Money Girl How Should I Prioritize Retirement Accounts at Multiple Jobs?
Dec 12, 2025
Navigating multiple retirement accounts can be tricky! Discover how to prioritize contributions when balancing jobs. Employer matches are highlighted as free money that can significantly boost your savings. Learn about vesting schedules and their impact on the money you keep. Plus, understand the 401(k) contribution limits for 2025 and 2026. Laura provides practical advice for reaching key savings targets and emphasizes the importance of matching contributions before adding to non-matching accounts.
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Claim Your Employer Match First
- Max out employer matching by contributing at least the match percent to your workplace plan.
- Employer matching is free money and should be a top priority, says Laura Adams.
Vesting Limits Your Immediate Ownership
- Employer matching contributions often vest over time under graded or cliff schedules.
- Vesting determines how much of the match you keep if you leave before full vesting, Laura explains.
Contribution Limits Apply Per Person
- Annual employee 401(k) contribution limits apply across all plans you control.
- Employer matching does not count toward your individual $23,500 (2025) limit, Laura explains.