We all envision a life of leisure during our halcyon years of retirement. National 401(k) Day is observed annually on the Friday following Labour Day, prompting us to evaluate our retirement savings. With only 70% of Americans financially prepared for retirement, it is crucial to understand what you can do to make retirement a reality. It is estimated that 79% of American workers are employed by a company that offers a 401(k) plan; however, only 41% of workers actually participate in the plan. Do not wait another day to discover why you should save for retirement through your employer’s 401(k) plan or what you can do if you do not have access to a 401(k).
The background of National 401(k) Day
National 401(k) Day was established in 1996 by the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA), also known as the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) today. The Friday after Labour Day (Monday) was selected so that employees can “start the week with Labour Day and end it with Retirement.”
This holiday promotes retirement savings education, and PSCA encourages employers to provide employees with entertaining, easy-to-understand information about their 401(K). Planning for retirement is a complex topic; rules change as rapidly as the market. Less than forty percent of Americans can answer fundamental 401(K) questions, so it’s fortunate that we have a holiday dedicated to learning about them.
Because of this complexity and our increased focus on financial health and wellness over the years, many companies now campaign for retirement savings education year-round. Moreover, retirement savings education is no longer limited to 401(k) plans. Due to the fact that not everyone has access to 401(k)s and the preference for investment diversification, we do not place all of our assets in one 401(k) basket.
If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, you can use it to begin your retirement savings. However, self-employed individuals can establish a 401(k) through a financial institution. There are two varieties of 401(k) plans: the traditional and the roth. The traditional method deducts a portion of your pay, which you must approve, whereas Roth 401(k) contributions are made with money you’ve already paid in taxes, so your money grows tax-free.
National 401(k) Day events
Locate a Pension Calculator
Numerous financial organisations provide a Retirement Calculator Tool on their websites, which is typically free to use. Fill in your personal information to get an estimate of how much money you will need each year in retirement and whether your current savings plan is on track to provide it.
Aware of Your Numbers
Use this occasion as a prompt to review your assets. Is your savings plan performing as expected? Are your annual savings objectives being met? What adjustments are required. National 401(k) Day is a good time to perform this task, as it is a periodic task that you should monitor.
Learn during Lunch
Your bank, credit union, or employer may be organising a learning event that you can attend. If not, consult the Internet or a library book on retirement planning. You can get on course for a more enjoyable retirement with minimal research effort.
5 suggestions for optimising your 401(k).
It is never too late to start saving for retirement, but commencing early is the key to maximising retirement savings. If you or someone you care about is in their twenties, begin saving immediately through a 401(k) or IRA.
Most employers match employee contributions; for instance, they may match 50% of your contribution up to 6%, meaning that if you contribute 6% to your 401(k) account, they will contribute an additional 3%.
Additionally, the typical 401(k) plan allows you to choose from a variety of investments that correspond to your investment preferences.
Withdrawals incur penalty fees and tax payments that were likely avoided when the funds were initially saved.
It is easy to neglect about these long-term investments, but you should keep track of them in order to make adjustments as necessary.
NATIONAL 401(K) DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | September 10 | Friday |
| 2022 | September 9 | Friday |
| 2023 | September 8 | Friday |
| 2024 | September 6 | Friday |
| 2025 | September 5 | Friday |
 Day is observed annually on the Friday following){kind=link}