You don’t need to be a financial advisor to walk them through it — just a clear explainer and the right support.
HR teams know how important it is to communicate benefits clearly, especially when talking to new hires just starting their careers.
For many younger employees, the 401(k) is likely their first exposure to investing. Terms like deferral rates, matches, and vesting schedules are practically a foreign language. (In fairness, that remains the case for most of us.) And that’s why it pays to keep things simple and grounded.
Here’s a simple framework you can use the next time you’re onboarding someone fresh out of school:
Start With What Matters Today
Don’t lead with retirement. If the company offers a match, start there. A 401(k) match is free money. It’s part of their compensation. So if they’re not contributing, they’re leaving money on the table.
Even without an employer match, you can make the case. Think of the idea behind “pay yourself first.” Before taxes, rent, and bills take their cut, set something aside for future you.
It doesn’t have to be a lot. But it should be consistent.
Show the Power of Time
A single dollar invested at age 24 can grow more than five dollars by retirement. Start with that.
Most people wait to contribute until they’re older and earning more. That seems logical, but it misses a bigger truth: a small amount saved early is often worth more than a larger amount saved later.
That’s because compound growth needs time. Your twenties and thirties are your most valuable years for market exposure, even if you don’t have much to invest.
You don’t need a finance degree or a five-year plan. Just start. Your future self will thank you.
Connect It to What They Actually Want
Not everyone dreams of retiring early (or even knows what they want five years from now). But most people understand what it feels like to live paycheck to paycheck. The idea of working for 40 straight years might not resonate right away, but planting the seed now can help them imagine a different future.
A 401(k) gives them a way to start building toward it, even if they’re not sure what “retirement” looks like yet.
Skip the Jargon
Use plain words. “Vesting” just means when they officially own the company’s contributions. “Deferral” means how much of their paycheck goes into the plan. “Match” is what the company chips in when you save, like a bonus that rewards you for investing in yourself. “Roth” means they’re paying taxes now so they can withdraw the money tax-free later in retirement.
You don’t need to oversimplify, but you do need to translate.
Benefits Only Work If People Understand Them
Younger workers want to know someone’s looking out for their future. Help them see how a 401(k) supports that future, and they’re far more likely to use it.