what a good % to put in your 401 k?

Answer 1

If you can afford it, put the maximum allowed by law.

Answer 2

At the very least you should put in enough to achieve the full employer match. When offered, employer matches are quite literally FREE MONEY to you. I'm starting a new job soon that the employer matches 100% of the first 5% of my salary (with 100% vesting from the start. Yipee!) so I'd be an idiot to contribute anything less than that 5%.

You should put in as much as the plan permits, up to the annual IRS limit. There's an argument to be made to go with a Roth IRA if your employer does not offer a Roth 401(k) especially if you are young, but only after you've made the minimum contribution needed to get the full employer match.

Answer 3

Two part answer: (1) the maximum percentage that your employer will match. Mathematically you'll gain the most from this simple approach. (2) if you can afford more then take 10% off the top. This approach to paying yourself first will make you wealthy in the long run.

Answer 4

You should put about 15% of your income into retirement. That can include a combination of 401ks, Roth 401ks, IRAs, Roth IRAs, 403bs or whatever else is available to you & your spouse.By doing this, you will very likely end up being a millionaire by retirement.

Answer 5

The maximum your employer will match.

Then max out your Roth IRA

Then if anything left max out your 401K's and traditional IRAs

Then any educational IRA's, and medical savings plans if needed.

Then if you are still flush with extra cash to invest max out your employee stock purchase plan.

Assuming you have all these. And assume that you have lots of money to invest.

Answer 6

as much as you can afford - goal should be at least to build up to the level where you will get maximum company matching - even if you have to start at 1% and increase by 1% per year

Answer 7

start with 5% it has been working good for me plus i don't miss it

Answer 8

as much as you possibly can. Good Luck/