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Money · 401k match check
401(k) Match Optimiser
Are you leaving free employer 401(k) matching on the table? Shows the exact annual amount forfeited and the lifetime compounded cost of under-contributing.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.
Formula used
Annual forfeiture = max employer match minus match actually received, compounded over retirement horizon at assumed return rate.
Worked example
Earning $80,000 with a 4% match cap and contributing only 2%: you receive $1,600 in match instead of the full $3,200. Over 30 years at 7%, that gap compounds to over $120,000.
Common questions
What is employer 401(k) matching?
Many US employers match a percentage of your 401(k) contributions up to a cap — often 4–6% of salary. If you contribute less than the cap, the employer contributes less too. The unmatched portion is money you are choosing not to receive.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum, contribute enough to capture the full employer match. Beyond that, how much more depends on your income, other financial priorities, and whether you have a Roth option. The match threshold is the floor, not the target.
Plain-English summary
The result summary for this calculator will live here.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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