Looking for a new job? Read on for one specific benefit it really pays to pursue.
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If you’re in the market for a new job, there are several workplace benefits you may be eager to enjoy as part of your employment contract. For one thing, you’ll probably want a company that provides health insurance — and, ideally, subsidizes it generously so you’re not spending a fortune on premiums.
You may also want to find a job that offers a 401(k) plan. Though it’s possible to save for retirement without one using an IRA you manage yourself, a lot of people like the idea of being able to have retirement plan contributions deducted from their paychecks automatically.
A good 88% of respondents say a 401(k) plan is a must-have workplace benefit, according to a recent Schwab survey. But if you’re going to seek out a 401(k) at your next job, then you may want to go a step further by pursuing this specific benefit.
Try your best to find a 401(k) match
The fact that an employer offers a 401(k) may be helpful to you in its own right. But if you’re in the process of looking for a job, you may want to focus on one that offers a 401(k) with an employer match.
Employer matches can take on different forms. In some cases, your employer might give you a dollar-for-dollar match, up to a certain contribution amount. Or, it might match a certain percentage of your salary.
With the former, you might, for example, be eligible for a 401(k) match of up to $3,000. In that case, if you put in $3,000 from your own earnings, your employer puts in the same.
With the latter scenario, your employer might offer to match up to 5% of your salary. So if you earn $50,000 a year and put $2,500 into your 401(k), your employer would also put in $2,500.
The upside of an employer match is simple — it’s free money for your retirement. But an employer match could have a lot more impact than expected.
See, the money in your 401(k) ideally won’t just sit in cash. Rather, you’ll invest it so it grows into a larger sum over time.
Now, let’s imagine you’re able to get a $3,000 employer match in your 401(k) this year, and you’re 30 years from retiring. Let’s also say your 401(k) delivers an average annual 10% return, which is in line with the stock market’s average return over the past 50 years. In that case, your $3,000 employer contribution will actually be worth over $52,000 by the time your career wraps up.
Another 401(k) feature to look out for
Having access to not just a 401(k) plan, but free money in it, could be essential to your long-term financial security. So it definitely pays to try to find a job that offers that perk.
In addition, you may want to try to find a job whose 401(k) plan offers a Roth savings feature. Roth contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but investment gains are tax-free and withdrawals aren’t taxed in retirement, whereas withdrawals from a traditional 401(k) are. That’s a nice benefit to have at a time when money may be tight.
Many 401(k)s do offer a Roth version, so it’s worth asking that question. But if you can’t get your Roth savings option, at least try to make sure you’ll have some free money coming your way in your 401(k).
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