Skip to content

Money moment. Free, no account.

You are starting a new job

The first two weeks set up your pay, your health coverage and your 401(k). Most of it has a deadline, and the match rule is worth reading before you pick a contribution.

First 3 things this week

About 30 seconds to read. Ticks stay on this device.

0 of 3 done

How it works

  1. Read the offer in writing

    Confirm salary, start date, bonus and any signing terms. Ask for the benefits guide at the same time. Many employers give about 30 days to enroll, and your window may be shorter, so ask for the date.

  2. Compare the health plans

    Look at the premium per paycheck, the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum. A health savings account (HSA) works only with a high-deductible plan, and the 2026 limit is $4,400 for one person or $8,750 for a family. A health flexible spending account (FSA) allows $3,400 in 2026.

  3. Fill out the W-4

    The W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to hold from each paycheck. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator shows whether that setup is close to what you will owe. Holding too little can mean a bill in April.

  4. Find the 401(k) match

    A match is extra pay your employer puts into your 401(k) when you contribute. The 2026 limit on your own contributions is $24,500 across all your employers. Ask what percent of pay earns the full match, and when matching dollars become yours (vesting).

A worked example

Sample, not your numbers

A match, with and without the full contribution

Sample numbers: a $65,000 salary at a plan that matches 100% of your contribution, up to 4% of pay.

You put in 2% of pay
$1,300 from you, $1,300 from the employer
You put in 4% of pay
$2,600 from you, $2,600 from the employer
Match not collected at 2%
$1,300

The match is your plan's formula applied to what you contribute. Plans differ: some match 50 cents per dollar, and some make you stay a set time before the match is yours.

What to ask HR, your lender or a tax pro

HR or the benefits team

  • What percent of pay earns the full 401(k) match, and does the match have a vesting schedule?
  • When does the enrollment window close, and when does coverage start?
  • Does the company put money into an HSA, and which plans qualify?
  • Is there a waiting period before I can contribute to the 401(k)?

A tax pro

  • I left a job earlier this year. Did my 401(k) contributions across both jobs stay under the yearly limit?

Run your own numbers

Chapter 5: income & career planning goes further on comparing offers, benefits and raises. Chapters 4 to 18 are Pro.

Sources

Figures read from these pages on October 6, 2026. Plan terms, enrollment windows and match formulas are set by each employer. Your benefits guide is the authority for your own plan.

Education, not financial, tax or legal advice. The example uses sample numbers, and your own situation will differ.