What does the Employee Deferral Contribution refer to?

The Employee Deferral Contribution refers specifically to the portion of an employee's salary that is voluntarily contributed to their 401(k) retirement account. This is a pre-tax contribution, meaning it is deducted from the employee's gross pay before taxes are applied, allowing them to save for retirement while potentially lowering their taxable income in the current year.

This contribution is an essential component of 401(k) plans, as it directly impacts the employee's savings and investment growth over time. The funds contributed by the employee can be invested in various ways as determined by the plan's options, which can result in growth over the long term.

In contrast, the employer’s matching contributions represent additional funds provided by the employer based on the employee's deferral, but they are not classified as Employee Deferral Contributions. Similarly, gains from investments are returns earned on the entire account balance after contributions have been made, and the total value of the 401(k) account encompasses all of these elements, not just the employee's own deferral contributions.