Why the match and time matter most
Your 401(k) grows from three things: your contributions, your employer's match, and investment returns compounding year after year. The match is an instant, guaranteed return — which is why capturing it fully is usually the highest-priority money move.
Because of compounding, starting age is enormously powerful. The same monthly contribution started ten years earlier can mean hundreds of thousands more at retirement.
2026 limit
Employee contributions are capped at $24,500 for 2026 (plus catch-up at 50+). The calculator caps your employee portion automatically so the projection stays realistic.
Common questions
Employees can contribute up to $24,500 in 2026 (plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50+). Employer match is on top of that and doesn't count toward your employee limit.
A company match is free money — usually the first thing to max out. If your employer matches 4%, contributing at least 4% captures the full match.
Long-run stock returns average around 7% after inflation. The calculator lets you change it; lower assumptions give a more conservative projection.
No. It assumes a steady annual return, but real markets rise and fall. Treat it as a planning estimate, not a promise.