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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: frugally on February 13, 2014, 06:58:23 PM

Title: What's your 401k match?
Post by: frugally on February 13, 2014, 06:58:23 PM
We've got a good discussion going in the general forum (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/changing-the-perpetual-'i-can't-afford-it'-mentality-around-401k-plans/) about 401ks and started talking about matches.  I'm really curious as to what everyone's 401k match is, as I'm seeing some much higher numbers than I anticipated.  I was originally guessing 3-4% would be the most common value.

If the poll wording is confusing, here is an example:

You contribute 6% to your 401k and your employer contributes 3%.  Your answer would be 3-4%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: beltim on February 13, 2014, 07:09:40 PM
My employer doesn't offer a 401k, so I put 0.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: frugally on February 13, 2014, 07:10:21 PM
Good point, added an option for that.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: windawake on February 13, 2014, 07:44:02 PM
My employer automatically puts 6% into your 401k and will match up to an additional 2%, so as long as you put in 2%, you get 8%. Fully vested after 3 years. It's a pretty nice deal!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: dragoncar on February 13, 2014, 07:46:29 PM
Poll police here:  We also need to know about VESTING
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: beltim on February 13, 2014, 07:54:02 PM
Good point, added an option for that.

Can you make the selection changeable?
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Russ on February 13, 2014, 07:56:30 PM
not a poll, but relevant

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/how-much-does-your-company-match-for-your-401k/
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Rural on February 13, 2014, 09:16:34 PM
No match, but we have a DB pension, so hard to complain. Also have both 403b and 457.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Davin on February 13, 2014, 09:26:04 PM
My employer kicks in a 4% core contribution and will match up to 4% on top of that with no wait for vesting. This is the first job I've had with a 401k option, but it seems like a good deal to me.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: FIreDrill on February 14, 2014, 12:39:23 AM
My employer does a 100% match up to 10% of your income and every year you have with the company equates to 15-20% vesting increase, 100% vested after 6 years.  Got to love free money :)
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: more4less on February 14, 2014, 01:33:50 AM
I maxed it out last year, which required me contributing close to 1/5th of my paycheck. Employer offers dollar for dollar match for the first 4%, contributions are vested immediately.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: michaelrecycles on February 14, 2014, 02:13:25 AM
My employer matches up to 4% for employees who contribute at least 6%. Their contributions are vested at 20% after the first year, on a 5 year schedule to vest fully.

Like me, many employees in my branch are contracted to assist other companies on a project basis. Since I don't know how long I will be with the company, I think of the employer contributions the way I do about Social Security - I don't count on it. I'm not sure if my coworkers think the same way. If a project were to end and a subsequent layoff occurred, I would hope they do the decent thing and fully vest the employer contributions as part of a severance.

My previous employer's plan was better. They matched up to 4.5% for employees who contribute at least 6%. However, the employer's contributions were 100% vested immediately.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: ketchup on February 14, 2014, 05:49:47 AM
Mine does a 50% match on up to 6%, so I put 3-4%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Dezrah on February 14, 2014, 07:19:27 AM
Mine doesn't do it so simply.  They match 100% up to $100, then 10% up to a $500 max regardless of income.  That means if I put in $4100, I get $500.  Also the only contribute in a single lump sum after the calendar year has passed.  I prefer to look at it as an immediate 12% return on my $4100.  At least there's no vesting period.

Edited to add this:

My employer makes up for such a lousy match with a Profit Sharing system.  This is a straight up salary percent into a separate retirement account, no matching required by employee.  I've heard people say that in truly banger years that contribution was in the 20-30% range.  Last year, a poor year in the recession, contributed about 4%.  This account does require a 3 year vesting period.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Grindin' Away on February 14, 2014, 07:38:27 AM

My employer matches 75% of your contribution up to 8% of your salary.  So to get the max employer contribution, I put in 8%, they put in 6%.  3 year wall for vesting, so you're not vested in any of the employer's match until your 3rd anniversary.

This is on top of an automatic DB Pension Plan that requires no (monetary) contribution from the employee.  Annual pay credit starts at 3%, and then increases based off of years of service and age maxing out at 7.5% down the road.  Annual interest credit is 5%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: dantownehall on February 14, 2014, 07:51:41 AM
100% on the first 3% I put in, 50% on the next 3% I put in.

Works out to 4.5%, meaning I can't answer this poll. :)
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Cromacster on February 14, 2014, 07:56:21 AM
100% on first 3, 50% on next 2, so 4% overall.  100% vested immediately which is nice.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Random Hangers on February 14, 2014, 08:35:39 AM
Ours is complicated: they'll match up to 6%, but it depends on how well the company is doing. The low end is a 25% match up to a high end of 125%, which is distributed to us quarterly. It makes sense, I guess, to match company performance to the match, but it makes it hard to figure out how much money they contribute.

Oh, and of course, I came on right after the company's hey-day matches of 125% and have received a 25% to 50% match for most of my 7 years here.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: simonsez on February 14, 2014, 08:44:21 AM
Fed, 5%
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: sheepstache on February 14, 2014, 08:48:49 AM
There's no matching but they put in the equivalent of 8% of your salary once a year.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: mh1361 on February 14, 2014, 08:54:48 AM
My company matches 50% up to 2.5%. So I'll put in 5% for a 2.5% match. You're eligible for the match 1 year after your full-time start date, and it vests 3 years after your full-time start date. I work at a non-profit for comparisons sake.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Exflyboy on February 14, 2014, 09:46:08 AM
Whatever it took to get $23500 ($17.5 plus catchup) out of my gross income and away from Uncle Sam.

Frank
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: zinnie on February 14, 2014, 09:51:28 AM
My company matches half of up to 5%, so 2.5%. I'll skip the poll since neither options apply.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: samburger on February 14, 2014, 10:02:08 AM
Mine does 3% if you do 6%. Fully vested after 4 years.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: arebelspy on February 14, 2014, 11:23:14 AM
Good point, added an option for that.

Can you make the selection changeable?

Done.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Threshkin on February 14, 2014, 11:45:06 AM
My company offers a 50% match up to 6% salary contribution so 3%.

The downside is that if you want to max out your 401k most people need to contribute MUCH more than 6% of their salary.  Only people earning about $290K per year can max out at 6%.

These caps on matching funds benefit the highest salary employees the most.  The same people who are less dependent on their 401k for retirement. 

Gotta love the system!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: beltim on February 14, 2014, 11:49:34 AM
My company offers a 50% match up to 6% salary contribution so 3%.

The downside is that if you want to max out your 401k most people need to contribute MUCH more than 6% of their salary.  Only people earning about $290K per year can max out at 6%.

These caps on matching funds benefit the highest salary employees the most.  The same people who are less dependent on their 401k for retirement. 

Gotta love the system!

Why shouldn't this be the case? What retirement/pension system is NOT based on salary?
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Thegoblinchief on February 14, 2014, 11:51:53 AM
Me: 6% match, no max.

Wife: 100% match, $500 max annual. Frequent profit-sharing contributions at the end of the year. Nothing last year, but it's been $10K+ over last 5 years.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Threshkin on February 14, 2014, 02:22:42 PM
My company offers a 50% match up to 6% salary contribution so 3%.

The downside is that if you want to max out your 401k most people need to contribute MUCH more than 6% of their salary.  Only people earning about $290K per year can max out at 6%.

These caps on matching funds benefit the highest salary employees the most.  The same people who are less dependent on their 401k for retirement. 

Gotta love the system!

Why shouldn't this be the case? What retirement/pension system is NOT based on salary?

The issue is that lower salary employees who put in enough of their salary to max out their 401k get the match capped at 1/2 of 6% of their salary (using my example).  For example someone making $75K only gets a match of $2250 (1/2 of 6%) no matter what.  This discourages the employee from contributing more because they do not get any more match.  On the other hand someone earning $300K can max out their contributions with less than 6% of their salary thus getting a match on the entire amount.

Who is more likely to be dependent on their 401k in retirement.  The worker earning $75K or the one earning $300K?
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: netskyblue on February 14, 2014, 02:39:27 PM
Mine matches up to 3-point-something% (used to be 4, but they lowered it) if you contribute 5%, and you are fully vested after 6 years.  That was actually a BIG consideration in my staying there - at about 5 years, I was seriously SERIOUSLY looking at leaving, but leaving some of that money on the table was a large part of why I didn't.  Then I asked for, and received, a raise, which certainly helped.

Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: beltim on February 14, 2014, 03:23:47 PM
My company offers a 50% match up to 6% salary contribution so 3%.

The downside is that if you want to max out your 401k most people need to contribute MUCH more than 6% of their salary.  Only people earning about $290K per year can max out at 6%.

These caps on matching funds benefit the highest salary employees the most.  The same people who are less dependent on their 401k for retirement. 

Gotta love the system!

Why shouldn't this be the case? What retirement/pension system is NOT based on salary?

The issue is that lower salary employees who put in enough of their salary to max out their 401k get the match capped at 1/2 of 6% of their salary (using my example).  For example someone making $75K only gets a match of $2250 (1/2 of 6%) no matter what.  This discourages the employee from contributing more because they do not get any more match.  On the other hand someone earning $300K can max out their contributions with less than 6% of their salary thus getting a match on the entire amount.

Who is more likely to be dependent on their 401k in retirement.  The worker earning $75K or the one earning $300K?

Probably the one earning 300K, since the worker earning 75K will receive a much higher percentage of their salary from Social Security. 
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Bateaux on February 14, 2014, 05:02:43 PM
We had it made with a defined benefit pension until July of 2012.  I have 20 years in that plan.  if I choose that plan then at 55 I can draw about 35k annully fixed till death.   Now we have a cash balance plan.  The plan is currently worth $225,000 and my company is adding 14 percent annually plus interest.  In addition they match 4 percent into the 401k.

Totals:  2013
My 401k controbution.   Maxed at $17,500
Company match 401k  $4700
Cash balance plan company contribution  $16,900

Nearly 40K a year in company programs each year.  We max Roth IRAs for another $11,000.
  My wife is also contributing about $3,000 and getting a match of about $1,500.

Roughly 55k per year in total tax deferred retirement savings per year.

My cash balance plan will be cut by $165,000 as well as its portion of interest if I take the old pension at 55.  I plan to leave at 50.  I'll have to wait for 5 years but then 35,000 for life.  That is $1,000,000 over 30 years.  However the $165,000 is worth over $1,5000,000 in 35 years at 7 percent.   A nice legacy.

Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: nottoolatetostart on February 17, 2014, 11:18:23 AM
My employer allows fully vesting within 1 year of service (hit this years ago). Matches generous 5% for my first 5% of my contribution. Adds up to about $6K per year. A few years ago, they also gave an automatic 4% on your salary into a pension. They've since stopped that, but when I leave the company, I can roll that "free" amount into a rollover IRA, so I am pleased as punch.

DH gets 3% of his first 6%. I'm pretty sure he is vested now (he's been there 4 years in June).

So I guess our employers pitch in around $10K per year between us.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Crystal1588 on November 25, 2015, 10:05:37 AM
This is a super old post, but I still wanted to reply :)

My employer matches 25% up to federal contribution limits.  So, if I put in $18,000, my employer puts in $4,500.  For me, it equals about 11.25% of my salary.

It's a pretty sweet match, but you have to contribute a lot to get a lot out of it.  If you only put in 6% of your salary, you'll only get 1.5% out of it.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: FIRE_Buckeye on November 25, 2015, 10:14:04 AM
My employer matches 100% up to 6%.
4% vests immediately, the remaining 2% vests after either 2 or 3 years (cant remember which).

Seems to be on par with most bigger companies which I'm happy with given the small size of my firm.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: mskyle on November 25, 2015, 10:27:44 AM
My employer uses a SimpleIRA, which only allows matching up to 3% (which is how much they match). SimpleIRA also maxes out at $12,500, which is kind of a bummer. I do miss the days of working in higher ed where I generally got something like 8-10% of my salary contributed *plus* a match.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: monstermonster on November 25, 2015, 10:30:18 AM
My employer uses a SimpleIRA, which only allows matching up to 3% (which is how much they match). SimpleIRA also maxes out at $12,500, which is kind of a bummer. I do miss the days of working in higher ed where I generally got something like 8-10% of my salary contributed *plus* a match.

I can't get my employer to move to a Simple IRA because they can't afford the 3% match and it's required as part of the SimpleIRA :(
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Petuniajo on November 25, 2015, 10:58:47 AM
I have a 403b, but like others said, it's the same idea as a 401k.

My employer matches 100%, up to 5% of salary.

In addition to the 403b, we have a defined benefit plan (pension) that we are required to contribute to, at 6% of our salary. The state also kicks some in, but I don't remember what it is.

We also have access to a 457, which does not have any matching, but provides another tax-sheltered way to save. In addition to the $18,500 (is that right?) you can contribute to your 403b, you can contribute another $18,500 to your 457, and you do not have to wait until you are a certain age to access it--it is available with no penalties upon separation from my employer.

So overall, not an outstanding match (I'm jealous of those whose employers contribute more!), but we do have a lot of options available for people who are savers.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: albireo13 on November 25, 2015, 11:59:55 AM
My company froze the pension so, now they match with 7% if I contribute 6%.  After 6%, no matching.
I just upped my contribution to 13% so, I net 20% after match.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: use2betrix on November 25, 2015, 12:24:47 PM
If I put in 6% my company puts in 4%. I do contract work so this job is temporary. It's fully vested as of day 1 which is very, very nice given the circumstances.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: andy85 on November 25, 2015, 12:29:59 PM
4.2% match + an annual lump sum drop in
(it is worded as 70 cents per dollar contributed up to 6% of covered compensation)

The lump sum drop-in is a % of gross salary based on years of service. Starts at 3% and goes up to 7% with 21+years.

Everything is immediately and fully vested.

Just found out they are switching from Mercer to Fidelity in 2016, so i am looking forward for some (hopefully) lower cost funds.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Exflyboy on November 25, 2015, 12:34:28 PM
My employer doesn't provide any match but the hourly rate they pay is pretty good for my hobby job which is in theory part time.

I am beyond FI so its debatable whether I should bother to continue to contribute.. But I max it out because it reduces my tax bill. and I can take it back when we are in a lower bracket... And maybe even in a no income tax State!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Big Sleep on November 25, 2015, 01:01:54 PM
My employer matches 50% up to the first 6% (3%), which is immediately vested. 

Then if you're 20-29 y.o. you get an additional 3%, 30-39 y.o an add'l 4%, 40-49 y.o. an add'l 5%, 50+ an add'l 6%.  So 6-9% based on your age.  Don't know of many other employers that do it this way, but the add'l money was instituted after a pension freeze.  The add'l money is vested after 3 years of service.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: randommadness on November 25, 2015, 02:14:47 PM
Fed, 5%

To clarify -

.gov gives us 1% for free
Then they match 1 for 1 for 3%
then they match 1 for 0.5 for another 1%.

So technically they only match 4%, but to get our full "5% match" you need to put in 5%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Vertical Mode on November 25, 2015, 02:22:59 PM
Curious to see what the results of this poll are. My employer does not currently match, but will be implementing one as part of a series of changes for 2016. I understand it will be "modest", but that isn't a number.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: turketron on November 25, 2015, 02:37:12 PM
No match, but for the time being my company does have a really generous ESPP plan that has netted me more than the match would have even when accounting for taxes. HR says they're considering offering a match once the first round of ESPP is done as our stock has leveled off a bit, but we'll see if it actually happens...
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Bracken_Joy on November 25, 2015, 04:20:50 PM
33% up to and including the first 6% put in. Vesting 20% per year, for a total of 5 years to being fully vested.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: S on November 25, 2015, 04:32:16 PM
I am bothered that there is no 8-9% bracket.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: anotherAlias on November 25, 2015, 04:53:24 PM
My employer has 2 types of contributions to our 401ks.  One is based on company profits but usually is about 7% if the employee contributes 6%.  The second one is based on years of service and doesn't require employee contribution.  So depending on the employee's situation and company profits, the company contrbutes a total somewhere between 6% and 19%. This year I'll be getting 16%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Murse on November 27, 2015, 09:57:39 PM
I don't technically have a match at all. My employer contributes 6% to a pension without any need for me to contribute but this is not a 401k nor is it a match.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: HPstache on November 28, 2015, 12:34:12 AM
My company matches the first 3% then another 1% for your 2%. So in other words if you put in 5% they match 4%.  Six years to be fully vested... I am already there... how time flies!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: SpareChange on November 28, 2015, 01:48:28 AM
My match is 4.6% if I contribute 4%. It is dropped as an annual lump sum after the end of the calender year. Vesting is 100% at 5 years, 0% before.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Kouhri on November 28, 2015, 03:44:24 AM
Not a 401k  (cuz not American ) but get 6% match for kiwisaver* whoot!

*kiwisaver is the national super type scheme and employers are obliged to provide a 3% match and apart from District health boards, I haven't heard of anyone else getting more than the minimum. So yay!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: rencelas on November 28, 2015, 07:52:35 AM
Match 75% up to 6% of salary. Give us 2% no matter what.

Ends up that if I put in 6, they put in 6.5. That's the maximum. Thankfully, we have a Roth 401k option AND can do after tax deposits. Maxing all that out to the legal limit.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: seattleite on November 28, 2015, 10:36:27 AM
50% match on your contribution up to the max they are allowed by law. So I contribute $18,000 and they contribute 9,000.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: MVal on November 28, 2015, 10:14:03 PM
My company gives 5% on 100% of base salary and everyone is fully vested from first date of hire. We also usually profit sharing contributions added to our 401k annually.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: StacheInAFlash on November 29, 2015, 03:05:31 PM
I have a 401(a) with a delightful 13% match to my mandatory 2%. Pretty sweet deal. 3 year waiting period before eligibility was not sweet though. Automatic vesting, however, and the whole thing goes in dirt cheap vanguard index funds. Then there is also the 403(b) and the 457(b) (in Vanguard!) that also let me put another $36,000 tax deferred away. No other employer can come close to that that I've looked at. While the pay could be higher, I have to remind myself that the tax savings of these retirement plans is worth $12,000 of salary when I compare to outside job offers.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Dictionary Time on November 29, 2015, 05:39:18 PM
We don't have a match. They just put in 10% for you. I work retail and most people (long term employees) only have this saved. They do offer a 401k that you can put in too. It's nice with the low wages and so many people I work with are literally hand-to-mouth, that at least they will end up with something to go with their social security.

Husband's company matches 50% of the first 6%, so put in 6%, get another 3%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: HPstache on November 29, 2015, 05:56:11 PM
50% match on your contribution up to the max they are allowed by law. So I contribute $18,000 and they contribute 9,000.

Wow! Lucky...
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: LeRainDrop on November 29, 2015, 06:22:50 PM
As typical working in a big law firm, no employer match or contribution for associate attorneys.  (Staff get an annual contribution, and I believe the income partners do, as well.)
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: FIRE me on November 29, 2015, 06:27:42 PM
Contribute 5% or more, then get a 4% match.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: YTProphet on November 30, 2015, 07:52:55 AM
As typical working in a big law firm, no employer match or contribution for associate attorneys.  (Staff get an annual contribution, and I believe the income partners do, as well.)

Go in-house! Way better lifestyle and much more relaxed (although the pay could be higher).
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: smalllife on November 30, 2015, 08:07:46 AM
3% match that gets vested over 6 years (recently extended from five, so I effectively got no match last year).  Employees not allowed to contribute until after 1 year of service.

aka - practically worthless when combined with the high fees (.4 is the lowest).
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: WGH on November 30, 2015, 12:46:41 PM
We do pre tax I put in 3% they put in 15% so I put in a $1 they put in $5 so it is huge!

After tax I put in 4% they put in 2% so I put in $1 they put in $.50 so a 50% match

Boils down to 7% of my annual salary and they kick in 17% every year.

It's the best plan I have ever seen and a huge reason why I will stick around.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: maco on November 30, 2015, 02:39:58 PM
Old employer was 5%. New is 2% but with 1% going into each of two pension plans that I don't really understand. I just started, though, so matching hasn't started yet.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: CCCA on November 30, 2015, 02:56:37 PM
No match for me, but I do get a pension, and can contribute with no match to 403b/457b.
My wife gets 10% of her salary in matching if she puts in 4%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Jeremy E. on November 30, 2015, 03:01:40 PM
I put 9%+ although this is technically not accurate, my company has an ESOP(Employee Stock Ownership Plan) where they give me company stock equal to 10-15% of my salary every year, it's been 14-15% each of the 4 years I've been here so far. It's risky having so much stock in one company, but it's free stock so I can't complain.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: windawake on December 01, 2015, 07:43:16 AM
I replied to this back in the day, but I now have a different job and they have an interesting 401k match. They will contribute up to a certain percentage of the total amount you contribute. The match is contributed in a lump sum at the beginning of the following year, and you don't know how much they'll match until they're about to do it. Last year it was 35%, the year before was 25%. Meaning if I'd contributed the full $17,500 they would've contributed $6,125. It's immediately vested.

It's a pretty sweet deal, I think I'll be a little shy of the max at $14k or so this year, so that'll be just under $5k match, or more if they up the percentage again.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: grenzbegriff on December 01, 2015, 01:31:36 PM
I put 9%+ although this is technically not accurate, my company has an ESOP(Employee Stock Ownership Plan) where they give me company stock equal to 10-15% of my salary every year, it's been 14-15% each of the 4 years I've been here so far. It's risky having so much stock in one company, but it's free stock so I can't complain.
Do you have the option to sell the stock?  My company grants stock as well, and I sell it immediately when it vests and put the money in index funds.  Not selling it when you can is no different than buying stock in that one company, which is something I wouldn't do.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: amyj05 on December 01, 2015, 01:57:07 PM
My company matches 100% for the first 3% that you put in, then 50% for the next 2%. So if you put in 5% (or more), you get the full company match, which is 4%. It will be fully vested at 5 years of employment - October was three years for me.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Platypuses on December 01, 2015, 02:08:42 PM
Free 5% of Salary
First 3% of Salary = 100% Match
Next 6% of Salary = 50% Match

So 11% Of Salary
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: michaelrecycles on December 01, 2015, 11:50:16 PM
I'm impressed by the generosity some of the responses indicate! I've only ever learned about 401k/match details at the job offer stage, when given a benefits summary guide. It would be nice to know earlier, as a consideration before applying. Does anyone know a website that compares company plans? www.brightscope.com is the only one I've found. Its "company generosity" rating gives you an idea, but not the level of detail we're getting into here. If a prospective company requires you to wait a year to even participate and offers a crummy match, I'd rather know ahead of time and focus elsewhere.

In any case, my situation has changed since replying before. The new company matches 100% for your first 3% contribution, then 50% for your next 2%. You get the full 4% match by investing 5% or more. There is no participation waiting period; you can invest in the plan immediately. Company contributions begin 1 year after you start service and vest immediately. A nice feature of the plan is that after-tax non-Roth contributions are allowed and you can do an in-service withdrawal to a Roth. Also known as the Mega Backdoor Roth, MadFientist explains (http://www.madfientist.com/after-tax-contributions/) why you might want to take advantage of this, if available to you.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: jorjor on December 02, 2015, 12:18:58 AM
50% of first 6%, and an additional 10% lump sum contribution every February for a total of 13%.

My wife's is 2%, and it moves down to 1% next year with some pretty bad investment options.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Jeremy E. on December 14, 2015, 04:09:29 PM
I put 9%+ although this is technically not accurate, my company has an ESOP(Employee Stock Ownership Plan) where they give me company stock equal to 10-15% of my salary every year, it's been 14-15% each of the 4 years I've been here so far. It's risky having so much stock in one company, but it's free stock so I can't complain.
Do you have the option to sell the stock?  My company grants stock as well, and I sell it immediately when it vests and put the money in index funds.  Not selling it when you can is no different than buying stock in that one company, which is something I wouldn't do.
I don't have this option, they recently started letting people 55+ that have been here over 10 years sell 10% per year, but I'm not in either of those categories so am stuck with their stock until I leave the company.
Also my vesting period starts after 1 year, then goes up 20% per year, so i get nothing the first year, then I start vesting but am vested at 0% and after 6 years I'm 100% vested.
They also offer a 401k without match as well and they offer the fund VINIX(very low expense ratio S&P 500) which I put 100% of my 401k into, it's better than any fund I can get in my IRA. I'm very happy with the offerings of my company and feel very lucky.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: neophyte on December 14, 2015, 11:01:42 PM
Mine is pretty good. They give us 1% and then match 1:1 up to 5% of salary. Vested after 3 years.

My sister's is terrible. They get 10% of their contribution up to 5% of their salary, so the match maxes out at 0.5%. They aren't fully vested for something like 6 or 7 years either.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Valetta on December 15, 2015, 04:51:55 AM
Ours is pretty good for a nonprofit. You can start in the 401k immediately, no waiting period. But there is a waiting period for the match, you have to have worked there for 1 year before they will start matching but then you are vested immediately. 100% match up to 3% of salary and then 50% match at 4-5%. So if you do 5% you get a 4% match. I've never had a deal this good at any of the other nonprofits I have worked for.

For executives, we also have 457f plans. With Board of Directors approval, 10% of my salary goes in there every year. So far they've done the 10% the last two years for me (as long as we've had the plans). However, the only way I get this money is if I work there until I'm 65. So I just pretend this benefit doesn't exist, haven't even bothered to choose investments for the money.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: NinetyFour on December 15, 2015, 05:43:19 AM
I don't have a match.  But I must contribute 8% and my employer contributes 11.2%.  These are mandatory and can't be increased.  However, I also have a 403b option, into which I can put another $24,000 per year, since I am old.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: NoStacheOhio on December 15, 2015, 10:17:09 AM
On my 403b, it's a 3% match (half of my contributions up to 6% of my salary).

We also have a 401a that I can't contribute to. Last year they put in $1208.04, and 2015 YTD is $1238.50. I can't for the life of me figure out the contribution math there.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: thd7t on December 15, 2015, 10:54:08 AM
My 4% match was terminated in April.  Bad time.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: AlwaysLearningToSave on December 15, 2015, 11:24:30 AM
Employer contributes 3%.  Employer also makes an optional 1% safe harbor contribution.  Then employer gives 100% match on first 4% of salary.  Thus, if I contribute 4%, I get 8% from employer, for 12% total. 100% vested immediately.  There was a one-year waiting period before I was allowed to participate in the plan.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Lizzy B. on December 15, 2015, 12:01:00 PM
Not a match, but automatic contributions of 9%, regardless of your personal contributions. So that's pretty awesome.

Our vesting is rough, though. 0% vested until 3 years, then you get 20% vested each year, so it takes 6 years to fully vest
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: StacheInAFlash on December 15, 2015, 12:09:28 PM
Not a match, but automatic contributions of 9%, regardless of your personal contributions. So that's pretty awesome.

Our vesting is rough, though. 0% vested until 3 years, then you get 20% vested each year, so it takes 6 years to fully vest

It seems like the awesome employer matches often come with a catch. It is partially how they afford to be so generous, knowing that a lot of people will end up getting nothing or very little by not sticking around long enough. Just be thankful you still got contributions the 1st 3 years (even if not vested). At my place, the first 3 years you have to sit on the sidelines before they start kicking anything in. Of course once they do, it is 13%, but a lot of people probably don't make it 3 years. Or, if you quit after 4 years you'd be wishing you had a 4% match all 4 years instead of 0% for 3 and 13% for 1.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Lizzy B. on December 18, 2015, 06:49:31 AM

Not a match, but automatic contributions of 9%, regardless of your personal contributions. So that's pretty awesome.

Our vesting is rough, though. 0% vested until 3 years, then you get 20% vested each year, so it takes 6 years to fully vest

It seems like the awesome employer matches often come with a catch. It is partially how they afford to be so generous, knowing that a lot of people will end up getting nothing or very little by not sticking around long enough. Just be thankful you still got contributions the 1st 3 years (even if not vested). At my place, the first 3 years you have to sit on the sidelines before they start kicking anything in. Of course once they do, it is 13%, but a lot of people probably don't make it 3 years. Or, if you quit after 4 years you'd be wishing you had a 4% match all 4 years instead of 0% for 3 and 13% for 1.

Oh, I'm definitely thankful for it. I think they'd had a big problem with people leaving to work for competitors just when they'd gotten fully trained. This system certainly encourages you to stick around. :-)
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: ponyespresso on December 18, 2015, 07:19:56 AM
DH has an awesome match, I think. 6% matching, and also a 5.5% non-elective contribution from his employer. The latter is based on years of service.

Next year I will get a 4% match from my company (it's actually my own company, I set up the plan). I guess I should be a more generous boss and set it up for 6% but it's a start. I was thinking maybe we'd do a non-elective contribution at some point as well. My partner has a say though, too and he prefers the 4% for now.

Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: JPatch on December 18, 2015, 11:18:10 AM
Mine was 75% of first 6% contributed (so 4.5% of salary).

However, my company may be nixing its cash balance pension plan very soon.  Part of the proposed change is 100% match on first 6% to 401K PLUS an automatic contribution of employer $$ equal to 6% of employee salary.  So essentially a 12% match!  I like it.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Mr. FI on December 22, 2015, 11:59:02 AM
My wife's matches 87.5% up to 8%, vests after 3 years (so 7%). My company matches 125% up to 4% (so 5%) and vests after 3 years. Both are pretty decent!
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: JLee on December 22, 2015, 12:04:21 PM
A lot of you have pretty awesome matches! I've never had anything better than 3.5%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: Helvegen on December 23, 2015, 01:36:18 PM
3% to 6% of salary subject to vesting.
2% of salary, not subject to vesting/matching/any participation at all. Will go up to 4% Jan 1.

So it is 5% matching until the end of the year, whereby it then goes up to 7%.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: freezerburn on December 23, 2015, 07:28:18 PM
At my nonprofit we get a 1:1 match of 4% on the 401(k). It was a year's wait to participate in the plan, then another year until vesting. We are supposedly getting a bump up to 5% match in about 6 months.
Title: Re: What's your 401k match?
Post by: JZinCO on December 23, 2015, 07:47:43 PM
I am now under a defined contribution 401(a). I am obliged to put in 8% (of salary) and the employer 11%. My employer isn't much behind peers in the state, which range from 11.1% to 11.4%, but notably different than one other peer which puts in 16.2% (10% plus employer pays for employee's social security).
Oh, also 100% vested day 1. Employer contributions are deposited on payday.