 TITLE: How Much Should I Contribute to 401(k)? CONTENT: How Much Should You Be Putting in Your 401(k)?\n----------------------------------------------\nIn short, this depends on your situation. If you're getting close to retirement and your savings isn't up to snuff, you might want to max out your 401(k) contributions (more on that below). A general rule of thumb by financial experts is to put 10% to 15% of your pre-tax income into your 401(k). But if you're 40 or older, consider setting aside 20%.\nIf you're younger and have decades to save, you might be fine contributing slightly less, especially if you can up your contributions over time. Here are a few other things to consider as you think about how much to set aside:\n*   Do your family members have long lifespans? If many of your relatives live well into their 80s or 90s, you might need to save more than the average person.\n*   Do you expect other sources of income in retirement, such as investment dividends or a pension? If you will be getting money from these and other investments, you won't need to set aside quite as much in your 401(k) account. As of now, you can also expect to collect Social Security starting at age 67. That number could change, however, and with the Social Security Board of Trustees projecting it will only be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits by 2035, you should concentrate on other avenues for the bulk of your retirement savings.\n*   How do you expect your expenses in retirement to compare with your expenses now? If you think you'll live on significantly less, you might not need to set aside as much. But if you envision yourself living a cush life in retirement, you might want to contribute a higher amount to your 401(k). Also keep in mind that while you may plan to have a simpler lifestyle in retirement, other factors could play a part in your expenses, such as rising health care costs or a desire to travel to see family. END