What % of your salary do you contribute to a 401k?

[Elbryn]

You're buying shares. Your money didn't "disappear"...the value of the shares dropped. When (or "if" if you're that pessimistic) the markets bounce back, you will see your money "appear" again.

And now is definitely the time to be pumping into the 401k. Buy low.

unless you're not disciplined and make changes trying to time the market...

 

[Cal166]

Just upped mine to 8%

 

[IceBergSLiM]

retirement is a concept best suited for last century.

 

[rcpratt]

Read this: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/02/business/20110102-metrics-graphic.html

I'm down 3.5% YTD.

+3.332% in the 18 months since I started.

 

[Engineer]

Don't have a 401K...have a Simple IRA with a $11,500 limit, so that only allows me to put 14.69% into it. 3% match = 17.69% total. Beats nothing I guess. Might be going to 401k later though.

retirement is a concept best suited for last century.

For many, I suspect you are 100% correct.....sadly.

 

[darkewaffle]

I'm surprised how high the matching is from some of the places mentioned here, nice to see nonetheless.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

For many, I suspect you are 100% correct.....sadly.

I think its very shortsighted to think in 30/40 years retirement will be the same thing we consider it to be today. Technology won't allow it. Everyone will be expected to live well beyond 120 by then.(Well at least the ones that haven't eaten themselves into advanced diabetes and heart disease)

 

[SunnyD]

0%. I'm currently paying down debt.

 

[child of wonder]

0% while my wife goes to college full time and I'm the only bread winner.

Once she goes back to work we're both contributing the max.

 

[ultimatebob]

4%, because that's all my company matches. The rest of my retirement money goes into my IRA.

 

[Engineer]

I think its very shortsighted to think in 30/40 years retirement will be the same thing we consider it to be today. Technology won't allow it. Everyone will be expected to live well beyond 120 by then.(Well at least the ones that haven't eaten themselves into advanced diabetes and heart disease)

I don't think many people will be able to retire even living at current levels. I don't think the money will be there, be it pensions, 401k, SS, etc. People are not prepared and don't seem to be making any sort of adjustments (many can't as their wages aren't enough or are just stagnant).

 

[AstroManLuca]

10% + 1.25% match. It's a shitty match (25% of your contribution up to 5%) but it's better than nothing.

 

[josh0099]

6% Pre-Tax 401k
8% Roth 401k

Combined: 14%

Company Match 6% + Cash Balance Pension Variable Depending on Age+Years of Service

 

[gevorg]

0%, dollar might not even exist by the time I retire.

 

[Fingolfin269]

If the dollar doesnt exist by then we are all probably screwed. I'd rather be comfortable in at least knowing I'm prepared just in case it does still exist.

Sitting at 15% contribution including the match. We also have a pension.

 

[jlarsson]

I max it out (not sharing the percentage that works out to ). Company matches 25% of my contribution up to 6% of my salary.

 

[CRXican]

0% because I have none at my current job

do have an IRA though

 

[edro]

11% + 3% match (50% up to 6% which is the same as 3%)

 

[roguerower]

10% w/ 4% match. Just upped it to 15% after perusing through this thread. Single and young, no better time than now.

Ouch...my personal rate of return is -18% over a year. Fucking Wells Fargo.

 

[nickbits]

No 401k at work. Wouldn't bother either if they dodn't match. I have max contribution in my Roth with my wife (10k). Wish I could put in more though. My wife will be eligible for a match in a year, at which point she will max it out to the point of the match. I think if she puts in 3%, they put in 6%

 

[blinblue]

For those of you saying you aren't contributing because of uncertainty (or whatever), what is your retirement plan?

Anyway I'm right around 15% going into retirement. Don't have a 401k available so right now it's going into IRAs and HSAs (and no matching)

 

[OutHouse]

according to people like dave ramsey you should only contribute the max of what your company matches. so i put in 5% thats the max that my company matches. the rest i put in savings.

 

[JS80]

0%, dollar might not even exist by the time I retire.

What 401k plans let you hold dollars in the plan?

 

[Dulanic]

5 +5 match +4 pension for 14 total. However the pension has more conservative plan options so not quite the same as 401k but it is transferable.

 

[rcpratt]

according to people like dave ramsey you should only contribute the max of what your company matches. so i put in 5% thats the max that my company matches. the rest i put in savings.

Not that I think this is terrible advice (although it could be better), but I hope people don't really just follow stuff like this blindly with no understanding of the situation.