I just got a job after being unemployed for a year — should I put 50% of my salary into my 401(k) to catch up?
Yahoo Finance·2025-09-16 17:30

Group 1 - Justin has been unemployed for a year but is now focused on catching up on retirement savings after returning to work [1] - His new employer offers a 401(k) match of 75% on contributions, up to 8% of his salary, prompting him to consider contributing half of each paycheck to his 401(k) [2][4] - A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account that allows employees to contribute a percentage of their paycheck before taxes, reducing taxable income [3] Group 2 - Contributions to a 401(k) are typically invested in mutual funds or ETFs, and many employers offer matching contributions based on employee contributions [4] - In 2025, the employee contribution limit for a 401(k) is set at $23,500, with a combined limit of $70,000 for employee and employer contributions [5] - Individuals aged 50 and over can make catch-up contributions, with specific limits based on age [6]