Employer plan rules
Match formula, eligibility, vesting, fund menu and fees.
TAKEOFF · LEVEL 200
Turn stability into automatic momentum.
This level is not “start investing.” It is a payday system that captures free employer dollars, extends reserves and makes debt and investing advance without monthly willpower.
INSTRUMENTS
Use numbers that can be verified.
Payday surplus
Amount remaining after essentials, minimums and the reserve transfer.
Debt rates
The guaranteed cost avoided by paying each balance.
Account eligibility
Employer-plan, IRA and HSA eligibility verified for the current year and household.
DECISION GATES
Work the constraint that controls the outcome.
| Condition | Evidence | Required move |
|---|---|---|
| Employer match is uncaptured | Eligible contribution earns additional employer money. | Raise contributions to the full-match threshold unless essentials cannot stay current. |
| Expensive debt remains | Rate is above the conservative return used for planning. | After match and starter reserve, prioritize the guaranteed interest avoided. |
| Reserve is under three months | Income or obligations would make a disruption dangerous. | Split surplus between reserve growth and long-term investing. |
| All foundations are controlled | Cash flow, reserve and expensive debt no longer dominate. | Increase diversified long-term contributions on payday. |
ORDER OF OPERATIONS
Complete the level in sequence.
Capture the match
Document the exact formula and vesting; “I contribute” does not prove the full match is captured.
Set the split
Assign each surplus dollar among reserve, targeted debt and investing; percentages must total 100.
Choose simple investments
Use a diversified, low-cost allocation matched to time horizon and ability to tolerate loss.
Schedule increases
Increase contributions on a date, raise or debt payoff—not when motivation returns.