Milan Prastalo
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The 401(k) match: free money you may be leaving on the table

If your employer matches what you put in your 401(k), that match is free money. I built this so you can see if you are getting all of it, and what the part you miss could grow to by retirement.

$
% of pay
% of what you put in
% of your pay
years
%

Your match formula is in your plan papers or from HR. "50% up to 6%" means your employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you put in, on the first 6% of your pay.

Free money you may be leaving on the table, each year $0
$0match you get now, a year
$0full match, a year

Now vs putting in enough for the full match
You put in, a yearEmployer adds, a yearTotal, a yearGrown over 20 years
What you do now$0$0$0$0
With the full match$0$0$0$0

This keeps your salary and the match the same every year, with growth added each month. Check the limits on irs.gov every year, because they change.

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Sources

All checked 21 Oct 2026.

For education only. Not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Numbers are estimates based on the assumptions you enter.

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