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CNN Money’s Ask the Expert column often fails to hit the mark. Today, the expert is spot on. The question came from someone that is maxing out their 401(k) wondering if it’s a “waste” to contribute more to a 401(k) than the employee match (his buddy says so). The columnist says that it’s not a waste, but it might not be the best idea.

He suggests that the writer hedge his bets (he calls it “tax diversification”) and contribute the max $4,000 to a Roth IRA and the rest to his 401(k). That way, when he retires he will have money that will be taxed and money that will not be taxed, essentially hedging his bet on tax rates being higher in the future than they are now.

He also smartly suggests that the Roth IRA contributions be made via direct deposit so that the writer doesn’t have to write the check. Contributions are much less painful that way because you never “had” the money. It also makes it impossible to forget or “forget” to make the contribution.

I love the idea of pairing a 401(k) with a Roth. I haven’t done it yet because I don’t have a Roth set up (I invest through my 401(k)). We’re focusing on our emergency fund before funding the Roth.