Two-Thirds of Workers Save More for Retirement Thanks to One Simple Change

Saving for retirement isn’t easy, and it’s no secret that the majority of workers are behind on their savings. Roughly one-third of Americans have absolutely nothing saved for retirement, according to a recent survey from GOBankingRates. That’s a big problem, especially considering the average retirement costs upwards of $700,000.

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Part of the reason why so many people are falling behind financially could be that they’re not taking advantage of one of the most powerful tools in their arsenal: a 401(k). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59% of U.S. workers have access to a 401(k). Yet among those who do have a 401(k), only 69% are actively contributing to it.

Making the most of your 401(k) is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prepare for retirement, and if your employer offers matching contributions, you could potentially double your savings with zero effort on your part. Whether you’re just getting started saving or are already enrolled in your 401(k), there are steps you can take to maximize your savings and set yourself up for financial success.

Participation is the first step to success

Sometimes the hardest part of saving is just getting started. When workers are not automatically enrolled in their 401(k), only about half of them will opt into it, according to a Fidelity Investments survey. However, when employers automatically enroll new employees, 401(k) participation jumps to 87%. Those who were automatically enrolled also tended to save more over time: Fidelity found that among workers who were automatically enrolled in their 401(k)s, the average savings rate rose from 4% of wages in 2008 to 6.7% in 2018.

Of course, you don’t have control over whether your employer auto-enrolls new employees in its 401(k), but you can choose whether and how much to contribute yourself. And while increasing your savings rate from 4% to 7% may not sound like a big leap, it can amount to tens of thousands of dollars over time.

For example, say you’re earning $50,000 per year, you just started contributing 4% of your salary — or $2,000 — to your 401(k) each year, and you currently don’t have anything stashed away in your retirement fund. After five years, you increase your savings rate to 5% per year, and after 10 years, you up it again to 6%. Assuming you’re earning an average annual return of 7% on your investments, here’s what your savings would look like over time:

Data source: Calculations by author.

If you had continued to contribute 4% (or $2,000) per year, and all other factors remained the same, after 30 years you’d have ended up with just $202,000 — a difference of more than $55,000.

Also, if your employer matches your contributions, you could stand to gain even more. In this example, say your employer will match 100% of your contributions up to 3% of your salary, which amounts to $1,500 per year. This is how your savings would look over time with that additional $1,500 per year, assuming you’re still earning an average annual return of 7% on those investments:

Data source: Calculations by author.

By continuing to contribute just 4% of your salary plus the additional $1,500 per year without increasing your savings rate, you’d end up with around $354,000.