This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
It’s not over for you; there is hope after all!
Though your company might not offer the 401k or the lucrative match benefit, which can bring in hundreds to thousands of dollars on top of your paycheck, you can invest in a ROTH IRA and other investment accounts as if you have an employer-funded 401K.
Taking an aggressive investment strategy has significant short-term and long-term benefits.
And guess what? If you want to manifest that employer match, start matching yourself. If you desire an employer to match 6% of your investments, invest an extra 6% in your investments until you find an employer that does so.
Or stick with your current employer and match yourself with the additional percentage indefinitely.
Take your salary and multiply that by the average employer match percentage and add that to your balance. Now take these numbers and invest them.
Problem solved.
Don’t Rely On Employers To Fund Your Investments
You won’t always have the benefits you seek from employers. And you can’t spend your life waiting on an employer to fund your investments. You must take action now to help you stay on track for retirement and financial freedom.
Not having an employer 401K is nowhere near the end of the world since you will always have unlimited investing options.
Though having additional employer funding in your investment funds can be helpful, it’s not a requirement.
It’s supplemental.
You will always be in charge of your financial destiny, which means you can change your position and don’t need the help of others to do so.
Employer Proof Yourself
With your money not tied up in 401K accounts, you never have to be concerned with transitioning (rolling over) your accounts into new funds; you can keep them all in one place, which keeps things a bit more organized.
When you also get into the practice of saving on your own without the help of an employer, you develop a powerful habit of financial independence that carries over from employer to employer.
I always enjoy the employer match, but I don’t consider it a requirement for the places I work for because I know that I will always take care of myself investment-wise and ensure that I’m staying in the driver’s seat of my financial future.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.