Tools · 401(k) Match Optimizer
401(k) match
optimizer.
See exactly what percentage you need to contribute to capture your full employer 401(k) match. Most people leave free money on the table. This tool shows how much, and what thirty years of that gap looks like.
READING TIME: 2 MIN
This page covers US-specific retirement accounts. The 401(k) is US-only; the general logic (employer match is free money, capture it first) applies to UK workplace pensions, Canadian RRSPs, Australian Super, etc.
THE ANSWER
Enter your numbers and hit calculate.
YOUR CURRENT MATCH
$0/yr
FULL MATCH (OPTIMAL)
$0/yr
FREE MONEY YOU MISS
$0/yr
OVER THE YEARS YOU ENTERED
The compound cost of the gap appears here.
What this tool assumes
- Your salary is constant over the years entered (no raises). Real salaries typically grow, so the long-term gap is conservatively estimated.
- Match formula is single-tier (no multi-step formulas). If your plan has multiple tiers, use the effective dollar value in the custom field.
- Long-term projection compounds monthly at the annual rate divided by 12.
- Vesting schedule is not modeled; assumes you stay long enough to vest the match.
Related
Free-money rule: always contribute at least the match threshold. Educational only; not financial advice.