For informational purposes only. This tool provides estimates based on your inputs and may differ from actual outcomes. It does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Terms
For informational purposes only. This tool provides estimates based on your inputs and may differ from actual outcomes. It does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Terms
Maximize your employer match and optimize your retirement contributions.
Single match rate applied up to a cap percentage
e.g., 50% means employer matches 50 cents per dollar
e.g., 6% means the employer matches up to 6% of your salary
Your Contribution/yr
$0
10.0% of salary
Employer Match/yr
$0
Free money from your employer
Total at Retirement
$0
Age 65
Years to Retire
0
From age 30 to 65
Effective Match Rate
0.0%
Match fully captured
Your Contribution
$327/paycheck
Tax Savings
-$72/paycheck
Actual Cost to You
$255/paycheck
Plus your employer adds $98 per paycheck in matching. That's a 30.0% instant return on your contribution.
$8,500 of $24,500
34.7%
Under 50: $24,500
Age 50+: $32,500 (with catch-up)
Your 401(k) balance from now to retirement, broken down by contributions and investment growth.
Compare after-tax value at retirement based on your current and expected retirement tax brackets.
Traditional 401(k)
BetterPre-tax balance at retirement
$2,857,951
After-tax withdrawal value
$2,429,258
Taxed at 15% on withdrawal
Roth 401(k)
After-tax contributions grow tax-free
$2,117,273
Tax-free withdrawal value
$2,117,273
Taxed at 22% on contribution, tax-free on withdrawal
Traditional 401(k) provides $311,985 more in after-tax retirement income. This favors Traditional when your retirement tax rate is lower than your current rate.
Roth vs Traditional Comparison
Insights
You are capturing the full employer match of $2,550 per year. That is free money working for you.
You are using 35% of the IRS contribution limit. Even small increases in your contribution rate compound significantly over time.
Contributing 10% is a solid rate. Financial planners generally recommend 15% for a comfortable retirement.
Your inputs carry over automatically. Just pick a tool.
Free 401(k) optimizer with employer match calculator, Roth vs Traditional comparison, contribution scheduling, and IRS limit tracking. Stop leaving free money on the table.
At minimum, enough to capture your full employer match. Beyond that, the 2025 IRS limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+). The calculator shows how to maximize your match and projects your retirement balance.
For 2025, the IRS allows $23,500 in employee contributions ($31,000 if 50+ with catch-up). Employer matching does not count toward this limit. Total combined limit is $70,000 ($77,500 with catch-up).
Traditional reduces taxable income now; you pay taxes on withdrawals. Roth uses after-tax money but grows tax-free. Choose Traditional if your current bracket exceeds your expected retirement bracket. The calculator compares both.
Common formulas: 50% match up to 6% of salary, or dollar-for-dollar up to 3%. With $100K salary and 50% match up to 6%, contributing 6% ($6,000) gets you $3,000 in employer match.
You leave free money on the table. With a 50% match on 6% of $100K, contributing only 3% loses $1,500/year. Over 30 years at 7%, that lost match costs over $140,000.
Target Date Funds auto-adjust allocation as retirement approaches. DIY lets you choose your own mix. Target Date charges higher fees (0.1-0.7%) but offers simplicity. PRO compares the fee impact.
Traditional contributions reduce taxable income, so take-home decreases less than the full amount. A $500/month contribution in the 22% bracket only reduces take-home by about $390.
