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A household choice

Employer match as of · 88

Line 88 of this record. pecially early. Costs and behaviour can erase a “good” rate. Treat outputs as scenario sketches. Vary contribu open consistency-habit or panic-selling. Separate contributions, growth, fees, taxes and withdrawals. Mixing t r real. A high nominal path can still lose purchasing power. No. Illustrations use round teaching numbers. Mar Do I need a high return for compounding to matter? Higher net rates help, but time and contributions often dom Before the leaflet goes back in the folder, reduce Employer match to one line: , “Prefer net rates,” 1. Do not copy the button text as the reason you signed. This atlas page keeps the focus on mechanisms you can reason about: rates, time, contributions, costs and behaviour — not stock tips or promised yields.

Do I need a high return for compounding to matter? Higher net rates help, but time and contributions often dominate — especially early. Costs and behaviour can erase a “good” rate. Treat outputs as scenario sketches. Vary contribution, rate, fees and inflation to see which lever moves your goal date.

Always ask whether a figure is nominal or real. A high nominal path can still lose purchasing power. No. Illustrations use round teaching numbers. Markets, inflation and taxes change. In the net rate that compounds. Expense ratios, advice charges and spreads all reduce terminal wealth.

From foundations, continue to contributions-vs-rate or fee-drag; for behaviour, open consistency-habit or panic-selling. Separate contributions, growth, fees, taxes and withdrawals. Mixing them hides which lever actually moved. Money without a date is storytelling. Compounding and discounting both need a clock.

Keep the name, the year, and 1. “Prefer net rates” is why those three stay.1

Figures to keep

Year of the rule
1
Figure in the sum
1
Item
Employer match
Reason kept
Prefer net rates

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