What percentage of income do you put into retirement funding? (1 Viewer)

[Chadstroma]

How much of your annual income do you put into a retirement account? Via 401k, IRA, etc. Anything where you are putting money away that is earmarked for retirement use.

Do you have any idea if that is 'enough'?

If you are short, do you have a plan to make that shortfall up at some point?

I see people all day long and it amazes me how many have not put away a single dollar or when they have how fast they are to raid it. It seems the common thing to do when you are in your 20's is when you leave your job you cash out the retirement account as some sort of going away bonus. The FFA is usually on average more informed group than the average person on the street, so what are you doing now? If you are not doing enough- why not?

 

[worrierking]

I am in a government pension plan, so I don't reserve anything specifically for retirement (my financial goal is to become debt-free within 5 years). My wife, god bless her, puts 13% of her salary into her 401K and the company matches 3%.

 

[ZenMaster]

As much as we can. My wife and I both max out our 401(k) plans. We're fortunate enough that our income exceeds the limit for both traditional and Roth IRA contributions.

Since we are planning for early retirement, we're content to put the rest of our investments into non-retirement accounts since it'll be several years before we can access the retirement accounts without penalty.

Edit to add percentages:

My wife and I each max out our 401(k) to the current annual limit of $18,500. My company match is 4% and I think hers is a little more. Our savings/investments not including 401(k) comes out to 25% of our gross income. We're paying extra on our house to get it paid off in two more years and if I include that, the savings rate goes up to 30% of our gross income. The percentage is higher if you look at savings of net income but I didn't do that calculation.

 

[Chadstroma]

As much as we can. My wife and I both max out our 401(k) plans. We're fortunate enough that our income exceeds the limit for both traditional and Roth IRA contributions.

Since we are planning for early retirement, we're content to put the rest of our investments into non-retirement accounts since it'll be several years before we can access the retirement accounts without penalty.

What age are you targeting for retirement?

 

[ZenMaster]

As much as we can. My wife and I both max out our 401(k) plans. We're fortunate enough that our income exceeds the limit for both traditional and Roth IRA contributions.

Since we are planning for early retirement, we're content to put the rest of our investments into non-retirement accounts since it'll be several years before we can access the retirement accounts without penalty.

What age are you targeting for retirement?

I'm 41 and my wife is 45. Our current plan has us retiring/semi-retiring in 7-8 years. While we may not fully stop working, we plan to find something more enjoyable/fulfilling than our current jobs.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

 

[fantasycurse42]

10% of gross. I started saving at 25, so I'm in a pretty good spot.

 

[Chadstroma]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

 

[Chadstroma]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

Holy crap. I have never heard of matching so high. Nice!

Yea, I don't know why people leave money on the table even when it is 3-6% of matching which is what is more 'normal'.

 

[Random]

Net Rental Income - 100% goes to paying off rental properties which is earmarked for retirement (about 20% of household income)

401K, IRAs, HSA - about 10% of household income

+ Wifes pension - not sure what she contributes

Total about 30% + pension

 

[urbanhack]

I've been putting 20% of my check into work 401K until I max out, which just happened last paycheck. I'm now taking that extra money and paying all my remaining debt and trying to build my savings up for 6 months worth of expenses.

 

[rascal]

I put 8% with employer putting 5%. Been that way for 12 years (35 now).

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

Holy crap. I have never heard of matching so high. Nice!

Yea, I don't know why people leave money on the table even when it is 3-6% of matching which is what is more 'normal'.

I also get free covered parking and a health club membership. On the other hand I am probably the lowest paid attorney in this whole joint. Otis' pool boy probably makes more, and Otis does not even have a pool. (Might want to inquire of the wife about that Otis)

 

[ZenMaster]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

Holy crap. I have never heard of matching so high. Nice!

Yea, I don't know why people leave money on the table even when it is 3-6% of matching which is what is more 'normal'.

My company matches the first 2% and 1/2 of the next 4%. New employees are automatically set up with a 401(k) contribution of 2% to get some company match unless they opt out of the 2% contribution.

 

[fantasycurse42]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

 

[kentric]

15% of my salary in the 401k and matched 9%.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

 

[Card Trader]

15% in our ESPP and 10% in 401k

 

[MAC_32]

Not enough, we're only doing quarterly contributions now and it fluctuates between $500 and $2K per, depending on cash flow and upcoming expected expenses. We won't dip into the 6 month emergency fund to provide a larger contribution. Overly conservative? Probably, but at this stage in our lives we've got time. We built a solid base in our 20's, but those contributions have been shifted to a babysitter now. If something changes in our situation then that will be the first item to come back, but otherwise it'll be another 5 years before we start to significantly contribute again. Relatively speaking, we're still in a good spot though.

 

[fantasycurse42]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

Even for employees making like $35-$40k, that is still huge for them. I think a portion of the people not taking advantage don't understand that they are basically differing on a healthy annual raise. The money is coming out pretax too, so 10% on their end wouldn't be as a big a hit right now as they think.

They really just need to understand. Sounds like your employer provides some phenomenal benefits.

 

[Chadstroma]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

I am at 8% right now which the lowest for me but I am still rebuilding after a rough few years of unemployment, underemployment and gaining debt. Once the kids school/daycare costs go away (single biggest expense) my percentage will be about doubled. BUT if my employer matched 10.5%- I don't care what I had to do, I would make sure I did not leave money on the table and increase it to that. I get 4% match at my current employer.

 

[James Daulton]

Probably not enough.

 

[tommyboy]

How much of your annual income do you put into a retirement account? Via 401k, IRA, etc. Anything where you are putting money away that is earmarked for retirement use.

Do you have any idea if that is 'enough'?

If you are short, do you have a plan to make that shortfall up at some point?

I see people all day long and it amazes me how many have not put away a single dollar or when they have how fast they are to raid it. It seems the common thing to do when you are in your 20's is when you leave your job you cash out the retirement account as some sort of going away bonus. The FFA is usually on average more informed group than the average person on the street, so what are you doing now? If you are not doing enough- why not?

I max my 401k every year, plus save from both my job and the side biz i own. I also consider the biz itself as a retirement fund as either i could sell it or just keep ownership and retain a monthly income without much work.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I max out 401k plus I've been doing a backdoor Roth for the max amount for the last few years. Not starting Roth earlier is my big regret though. Employer matches 401k for first 4.5%. Also socking away the max for my company's employee stock plan, which is essentially funding my daughter's 529.

I also do a traditional IRA for the wife up to the amount allowed each year. She's a freelance graphic designer so I should probably look into a solo 401k for her.

 

[mquinnjr]

32, and if we're being generous and including unrestricted employer 401k match on top of your personal contributions, I'm around just under 30% of gross pay. I'm including in that contributions to company stock that I consider savings (untouched past 7 years), so to be a stickler and excluding that (I'd only spend this on a home down payment, etc. major item) around just under 25% of gross. Defined benefit pension contributions by my employer outside of that number, trying to retire early if possible by doubling down.

 

[Wooderson]

25% of net.

We're not sure if we should continue putting that much in. Might bring it down a little to build up savings more.

 

[John Bender]

Been trying to find a way to save more if anyone has any tips...

I put 10% in of every paycheck since I was 29. Company match is only 3%

I don't qualify for a Roth IRA I'm told. Are there other options out there?

I did put some liquid into the stock market which I manage myself, but that's all short term stuff.

 

[Slapdash]

25% of gross plus 7% match.

 

[Wooderson]

Been trying to find a way to save more if anyone has any tips...

I put 10% in of every paycheck since I was 29. Company match is only 3%

I don't qualify for a Roth IRA I'm told. Are there other options out there?

I did put some liquid into the stock market which I manage myself, but that's all short term stuff.

We are looking into back door Roth. I think you open a regular IRA then covert.

 

[John Bender]

Been trying to find a way to save more if anyone has any tips...

I put 10% in of every paycheck since I was 29. Company match is only 3%

I don't qualify for a Roth IRA I'm told. Are there other options out there?

I did put some liquid into the stock market which I manage myself, but that's all short term stuff.

We are looking into back door Roth. I think you open a regular IRA then covert.

This would be better handled by a Financial Advisor I assume?

 

[the moops]

I contribute 5.5%, my employer puts in 10%

 

[belljr]

10% pre tax to 401k match 3%

Employer also adds 4% every quarter

Only about 1% in roth Ira

Another 1% in 529.

My wife does 10% 401k

And 2% roth ira. In dollar amounts is about my 1%

Currently paying off college for kid #1

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Been trying to find a way to save more if anyone has any tips...

I put 10% in of every paycheck since I was 29. Company match is only 3%

I don't qualify for a Roth IRA I'm told. Are there other options out there?

I did put some liquid into the stock market which I manage myself, but that's all short term stuff.

We are looking into back door Roth. I think you open a regular IRA then covert.

This would be better handled by a Financial Advisor I assume?

It's pretty simple actually. Just open both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA in a broker account (I use Fidelity). Contribute the full amount to the traditional (must be a non-deductible IRA contribution). Wait a few days and then convert that balance into your Roth.Eta: and if you do your tax return via Turbo Tax, here's a link to how to record the backdoor transaction in turbotax

http://thefinancebuff.com/how-to-report-backdoor-roth-in-turbotax.html

 

[dino259]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

I work for a credit union and from what I understand there are enough higher level managers that do not take full advantage of the company match. The best thing they did was to change it from an opt in to an opt out for the 401k although as someone mentioned a lot of people just cash out when they leave.

Not sure what our percentage is between the wife and I, but my check is over 25%. We both max out the limit for our 401Ks and for our Roth IRAs. About time to start thinking about additional investments include more for the kids college.

 

[acarey50]

I currently do 12% into my Roth 401K. Employer matches 6% that goes to traditional 401K. We also have a pension that is funded by employer. If I decide I can survive what will become a 90+ minute commute (currently in the 60-75 minute range)each way (traffic constantly getting worse and my work location moving soon), then I'd stay to take advantage of the pension to the fullest, but that's at least 20 years away.

With my wife being primarily a stay at home mom, that is it for now, as my take home and what she brings in from babysitting/assisting a real estate agent is just barely covering living expenses.

Convincing her to sell our house and use that equity to pay cash and move somewhere else (we are in Southern California) is not an option.

 

[heckmanm]

6% to 401K, matched by employer. Employer also puts in another 4% regardless of my contribution, so it ends up being 16% of pretax gross, but only 6% out of pocket.

 

[FUBAR]

I am in a government pension plan, so I don't reserve anything specifically for retirement (my financial goal is to become debt-free within 5 years). My wife, god bless her, puts 13% of her salary into her 401K and the company matches 3%.

Same, but we also put 25% into my TSP plus $5k into my wife's roth, so basically 30%.

No match.

Debt free but don't own a house.

Plan is to semi retire at 42 and almost full retire by 60. Probably do some side work, maybe defend a few soldiers each year at that point. Enough to stay active but live on the beach.

 

[Chadstroma]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

I work for a credit union and from what I understand there are enough higher level managers that do not take full advantage of the company match. The best thing they did was to change it from an opt in to an opt out for the 401k although as someone mentioned a lot of people just cash out when they leave.

Not sure what our percentage is between the wife and I, but my check is over 25%. We both max out the limit for our 401Ks and for our Roth IRAs. About time to start thinking about additional investments include more for the kids college.

One that I think a lot of people forget about is a HSA. An HSA is a great way to stash money away that can be used now, help limit expense now (opt for higher deductable lower premium insurance options) and stash money for retirement as well.

The kids over the years (last one on his way in Dec) and my car accident has destroyed our HSA to nothing but after this year it should be rebuilt and added to over the years.

 

[General Malaise]

250%

 

[skol asylum]

Not enough. We both put 4% in 401k and employer matches that. No savings for college yet for my 10 and 6 year olds either. I plan to look closer at it very soon and see what i can do to ramp up savings in both areas quickly. I'm 41 and she is 38.

 

[skol asylum]

10.5% of my salary is set aside for retirement. My employer matches that amount. I put 3% aside for my child (College tuition, marriage account, whatever). 2% goes into a Roth account under my wife's name. Additionally I have a honorarium type of pension which I did not have to fund. It will pay monthly 7.75% of my net monthly income from my employer to me, or to any life in being I designate upon my retirement, and will do so for the duration of that life. As I understand it the net figure will be based on a three year average immediately preceding my retirement. Likely I will designate my daughter as the beneficiary of this pension, though perhaps she will have a child by then, in which case my grandchild would be designated.

In addition I will be able to cash out unused sick leave upon my retirement. Currently that would amount to 1 year's pay. Ideally I will not have to deplete that account before retirement. In fact, ideally that amount would continue to grow.

Your employer matches 10.5%?!

Yes. It is surprising how many folks do not take full advantage of that.

That is nuts!! 10%, holy #### dude! Who wouldn't take advantage of that?

From what I understand it is well over 50% of the employees who do not take advantage at all, and only 10% who take full advantage. It makes no sense to me.

I work for a credit union and from what I understand there are enough higher level managers that do not take full advantage of the company match. The best thing they did was to change it from an opt in to an opt out for the 401k although as someone mentioned a lot of people just cash out when they leave.

Not sure what our percentage is between the wife and I, but my check is over 25%. We both max out the limit for our 401Ks and for our Roth IRAs. About time to start thinking about additional investments include more for the kids college.

One that I think a lot of people forget about is a HSA. An HSA is a great way to stash money away that can be used now, help limit expense now (opt for higher deductable lower premium insurance options) and stash money for retirement as well.The kids over the years (last one on his way in Dec) and my car accident has destroyed our HSA to nothing but after this year it should be rebuilt and added to over the years.

They keep trying to push these HSA type plans on us at work the last couple years. Seems way too risky to me with two kids. They incentivize it but one bad episode and it looks like you can get in trouble quickly.

 

[Chadstroma]

They keep trying to push these HSA type plans on us at work the last couple years. Seems way too risky to me with two kids. They incentivize it but one bad episode and it looks like you can get in trouble quickly.

I guess it all depends on the insurance options. For me, we have two insurance options. One with a higher deductable and lower premiums and the other is lower deductable and higher premiums. Nothing changes on coverage beyond that really. My employer kicks in $1K a year into the HSA. So, I would add enough to cover the deductable in the high deductable insurance- take the savings on the premium. Essentially, the way I see it was the money I was putting into the HSA was shifting money from premium to retirement (assuming you don't end up raiding the account for the deductables). And again, it is free money from the employer to help fund the HSA.

FSA's I don't see much value in unless you know you are going to have health expenses. I don't bother with those.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

12% of gross, 5 percent match, almost max my Roth IRA each year (been doing that since Roth was created), and I will qualify for a pension at 57.

 

[Chadstroma]

12% of gross, 5 percent match, almost max my Roth IRA each year (been doing that since Roth was created), and I will qualify for a pension at 57.

Plus the Black Ops slush fund.

 

[Fennis]

if were talking 401ks and HSAs, I max both out.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

12% of gross, 5 percent match, almost max my Roth IRA each year (been doing that since Roth was created), and I will qualify for a pension at 57.

Plus the Black Ops slush fund.

My link

 

[NREC34]

Upped mine to 4% today from 3%. Reading through this thread made me want to at least get the full match I've been missing out on.

 

[belljr]

So side question.

How much do you think a married couple in their mid forties should have stashed away currently to retire modestly at say 60

 

[Chadstroma]

So side question.

How much do you think a married couple in their mid forties should have stashed away currently to retire modestly at say 60

Depends on a lot of factors... how much you make/has much income you need in retirement, your definition of modestly, your geographical location, your expenses at retirement, how much you have saved now, etc. There is no real cookie cutter answer here.