When will National 401(k) Champion® Day be celebrated? June 15th of each calendar year.
What is National 401(k) Champion® Day? Employer-sponsored 401(k) plans play a crucial role in helping employees save for their retirement. Employees who help fellow coworkers understand the benefits of participating deserve to be recognized. National 401(k) Champion® Day does just that. It’s a day highlighting the importance of learning about 401(k)s as well as a day to celebrate 401(k) Champions – those participants who demonstrate 401(k) leadership and mentorship.
How should National 401(k) Champion® Day be celebrated or observed?
401(k) Plan Participants:
- Review your 401(k) plan and make sure you are on top of your payroll contributions.
- Review your 401(k) investment portfolio.
- Help your coworkers! Share your knowledge and experience, and encourage their pursuit of their retirement goals.
401(k) Plan Non-participants:
- Why wait? Enroll in your employer-sponsored 401(k) plan.
- Seek information from your employer about their 401(k) plan, including company matching and vesting schedule.
- Ask a coworker who is participating in his/her 401(k) plan about his/her experiences and insights.
- Find a mentor who can assist you in further understanding and utilizing your 401(k).
401(k) Plan Sponsors:
- Recognize employees who are leaders in 401(k) peer-to-peer education.
- Hold information sessions to educate employees on the benefits of 401(k) participation.
- Consider any further tools or programs your company may be able to provide to support employees’ financial well-being (e.g. emergency savings assistance, financial wellness days, or employee discounts on financial products).
- Incorporate game-based elements to incentivize employees to develop positive saving/contribution habits using their 401(k)s (e.g. challenges, point systems, or badges).
Why was National 401(k) Champion® Day created? National 401(k) Champion® Day is being created to:
- Celebrate 401(k) participants who demonstrate 401(k) leadership by winning the 401(k) Champion® title.
- Encourage 401(k) eligibles to learn about how to maximize their 401(k)s.
The 401(k) Champion® Competition, the only national essay contest for 401(k) participants, is sponsored by Julie Jason, JD, LLM, founder of Jackson, Grant Investment Advisers, Inc. (Stamford, Connecticut).
The top three competition finalists receive a prize of $1,000 and are recognized as 401(k) Champions® for their knowledge and peer-to-peer leadership in 401(k) plan participation.
To learn more about the 401(k) Champion® Competition, visit 401kchampion.com
Who created this day? This day was created by Julie Jason in 2025.