After 90 min: You'll have a written retirement plan with specific savings targets and timelines.
Plan Your Retirement Contributions
After 90 min: Set up automated retirement savings and maximize employer match
Plan Your Retirement Contributions is a financial skill that opens real doors once you have it. This 90-minute plan is ideal for learners with some foundation — you can complete it from the comfort of home with the materials listed above, no special background required. The goal is not to leave you with theoretical knowledge but with a tangible, lived experience: by the end of this session, you will set up automated retirement savings and maximize employer match. That concrete outcome is what separates structured plans from casual self-study — you always know what you're working toward and whether you've arrived.
The session moves through 5 carefully ordered steps, covering review your options, understand matching, calculate your contribution, and choose your investments. Each block has a specific time window so you know exactly how long to spend before moving on. The sequencing is intentional: early steps build foundational awareness and muscle memory, while later steps apply those fundamentals under slightly more demanding conditions — the same way a skilled instructor would structure a first lesson. By the time you reach the final step, you will have touched every core element of plan your retirement contributions at least once.
One thing most beginners miss: A 401k grows tax-deferred. Starting at 25 vs 35 doubles your retirement savings. Keeping that in mind throughout the session will dramatically improve your results. After this 90-minute foundation session, you'll have a clear picture of which aspects of retirement feel natural and which need more deliberate practice. That self-knowledge is the most valuable thing you take away — it turns a one-off session into the start of a genuine learning path.
What you need
The 90-Minute Plan
Check if your employer offers 401k, 403b, or pension. Find the employee handbook or HR portal.
Find the employer match percentage. If they match 3%, contribute at least 3% to get free money.
For 2026, the 401k limit is $24,500. Calculate what % of salary you can afford to contribute.
Select fund options inside your 401k. Choose a target-date fund matching your retirement year for simplicity.
Submit your enrollment through HR or the provider's website. Verify the percentage on your next paystub.
A 401k grows tax-deferred. Starting at 25 vs 35 doubles your retirement savings.
Keep Going
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