403 absolutely not guaranteed to do that rate, like the loan payment is.
...Is the thinking just to have various types of invest money? (pre tax 401/403/trad, post tax cash account, and all-taxes-paid Roth)
...To do a rollover with job change(s) and be able to someday buy better stuff than the dumb employer fund choices?
[solo and SEP 401k for biz owner is entirely different... since you can buy whatever you want and keep fees low]