Sanzenbacher’s latest column examines a recent brief, where researchers explored whether married couples are making the most of employer matching contributions by coordinating how they split retirement savings between their workplace plans. The professor mentioned that contribution-based plans, particularly 401(k)s, have become the primary retirement savings vehicle for U.S. workers. More than 80% of employers that offer 401(k) plans also provide matching contributions tied to employee savings. Small adjustments, bigger retirement balancesThe research found that roughly 40% of couples actively coordinate their 401(k) contributions to maximize employer matching funds. He added that over 30 years, assuming a 5% real return, that change could produce roughly $25,000 in additional retirement savings.