An Explanation of 401k Vesting

by | May 15, 2023 | 401k | 12 comments

An Explanation of 401k Vesting




401k Vesting Explained: In this video, Justin covers everything you need to know about 401(k) vesting programs including what vesting is, why vesting schedules exist, the cliff vesting, graded vesting, immediate vesting, as well as how each of the three major types of 401(k) accounts require companies to handle vesting handle vesting – SIMPLE 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k) and Traditional 401(k).

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When it comes to a 401k plan, vesting is one term that can be confusing to many people. Vesting refers to the process of gaining ownership of the money that the employer has contributed to an employee’s 401k plan. It’s important to understand how vesting works because it can have a significant impact on your retirement savings.

So, what does vesting mean?

Vesting is the process by which an employee gains ownership of the money that the employer has contributed to their 401k plan. The employee’s contributions are always 100% vested, meaning that they own that money immediately. However, employer contributions are subject to a vesting schedule set by the plan. This means that an employee will not own all of the employer contributions until they have worked for the company for a certain period of time.

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Vesting schedules can vary by company and plan, but they typically follow a few basic rules:

1. Cliff Vesting: Under this type of vesting, employees are given a specific amount of time to work for the company before they become vested in their employer’s contributions. Once the employee reaches the cliff point – usually a year or two – they become 100% vested in all the employer contributions. If they leave the company before the cliff point, they will not be entitled to any of the employer’s contributions.

2. Graded Vesting: With graded vesting, employees become vested in a portion of their employer’s contributions over time. For example, an employee may become 20% vested after two years of service, 40% vested after three years, and so on until they are 100% vested after a certain number of years.

Once an employee becomes vested in their employer’s contributions, they have full ownership of the money and can take it with them when they leave the company. It’s essential to note that an employee always owns 100% of their own contributions and any earnings on those contributions.

Vesting is essential to consider when determining what company to work for or if you’re considering leaving your current employer. It’s crucial to be aware of any vesting schedules and the amount of time required to become fully vested. By understanding the vesting process, you can better plan for retirement and ensure that you’re receiving the maximum amount of employer contributions for your future.

Additionally, when changing jobs, rolling your 401k into a new account can be an efficient way to ensure the money you have accrued is not left behind or lost.

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In conclusion, while it may be challenging to understand some of the terms surrounding retirement plans, the vesting process is critical to understand. It defines the timeline for an employee to gain ownership of employer contributions, ultimately impacting retirement savings.

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12 Comments

  1. RM M

    im taking a course on life insurance and they use all this fancy terminology to explain simple concepts. Your videos are very well explained and the graphs really help me as a visual learner. Thank you i just subbed

  2. Wilfredo Lee

    If I leave the company after 20% vested, can I still get the 100% vested if I dont remove my 401 k with that company?

  3. Juan Cazares

    Great video, thanks for the explanation

  4. Shar Reh's Songs

    This video is extremely helpful, from start to finish, thanks Justin!

  5. Noah Schroder

    This is super helpful thanks!!!

  6. aditya trivedi

    Hello Justin, question for you – what if I have been with my company for 2 years but have not actually enrolled in a 401k and I start from the 3rd year. I leave my company towards the end of the 3rd year and my company's vesting schedule is 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% for 1,2,3 and 4 years with the company. Do I get 75% since I was with the company 3 years or do I only get 25% since my 401k account was only 1 year old?

  7. NineSeven 420 Empire

    MY employer changed the vesting method 2 years ago in their favor….. and it is a "profit sharing match" with low % limits..

  8. Samuel Vaughn

    Your videos are very helpful and thorough! I’ve finally paid off my debt, saved up emergency fund 6mos and was looking around on ways to invest and setting up my 401k when I found your videos. Thanks for taking the time to make them. I am just confused about one thing. My job offers 401k and after a year service they contribute 25% match up to 6% of my eligible pay. After 4 years they match 50% and 100% at 5 year mark. I am in my late 20s and make little over 50k and I hit the 1yr mark and my company auto enrolled into fidelity 401k. My question is it really worth it? I know you mentioned it free money and to atleast meet the match. However, in my scenario, 6% of 50k equals 3k and 25% of that will be $750 match from company. I don’t see myself working at my company long enough for it to become fully vested. It takes 5years for 100% vest (2yr/20%, 3yr/40%,4yr/60%).

    Hypothetically if I leave next year at the 2 yr mark , I would only take $150 of my company match (20% vest) plus my contribution and earnings. Does it make sense to invest in 401k if you are not at a company loan term? I’ve never had a 401k so I just don’t know how much it can grow in a year so maybe I’m missing that part. If I were to change jobs every 2-3 years for a higher salary , I would be leaving without vesting and feel like money can be put somewhere else other than 401k to grow. Sorry this got long, thank you for your helpful videos!

  9. Artfulseas

    I really wish my company had a better vesting schedule. They've got the graded schedule over 6 years and it feels like forever. This video was really clear. I didn't know there was so much to vesting. Very informative.

  10. VinWolf151

    I had no idea cliff vesting was a thing. Good to know!

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