• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire
Personal FinanceRetirement

The common mistake that could cost you your retirement: Here’s how to make sure you’re really contributing to a 401(k)

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 18, 2024, 10:28 AM ET
Low angle portrait of confidence young woman standing against highrise city buildings in city
You might want to doublecheck your 401(k) contributions.d3sign
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

You’ve started a new job, made it through orientation, and even signed up for your company’s 401(k) plan. But if a new survey is any indication, you may want to double-check that last point.

Recommended Video

It turns out that some workers may be misinformed when it comes to their retirement preparedness. In fact, 59% of those not currently contributing to their 401(k) or other workplace retirement plan think they are, according to a recent survey from Principal Financial Group. More than 75% of those employees believed they started saving as soon as they became eligible to contribute.

Principal’s Amy Friedrich, head of benefits and protection, says the company is conducting additional research into why there’s such a disconnect. But one reason could be that 40% of employees have had more than one job in the past five years, and while they may have been auto-enrolled previously, their new job may require manual enrollment. They could also be procrastinating enrolling or paying down debt in lieu of making retirement contributions.

Friedrich also says the change from physical paychecks to digital could also be causing confusion: Workers now have to look harder for a breakdown of their pay.

“Employees are facing a patchwork of inconsistent standards for auto features, which has unfortunately led to inaction and misunderstanding around retirement benefits,” says Friedrich.

Whatever the reason, the trend is worrying and could hinder many workers’ wealth accumulation. That’s especially true for younger workers, who stand to benefit the most from investing earlier.

That said, Principal’s survey finds the generation most likely to say they’re investing for retirement when they’re not is Gen X—and that’s notable, given the oldest Gen Xers are just a few years away from the traditional retirement age. Previous surveys have found Gen Xers have the largest wealth gap of any generation—meaning the biggest discrepancy between how much they have saved for retirement and how much they think they will need—and over 60% of non-retired Gen Xers are not confident in their ability to retire comfortably.

Principal notes that the confusion means many workers will have to play catch-up with their savings if they intend to retire comfortably.

If this article has you second-guessing whether you’re actually investing for retirement, there are a number of ways to check. One is to look at your most recent paystub, and another is to call your account provider or check your online account.

Once you’ve confirmed you’re setting aside something, you may also want to consider if you’re setting aside enough. The correct amount will, of course, vary depending on a person’s age, goals, etc. But financial advisors say to aim for 12% to 15% of your salary. That includes any sort of employer match, so if your boss will match up to, say, 6%, you’re in good shape.

If you don’t have access to a retirement account at work, you can start your own. Called an individual retirement account, or IRA, these accounts are tax-advantaged like 401(k)s and allow you to invest up to $7,000 per year or, for those 50 and older, up to $8,000.

Something else to doublecheck is that are you actually investing the money you are contributing to your 401(k) or IRA. It’s not uncommon for workers, particularly young ones, to start setting aside a percentage of their pay each month without selecting the actual investments, often stock- or bond-based funds.

All of that said, Friedrich says, employers must also step in and take a more proactive approach to helping their employees understand their benefits, through increased education and communication.

“Not only can this help alleviate financial stress,” she says, “it can also help employees engage and focus on doing their best work.”

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Current price of Ethereum for June 26, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for June 26, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for June 26, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for June 26, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of gold as of June 26, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of June 26, 2026
By Danny BakstJune 26, 2026
14 hours ago
Top CD rates from major banks June 26, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on June 26, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 26, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of June 26, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, June 26, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Friday, June 26, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
2 days ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
3 days ago
Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire
Economy
Ray Dalio says the U.S. just had its 'Suez moment'—and history says what comes next could end an empire
By Nick LichtenbergJune 26, 2026
20 hours ago
The bond market knows something about the $39 trillion national debt that Washington doesn’t
Economy
The bond market knows something about the $39 trillion national debt that Washington doesn’t
By Eva RoytburgJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
Economy
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
By Tristan BoveJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.