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Women are continuing to strengthen their long-term financial security. New one fidelity study found that the average 401(k) balance among women has increased 22% over the past five years, compared with 20% among savers overall. Additionally, women who have been consistently contributing to their 401(k) plans for 15 years had an average balance of $508,700 at the end of 2025, up from $453,500 a year earlier.
In this “Financially Savvy Women” column, we’re chatting with Alex Roca, host of Fidelity’s “Women Talk Money,” about what these women are doing right and how more women can realistically reach a $500,000 401(k) balance.
Why is it so important to be consistent when it comes to 401(k) investing?
Staying consistent with your 401(k) contributions is one of the most impactful habits you can form when saving for retirement. Regular investing keeps your money working through both market ups and downs, helping to reduce the pressure to “get it right” or react to short-term volatility.
While a general guideline is to aim to save about 15% of your income each year (including any employer match), it’s important to remember that this isn’t an all-or-nothing goal. You don’t need to reach there overnight. Even modest, steady contributions can make a meaningful difference over time.
Each deposit builds your foundation, and as your balance grows, your deposit has the opportunity to generate its own earnings. Starting with what you can do today is much more powerful than waiting for the “right” time to strike.
How can stopping or reducing contributions lead to bigger losses over time?
When you stop or reduce your 401(k) contributions, the impact goes beyond the dollars you didn’t invest at that time. Even a relatively short break could mean those dollars have fewer years to benefit from market growth, which could quietly add up to very low balances down the road.
He said, life happens. If you’ve had to stop contributing, the most important thing is to simply start again. You can restart with an amount that seems manageable and gradually increase it as your situation allows.
By reestablishing stability, even at modest levels, compounding is set in motion again. Even small steps can bring meaningful change.
What advice would you give to women who want to reach a $500K 401(k) balance?
Reaching a $500,000 401(k) balance starts with the belief that steady progress really does add up.
While a common benchmark is working toward saving about 15% of your income each year, including any employer match, that shouldn’t necessarily be your starting line. What matters most isn’t perfection – it’s persistence.
Making full use of the benefits available to you can be a real accelerator. Contributing enough to capture your full employer match is one of the simplest ways to boost your savings, because it’s money added to your future at no extra cost.
Keeping your savings in tax-advantaged accounts like a 401(k) is another powerful way to support your growth.
And perhaps most importantly, remember this: It’s never too late to start, and you don’t need to save a whole lot to be successful. Small, consistent actions can yield remarkable results.
With time, patience, and confidence in your ability to move toward your goals, $500,000 becomes not just a number, but a reflection of your commitment to your future.
