VanDerhei

The longer you have, and the smaller the tax increase when you get there, the likelier it is that contributing to a 401k will work out to your benefit, Mr. VanDerhei says.

Higher Taxes Loom for 401(k) Savers Andrea Coombes 2011

"If you look at the federal deficit, I don't see any way the tax rate is going anywhere but up," says Jack VanDerhei, research director with the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a nonprofit research organization.

Higher Taxes Loom for 401(k) Savers Andrea Coombes 2011

Even among employees 55 and up who have been contributing to the same 401k plan for more than 20 years, just 2% are estimated to have cracked the $1 million mark, says Jack VanDerhei, EBRI's research director.

Secrets of the 401(k) Millionaires Cristina Lourosa-Ricardo 2012

Still, 15% to 25% of workers eligible for 401k plans with auto-enrollment are unlikely ever to catch up to the annual contribution rates they would have chosen under plans with voluntary enrollment, estimates Jack VanDerhei, the EBRI's research director.

401(k) Law Suppresses Saving for Retirement Anne Tergesen 2011

"The longer you're in the plan, the smaller the differential between the two income-tax rates, and the higher the rate of return, the more likely it is to stay in the favor of the employee to make the contributions," Mr. VanDerhei says.

Higher Taxes Loom for 401(k) Savers Andrea Coombes 2011

They don't necessarily have higher-than-average salaries or the investing IQ of Warren Buffett, Mr. VanDerhei says.

Secrets of the 401(k) Millionaires Cristina Lourosa-Ricardo 2012

Jack VanDerhei, head of research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a group supported by 401(k) providers, estimates the median person actually has about $158,754, based on data from 401(k) providers.

Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short E.S. Browning 2011

Overall participation rates in 401 (k) plans fell from 65% in 2009 to 60% this year, says Jack VanDerhei, EBRI's research director.

Workers fight uphill battle on 401(k) retirement savings 2010

Unwise spending and health care needs can devastate even the healthiest nest eggs, says VanDerhei, also a fellow at the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Managing your retirement fund can be tricky 2008

"It's this whole money illusion game," says Jack VanDerhei, a business professor at Temple University.

Managing your retirement fund can be tricky 2008