Career Break Impact Calculator

You lose contributions, employer match, and decades of compound growth. At $500/month + 50% match, 2 years off = $18,000 in lost contributions. At 7% for 25 years to retirement, that becomes ~$100,000 less in your nest egg. The calculator shows the exact impact.

If you have taxable income (spouse, part-time work, freelance), you can contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA. Even $200/month helps. If you have no income, you generally cannot contribute to an IRA. A spousal IRA may apply if married filing jointly.

Increase contribution rate when you return. 50+ can use catch-up contributions ($7,500 extra for 401k in 2024). Consider maxing out for a few years. The lost balance is real—aggressive saving post-return can partially offset it.

Yes. Two years of $500/month + 50% match = $18,000 not contributed. At 7% for 25 years, that's ~$100,000 less at retirement. The earlier the break, the more compounding you lose. The calculator quantifies it for your situation.