Just something that crossed my mind. If the company is willing to match me dollar for dollar up to 6% and 50 cents on the dollar for the next 4%. Why couldnt they just contribute that same amount of money to my 401k regardless if i only contribute 3% or nothing at all? Why the stipulations? Wouldn't it be the same difference to them?

They are trying to encourage you to save $; tax free. Why would you complain about such a great deal?

Cause only about 50% of people actually contribute to a 401k.

My work offers similar. We invest a total of 11% but will go up after we pay off student and car debts. It's free money and still will have a larger paycheck from debts being gone.

I would contribute every % up to what they have a match for at the very minimum. It's an incentive to you, you have skin in the game as well and it also can help lower their tax liability.

Max out your 401K. especially in this market.

youd be surprised how many people especially younger people wont contribute at all and the ones that do how many would stop at the 6% dollar for dollar match. it saves your company money. my employer only contributes 2% complimentary and matches an additional 3% for a total of 5% i just throw in 5% on top of their 5% for 10% total. Id be all over that if theyed match up to 10% it would double my retirement.

Trump is destroying our economy havent you heard? my 401k was doing fine and holding its value for the last 8 years under Obama now under Trump its turned out a 27% gain in 3 years. Its obviously a bubble just waiting to burst since he has no idea what hes doing.😂

not really complaining, just wondering. But you kind of missed my point.

When you're poor like me, you need that money from your paycheck. Not some money that may or not be there 20 years from now, if i even live that long. My company merged and changed some stuff up, mostly screwing the poorer people in the company, the one thing that did improve was the better 401k, which is alright for the 6 figure folks, but doesnt do much for me. Just wondering why they cant contribute that money to my retirement anyways. I know the reason, just curious what others think.

They are complying with IRS regulations. You're required to contribute in order to obtain the matching funds.
There's usually an option to contribute after tax dollars if you so choose, in order to withdraw your money early without penalties.

Not trying to preach to you but you better get your ducks in a row and start putting some money away for your retirement or you'll be poorer then than you are now.
Social security may or may not be there for you when the time comes. It costs more to live in retirement than you think and having to live on only social security will not be a pleasant way to live

I was gonna say it probably has something to do with government regulation.

We had that discussion at work quite a few years back and payroll ran the #'s. It was a minimum of 3% contribution to get in the program. When the payroll gal ran the #'s of your current take home pay, vs your take home pay when putting in the 3% which is tax deferred the weekly take home pay was withen $4. Almost unnoticeable.

IRS regulations.

We offered a 401k with a match here for several years, but had to stop it because management was the only group contributing to it. The others that did contribute paid in up to our match, then paid the penalty and withdrew their money and the match quarterly. The regulations also require a certain percentage of your participants be outside of management. We fell below that percentage and had to stop the 401k and go to a Simple IRA. We still match, but few participate.

I don't disagree about putting as much in as possible, but "the market" is getting a little frothy. Wish I had a pile to invest when we see the correction though.

I feel safe in assuming that you not not employing a group of rocket scientists

I aint gonna lie, I was surprised you knew that

Trust me on this, retirement costs more than you plan for.
You budget and you calculate and you think you got it all worked out. Then you need a new engine for a truck (oops didn't figure on that) and then your tractor fuel pump goes bad (oops didn't plan for that) and then the wife decides to update the kitchen (oops didn't plan on that) and etc, etc, etc. It never ends.