Retire Plan

the rules that move the number

Ask for more than the 401K limit and it stops at the cap. The rest stays in your paycheck.

One paycheck, $150,000 a year, 25% into the 401K. The IRS allows $24,500. The match still comes in full, and the $13,000 over the line stays in your pay.

You asked for the link. It is below: the slides from the post, the move if there is one, and the planner the chart came from.

Slide 1 of 6: Ask for more than the 401K limit and it stops at the cap. The rest stays in your paycheck.Slide 2 of 6: Asked for 25%. The cap allowed 16%. The rest stayed in the paycheck.Slide 3 of 6: What the IRS allows this year.Slide 4 of 6: The match is earned on what you asked for, up to the match rate.Slide 5 of 6: Which account first, in the order most people use.Slide 6 of 6: Save this for open enrollment.

Which account first, in the order most people use.

  1. 01
    Enough in the 401K to earn the whole match.The match is pay you only get by contributing.
  2. 02
    Then the IRA, up to its limit.More fund choices and usually lower fees.
  3. 03
    Then back to the 401K, up to $24,500.Past that, the planner leaves the money in your pay for you to decide.

Where to go next

Retire Plan

Type in one paycheck and it runs your plan through every year of market history since 1871, with the taxes worked out. About three minutes, in the browser.

Open it

Sources: Engine output. Federal, payroll and Colorado tax from the 2026 tables. Example plan, not a person.; IRS Notice 2025-67 and the IRS 2026 limits release. Married figures are for joint filers..

Back to Instagram