How much free money are you leaving behind?
An employer match is the closest thing to free money in investing — but only if you contribute enough to get the full match. Enter your salary, contribution, and match formula to see the match value and what you leave on the table. 2026 IRS limit: $24,500 (IRS Notice 2025-67).
Here's why
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Assumptions & methodology
Employer match = min(your %, cap %) × match % × salary. Your contribution capped at $24,500 (IRS). Future value = monthly compounding at entered return. Missed match = full possible match − actual match.
For account priority after the match, see 401(k) or Roth IRA?.
Explained in: How to Invest Your First $1,000 in Index Funds — the article this calculator's math comes from.
Education, not advice: This tool is for education only and is not personalized financial advice. 2026 IRS limit per IRS Notice 2025-67 — verify at irs.gov.