COMPETE FOR THE TITLE OF 401(k) CHAMPION®
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2026 401(k) Champions®
"When I meet my residents, they have no idea about saving or sense of financial literacy. My dad taught me about the time value of investing, so if I can just help a resident get started now, that makes my day. To encourage more people to join, we need to understand that most are not held back by a lack of interest. Instead, they often feel overwhelmed by too much information, confused by financial terms, or distracted by daily responsibilities. In a busy healthcare setting, we should focus less on numbers and more on real-life stories, and talk openly about the specific worries that keep people from participating. What works best for me is helping others directly and encouraging peer-to-peer support. People learn more when advice comes from a coworker in the breakroom than from a formal HR session.
Dr. Paras Khandhar,Corewell Health
Southfield, MI
"When I heard Julie on the Motley Fool podcast, it resonated with my passion for helping and encouraging others to take advantage of the amazing benefit their 401(k) offers. For me, being a 401(k) Champion® is not just about knowing the rules or explaining the match. It’s about helping people see what one good decision, repeated year after year, can become. My own 401(k) journey started with a simple nudge from my sister. I’ve spent much of my career trying to give that same nudge to others. Like planting a tree, the best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is today!”
Thane Walton
United Planners
Mesa, AZ
"I was never taught about compound interest, but when I saw the power of how it worked, I was sold on investing and maximizing my 401(k). I tell my colleagues and friends 'Retirement is not an age, it's a cash balance that lets you live off it comfortably.' I appreciate my 401(k) because it gives me a clear path toward financial freedom. To me, retirement savings are about having choices later in life: when to retire, how much time to spend with family, and whether I have to continue working because I need the paycheck. Every contribution is buying a little more of thatfuture freedom.”
Jonathan Steen
Goodfellow BrothersU.S. Army Veteran
Waikoloa Village, HI
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