your first job

The match is the only raise nobody has to approve. On the first-job plan it is worth $559K at 65.

Put in 3% and the employer puts in 3%. Over a career that is $86K of their money on top of $86K of yours, and the planner reads the match straight from the paycheck.

You asked for the link. The planner every chart came from is one tap away; the slides are below if you want them again.

Open the planner Type in one paycheck. About three minutes, in the browser.

Slide 1 of 6: The match is the only raise nobody has to approve. On the first-job plan it is worth $559K at 65.

Slide 2 of 6: Three percent in, three percent matched, and nothing in.

Slide 3 of 6: On the stub, the match is a line you never see unless you claim it.

Slide 4 of 6: What 3% costs, and what it is worth.

Slide 5 of 6: The check is $58 smaller. The 401K is $138 bigger, every payday.

Slide 6 of 6: Save this for the enrollment form.

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: The first-job plan: $60,000 at 22 with 3% raises, 6% into a 401K with a 3% match, 5% real return, 2026 dollars, expected path.; Quick check, first-job plan, 26 paychecks a year, 2026 federal brackets, Social Security and Medicare, Colorado.; Engine output, expected path, 2026 dollars. Per-check figures from the Quick check with 26 paychecks a year..

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