401(k) contribution

One percent more. Forty years of compounding.

Bumping your 401(k) by a few percent feels like a real cut to your paycheck. It is — but a smaller cut than you think, because the money goes in pretax. Here's what it costs you now vs. what it's worth at 65.

Annual salary
$
Your current age
yrs
Current 401(k) contribution
%
Proposed 401(k) contribution
%
Employer match (max %)
%

Common: 3–5% of salary. Some employers add a 50% or 100% multiplier.

What the bump buys you

Current: 5.0%

$1.08M

at age 65

$6,750/yr (with match)

Proposed: 10.0%

$1.68M

at age 65

$10,500/yr (with match)

−$244/mo take-home

The trade

$244/mo less now. +$601,265 by 65.

Assumes 7% annual return and a 22% marginal tax bracket on the take-home math. Hit the employer match before bumping past it — that's free money. Past returns don't guarantee future ones.

Talk through what's right for you

Match first, then bump. Get the free money before you optimize the rest.

Free 7-day trial. No card. We'll save what you wrote so you don't lose your spot.

401(k) contribution — Justin Huynh