I Asked ChatGPT How To Catch Up on Retirement Fast in 2026 — Here’s Its Plan

Core Insights - Less than half of Americans are on track for retirement, highlighting a significant need for individuals to catch up on their retirement savings [1] Catch-Up Contributions - The IRS has increased the catch-up contribution limit for IRAs to $1,100 for the 2026 tax year, allowing savers over 50 to contribute up to $8,600 when combined with the standard limit of $7,500 [2] - For 401(k) and similar plans, the standard contribution limit for 2026 is $24,500, with an optional catch-up limit of $8,000, totaling a potential $32,500 for eligible savers [3] - Employees aged 60 to 63 may access a "super catch-up" option, adding $11,250 to the standard limit, allowing for a total of $35,750 in contributions for the year [3] Strategies for Those Under 50 - Individuals not eligible for catch-up contributions can still work towards closing the retirement gap by maximizing contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and 401(k) plans [4] Maximizing Tax-Advantaged Accounts - Tax-advantaged accounts allow funds to grow faster than in taxable accounts due to the deferral of taxes on earnings, although the growth rate itself is not automatically higher [5] Increasing Income for Retirement Savings - Increasing income and allocating the difference towards retirement savings is suggested as the fastest way to catch up, with recommendations to direct the full amount of any raise to retirement savings for the first year [6]