Your Year-End 403(b) and 457(b) Check for 2026
December goes fast for Long Island educators and public employees. Between concerts, report cards and the holidays, retirement savings can slide to January. A few minutes now can help you start the new year knowing where you stand.
Know the 2026 limits
For 2026, you can put up to $24,500 of your salary into a 403(b). A governmental 457(b) has its own separate $24,500 limit. If your employer offers both, those two limits do not combine, so some people can save in each plan.
- Age 50 or older by year end: your plan may allow an extra $8,000 catch-up, for a total of $32,500 in that plan.
- Turning 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2026: the catch-up can be $11,250 instead of $8,000, if your plan permits it. That brings the total to $35,750.
Catch-up amounts come out of your paycheck, and they have to be made before the plan year ends. If you want to use them, it helps to act before your last few paychecks of the year.
Four questions to ask before December
- How much have I put in so far this year? Your year-to-date amount tells you how much room is left.
- Did my raise or step increase change anything? A percentage election grows with your pay. A flat dollar amount does not.
- Am I using both plans the way I meant to? Many people sign up for one plan and never look at the other.
- Are my beneficiaries current? A marriage, a new child or a loss in the family can leave old names on file.
Watch the fees too
Contribution amounts get most of the attention, but what you pay inside the account matters just as much over a career. Hidden fees can quietly take a bite out of years of saving. It is worth knowing what you own and what it costs.
Let's look at it together
Our complimentary 10-minute 403(b) checkup is a quick way to get answers. We meet by video, go over your questions, and you walk away with clear next steps. There is no pressure and nothing to sign.
Book Your Complimentary 10-Minute Checkup
No obligation.
Christopher J. Vargas
Atlas Benefits Advisor