Project your 401(k) balance at retirement — with employer match, salary growth, and the 4% rule income estimate.
A complete 401(k) projection: your contributions + employer match + tax-deferred growth, with 2026 contribution limits and catch-up math built in. See exactly what your retirement balance and annual income will be.
Direct answers to the most common questions, in plain language. Skim if you're in a hurry; dig deeper below.
$23,500 employee + $7,500 catch-up (50+).
The 2026 employee deferral limit is $23,500 (a small bump from 2025). The catch-up contribution for age 50+ is $7,500. New super-catch-up for ages 60–63 adds another ~$3,750 in 2026.
Yes — always, before any other investing.
The employer match is a 50–100% instant return. A 50% match up to 6% of pay means contributing 6% gets you another 3% — a guaranteed 50% return on those dollars. Always max the match before any other investing.
Traditional if higher marginal rate now; Roth if lower now or younger.
Traditional: deduct contributions now, pay tax later. Best if your tax rate is higher today than it will be in retirement. Roth: no deduction now, tax-free withdrawals later. Best if you're younger, in a lower bracket, or expect higher taxes in retirement.
Age 59½ without penalty; earlier with strict exceptions.
Standard rule: withdrawals after age 59½ are penalty-free (still taxed as ordinary income for traditional). Earlier withdrawals carry a 10% penalty plus tax, with exceptions for hardship, disability, or the rule of 55 (separating from employer at 55+).
The mechanics in short answers — no jargon, no upsell.
Most 401(k)s let you elect a percentage (3–15%+) of each paycheck. Pre-tax (traditional) reduces your taxable income now; Roth contributions are after-tax.
Typical match: "50% up to 6%" means employer adds 50¢ for every $1 you contribute, up to 6% of your pay. Maxing the match is universally the right move.
No annual tax drag — full compounding for decades. Traditional gets taxed at withdrawal; Roth withdrawals are tax-free.
After 59½, no early-withdrawal penalty. Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73 for traditional 401(k); Roth has no RMD during the original owner's lifetime.
Designed so anyone can model their situation in under a minute, with or without a finance background.
Project years of contributions + employer match + growth.
Model your specific match structure — 50%/100%, up to X% of pay.
See after-tax retirement income under each — same contribution, different math.
Model raises — your contributions grow as your salary does.
See where the gains come from year by year.
Apply the 4% rule — see what your balance generates per year in retirement.
Everything you might ask before, during, or after using this tool.
Open a traditional or Roth IRA instead ($7,000 2026 limit, $8,000 with catch-up). Self-employed? Consider a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) for higher limits. Most workers should max IRA before increasing 401(k) above the match anyway.
Many employers vest their match over 3–6 years. If you leave before fully vested, you forfeit the unvested portion. Your own contributions are always 100% vested immediately.
Yes, if your plan offers both. The combined total can't exceed the $23,500 employee limit ($31,000 with 50+ catch-up). Splitting can be a strategic hedge against unknown future tax rates.
If you leave your employer in the calendar year you turn 55 or later, you can take penalty-free distributions from that employer's 401(k) (still taxed). Doesn't apply to IRAs or to plans from earlier jobs. Useful for early retirees.
Generally avoid. You can borrow up to 50% / $50k, but if you leave the job, the loan often becomes due in 60 days. Defaults create a taxable distribution + 10% penalty. Acceptable only for short-term, deeply-thought-through needs.
If your 401(k) allows after-tax (non-Roth) contributions AND in-service conversions, you can contribute up to ~$46k extra in after-tax dollars and convert to Roth — totaling ~$70k of Roth contributions per year. Powerful but plan-dependent.
Higher contribution limits ($23,500 vs $7,000), payroll-deducted convenience, possible employer match — all favor 401(k). IRA has more investment choices, lower fees often, and no employer restrictions. Most use both.
Usually yes — to an IRA for more control + lower fees, OR to your new employer's 401(k) if it has good options. Cashing out triggers tax + penalty + lost compounding — almost always the wrong move.
Other Lazysmirk tools that pair well with this one.
Calculate how much you need to retire, when you can retire, and whether your current savings rate will get you there. Inflation-adjusted, with Social Security.
See how tax-free Roth IRA growth compounds over decades, how much you’ll have at retirement, and how much tax you’ll save vs a regular brokerage account.
Project tax-deferred growth on a Traditional IRA and compare Traditional vs Roth on the same contribution.
Calculate compound interest with monthly contributions, see the growth curve, and find out why Einstein called it the eighth wonder of the world.
See the exact age you can retire — your savings, contributions, and expected return projected against an inflation-adjusted spending target.
Employee contribution: what you defer from your paycheck — capped at $23,500 in 2026, +$7,500 catch-up for 50+.
Employer match: free money on your contributions — often 50% or 100% up to some percentage of salary.
Investment growth: tax-deferred compounding inside the account — historically averaging 7% real for diversified equity portfolios.
All three matter, but the employer match is by far the highest-leverage dollar. Skipping the match leaves a 50–100% instant return on the table.
Traditional: contribution is pre-tax (lowers taxable income now); withdrawal is taxed as ordinary income later.
Roth: contribution is after-tax (no deduction); withdrawal is tax-free in retirement.
Simple rule: traditional if your marginal rate is HIGHER today than you expect in retirement. Roth if your marginal rate is LOWER today.
Most early-career professionals (lower bracket now, expected higher bracket later) should default to Roth. Most peak-earnings professionals (high bracket now, expecting retirement to be lower) should default to traditional.
Splitting 50/50 is a reasonable hedge if you're unsure.
A 1% annual fee compounded over 30 years can reduce your final balance by 25–30%. That's decades of savings lost to friction.
Look up the fund expense ratios in your plan. Anything above 0.5% is questionable; above 1% is bad. Target index funds typically run 0.03–0.10%.
If your plan has bad options: contribute to the match, then max IRA, then return to the 401(k) for any remaining capacity.
1. Contribute enough to get the FULL employer match. Always first.
2. Pay off high-interest debt (credit cards, personal loans).
3. Build emergency fund (3–6 months expenses).
4. Max your IRA ($7k Roth or traditional).
5. Return to 401(k) and increase contributions toward the $23,500 limit.
6. After that: HSA, 529, taxable brokerage.
Tweak based on tax situation and goals, but this is the right default for most US workers.
Two short notes worth reading before you trust any number on this page.
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Results are not financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional before any decision about your loan, investments, or personal finances. Actual loan terms and charges depend on your bank and individual circumstances.
