Employer Match
Also called: company match, matching contribution, free money
An employer match is money your employer adds to your retirement account based on what you contribute — commonly 50% or 100% up to a percentage of salary. It's an immediate 50–100% return, unmatched by any investment, which makes contributing at least to the full match the clearest decision in personal finance. Front-loading contributions early in the year can accidentally forfeit later matches at employers that match per pay period.
Formula
Match value = Your contribution × Match rate (up to the cap)