what you pass on

Same job, same forty years. Saving 12% instead of 4% passes on $2.8M more.

The ordinary-career plan at 4% into the 401K is the baseline; 12% is the what-if. On a $65,000 salary that is $200 a paycheck more, before tax. The planner runs both through every year of history since 1871.

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: Same job, same forty years. Saving 12% instead of 4% passes on $2.8M more.

Slide 2 of 6: Four percent on the left. Twelve on the right.

Slide 3 of 6: Twelve percent minus four: $711K at 65, $1.41M at 80.

Slide 4 of 6: Eight percent of salary, over forty years.

Slide 5 of 6: $208,000 more in becomes $2.8M more out.

Slide 6 of 6: Save this for the day you set the percent.

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: Plan: $65,000 at 25 with 2.5% raises, 4% match, $3,000 Roth IRA, retiring at 65 on $55,000 a year. 2026 dollars.; Engine output, paired across 81 cases since 1871, 2026 dollars.; Engine output. Expected path for the age-65 figures; backtest through every year of history since 1871 for what is passed on. 26 paychecks a year. 2026 dollars..

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