401K, I'm putting the max the company matches – should I put the maximum allowable even if no match?

Why or why not?
No credit card debt – no outstanding loans.
Saving for the kids college in check.

After you max out the company match, next fund an IRA. Why? Because with an IRA, you are not limited to the 401(K) plan's investment options; you can open an IRA anywhere you desire.

You are smart to put the max a company will match—because you are getting a 100% return on your investment. that is with pretax dollars, so you don't dwindle away some of the investment with a front end loss.

Next, get into a ROTH IRA. You are allowed to put in $5000 max each year, until you reach age 55, then and extra $1000. The only time this money is taxed is in your normal pay check. But it grows and grows, and when you take it out after 59 1/2, you are not ever taxed. It is better than a regular IRA which charges tax when you take it out.

One of my favorite investments, is putting extra into my mortgage, and knocking that out in 15 years or less.