I currently contribute 5% because the company matches up to 5%. The rest I put into a Roth IRA and then some other investments. Our 401k plan has ridiculously high expenses. The funds average about 1 1/2 percent. I asked about reducing them during the annual review with the 401k company. (As Office Manager, I get to sit in on that.) Apparently, once the total plan assets hit one million, then the expenses will go down some. That should take another year or two.
Anyway, does anyone not want to contribute 15% to their 401k because they wonder if the owners of the company will think "wow, she must be doing really well" and then not give you a raise? Or maybe give you a smaller raise? They know I'm single and I own a home and support myself. Our company is really small, 15 - 20 people, and no one seems to contribute more than the 5%. 15% would be a much larger number than the average here and would kind of stick out on reports that I give the owners. I know it wouldn't be right, but sometimes info effects people's way of thinking without them even realizing it.
I know it shouldn't matter, but don't I don't want people to know how much more than the average employee I'm saving for retirement.