BenefitsFront
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How much 401(k) match are you leaving on the table?

Most employees can't afford to contribute enough to capture the full employer match — often the highest-ROI benefit in their entire comp package. Run the numbers in 10 seconds.

$120,000
$30K$350K
3% of salary
0%15%
100%

e.g. "50% match", "100% dollar-for-dollar"

4% of salary

Usually 3-6% at most employers

30 years

You're currently capturing

$3,600/ year

75% of available match

Leaving on the table

$1,200/ year

Free money your employer wants to give you

Over 30 years at 7% returns

$113,353lost

Future value of the missed match, compounded

Why this happens

Capturing the full match requires contributing the full cap percentage (e.g. 4% of every paycheck). For most employees, that's a real cut to take-home pay — and rent, daycare, and groceries don't pause for retirement planning.

The result: a study from Vanguard found ~25% of eligible employees contribute below the match cap, leaving an estimated $24B/year in employer match unclaimed nationally.

How BenefitsFront fixes this

We're launching 401(k) Match Catcher in Q3 2026 — we front your contribution so you capture the full match without cutting your take-home pay. You keep 75% of the match value.

Available today: the same model for ESPP discounts. If your employer offers an ESPP, you can start capturing it this cycle.

Compound projection uses 7% annual real return — close to the long-run S&P 500 average after inflation. Your actual return will vary. This calculator is for illustration; check your employer's plan documents for exact match terms.