
401k Match
Employers are not required by law to offer matching contributions in a 401k plan. However, many employers choose to do so as a way to encourage employee participation and help employees save for retirement.
If an employer does offer a matching contribution, the terms of the match can vary. Some employers match a percentage of the employee's contributions, while others may match a specific dollar amount. Additionally, there may be restrictions on when the matching contributions are fully vested, meaning when the employee has full ownership of the funds.
It's important to carefully review the terms of your employer's 401k plan to understand if and how they offer a match, and if there are any conditions or restrictions on the matching contributions. If your employer does offer a match, it's generally recommended to contribute at least enough to receive the full match, as it is essentially free money that can help grow your retirement savings faster.

Auto Escalation
Auto escalation in a 401k plan refers to a feature that allows participants to automatically increase their contributions to the plan over time. With this feature, a participant can elect to have their contributions increase by a certain percentage or dollar amount each year, typically up to a predetermined maximum.
The purpose of auto escalation is to help participants save more for retirement by gradually increasing their contributions without requiring them to take any action. By automatically increasing their contributions, participants can benefit from compounding returns and potentially achieve their retirement savings goals more quickly.
Auto escalation can be a valuable tool for retirement savers, especially for those who struggle with saving consistently or who may forget to increase their contributions over time. It can also help employees who are automatically enrolled in a plan to start saving at a higher rate without having to actively make that decision.

Can I Make Roth Contributions in a 401k Plan?
Yes, some 401k plans offer a Roth option that allows you to make after-tax contributions. These contributions are then invested and grow tax-free, and you won't have to pay taxes on the money when you withdraw it during retirement.
However, not all 401k plans offer a Roth option, so you should check with your plan administrator to see if it's available. Also, there are limits to how much you can contribute to a Roth 401k each year, just like with traditional 401k contributions. In 2023, the annual contribution limit for both traditional and Roth 401k contributions is $22,500, with an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500 for those age 50 and older.