I have a serious question for everyone, if someone was handing out free money, and you knew about it, would you go get your fair share? Now imagine that there is no line for the free money, you simply walk up and take your share. Wouldn't that be great, free money being given away and all you have to do is say, "I want the money." Well, now imagine that there are people who say, "no, I think I'll pass on that free money. I'm not really interested." Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? However, this scenario happens every day for those who don't maximize on their company 401(k) and 403(b) matches. They are effectively saying, "no thanks, I don't want the free money that you are giving out."

It shocks me when I see employees either not participating in the 403(b) offered by the Archdiocese or not participating at the full 4% that is matched by the Archdiocese. Our plan matches fifty cents on the dollar up to 4% of an employees salary. When you invest that money and think about the returns, which are reinvested, it quickly adds up over the years. The matching money grows and grows. Before you know it, you look at your account and realize the impact of these matching funds. Your account has more money in it then you realized thanks, in part, to the employer match.

Still, individuals pass up this match EVERY DAY! Why? Well, some people don't think about the future, or the fact that they are leaving money on the table. Instead, they focus on the here and now and like Scarlett O'Hara said in Gone with the Wind, "I won't think about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow."