4 Reasons 401(k) Plans Still Make Sense
These tax-advantaged accounts remain the backbone of a retirement saving strategy, despite what naysayers might argue.


From time to time, you may see articles on the drawbacks of 401(k) retirement plans. While it is important to understand the limitations of any investment account, when pundits start claiming that 401(k) retirement plans don’t make sense for most people, I feel the need to speak up. When I was a financial adviser, nearly all of my clients — across a wide variety of income levels — built their foundation for retirement with 401(k) plans. I would hate to see people read negative articles and decide not to participate in retirement plans.
I should state upfront that I work for an investment management company that serves investors in 401(k) plans and other types of accounts. I am a longtime advocate of retirement plans and can support my view with analysis and real-life experience.
There are four major benefits of retirement plans that stand out to me:

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
1. Automatic saving
The behavioral benefit of automatically saving for retirement each pay period should not be understated. There is abundant research showing that people tend to stick with default actions, such as automatically contributing to a 401(k). Data from retirement plans served by T. Rowe Price* in 2019 showed that 85% of employees participated in their plan if it was set up for auto-enrollment. For other types of plans, the participation rate was only 44%. The gap is even wider for workers under 30. Fortunately, employers’ adoption of auto-enrollment has steadily risen from 44% to 62% over the past seven years. These figures tell a story: People need help with saving, and retirement plans are increasingly helping them.
2. Tax benefits
Considering the downward trend in statutory tax rates over recent decades, do “tax-advantaged” retirement accounts really help? Having conducted thorough analysis in this area, I am confident they do.
It’s true, while you get a nice tax break on the money you contribute to a traditional 401(k) account, once you start making withdrawals in retirement, you will pay taxes on every dollar you take out. However, many people will have a lower effective tax rate in retirement than the marginal rate during their working years. That makes deferring taxes via a 401(k) plan beneficial.
If you expect a higher tax rate later, Roth contributions help you, and 77% of retirement plans now offer them. You pay taxes on the money you contribute to a Roth, but after that the principal and gains can be tax-free via qualified withdrawals. If instead you grew your portfolio using a taxable (nonretirement) account, even with income low enough to avoid taxes on long-term capital gains, a Roth account would still be at least as good tax-wise.** Ultimately, tax-deferred growth, with either traditional or Roth savings, can go a long way toward meeting your retirement goals.
3. Employer contributions
Taking advantage of an employer’s 401(k) match may be the first personal finance advice you get upon entering the workforce. It’s often referred to as “free money” and is a significant, straightforward and common benefit. Over 90% of plan sponsors with over 1,000 employees offer a match — plus 76% of smaller plans. The most common match formulas incentivize employees to contribute at least 4% to 6% of their pay. Many employers contribute up to 3%, and matching formulas up to 4% or 5% are becoming more popular. Again, the trends have generally moved in the right direction, at least before the pandemic. Could employers help workers in ways outside a retirement plan? Yes, but the combination of behavior encouragement and a well-established platform is very powerful.
4. Help with investing — and staying invested
Have you ever been paralyzed by a bewildering array of toothpaste at the store? A similar feeling can come over retirement savers when it comes to investment selections. Fortunately, 96% of retirement plans offer target-date investments, and often they are set as the default option. Target-date investments are goal-oriented and automatically adjust your risk level over time. In addition, nearly 80% of plans allow investors to automatically increase contribution percentages periodically, with nearly half of those plans setting auto-increase as the default. And, importantly, it is possible to get your money out before retirement if necessary, but there are large incentives not to do so. If you need help, your employer will likely provide education and guidance, regardless of your asset level.
Of course, there is a range of quality and cost among 401(k) plans. And all types of investment accounts have advantages and disadvantages. Regulations around retirement plans, taxation, and Social Security could all be changed to improve Americans’ retirement security. None of that leads me to believe that retirement plans don’t make sense for savers today.
I want clients to prepare successfully for retirement, regardless of what types of accounts or investments they use. Retirement plans have helped a lot of people, including me, and I encourage investors to continue reaping their benefits.
*All statistics about retirement plans are from T. Rowe Price Reference Point.
**Assuming qualified Roth distributions, which generally require age 59½ and the account being open for five years.
This material is provided for general and educational purposes only, and not intended to provide legal, tax or investment advice. This material does not provide recommendations concerning investments, investment strategies or account types; and not intended to suggest any particular investment action is appropriate for you. Please consider your own circumstances before making an investment decision.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Roger Young is Vice President and senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price Associates in Owings Mills, Md. Roger draws upon his previous experience as a financial adviser to share practical insights on retirement and personal finance topics of interest to individuals and advisers. He has master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Maryland, as well as a BBA in accounting from Loyola College (Md.).
-
Do You Need a Family Office? Four Signs for the Very Wealthy
You may need a family office if you are a high-net-worth individual, because being wealthy turns a family into a family business.
-
Wealth Advisers: In Estate Planning, the End Is Just the Beginning
We need to keep the lines of communication with our clients open so that we can anticipate and help them navigate issues that arise over time.
-
Wealth Advisers: In Estate Planning, the End Is Just the Beginning
We need to keep the lines of communication with our clients open so that we can anticipate and help them navigate issues that arise over time.
-
Stood Up by a Radio Show: But Was It a Breach of Contract?
A conscientious financial planner reschedules his clients after being invited onto a talk show and ends up losing one of them at a cost of $5,000. What does the radio show owe him, if anything?
-
Eight Estate Planning Steps to Protect Your Loved Ones (and Your Legacy)
Two-thirds of Americans don't have an estate plan. If you're one of them, these are the essential steps to take now to prevent problems for your family later.
-
The Six Pros This Adviser Says You Need to Sell Your Business
Selling your business isn't as simple as getting the best price and walking away. These are the six professionals you'll need to get a deal across the finish line.
-
The Three C's to Financial Success: A Financial Planner's Guide to Build Wealth
Consistency, commitment and confidence in your chosen strategy are more critical to your financial success than finding the 'perfect' financial plan.
-
A Financial Adviser's Guide to Solving Your Retirement Puzzle: Five Key Pieces
If retirement's a puzzle you're struggling with, try answering these five questions. The answers will guide you toward a solution.
-
You're Close to Retirement and Cashed Out: How Do You Get Back In?
If you've been scared into an all-cash position, it's wise to consider reinvesting your money in the markets. Here's how a financial planner recommends you can get back in the saddle.
-
After the Disaster: An Expert's Guide to Deciding Whether to Rebuild or Relocate
Homeowners hit by disaster must weigh the emotional desire to rebuild against the financial realities of insurance coverage, unexpected costs and future risk.