It's not dumb. 401k is pretax money, so you're essentially able to accrue value on the money you would've paid in taxes. When there's an employer match, it's

It's not dumb. 401k is pretax money, so you're essentially able to accrue value on the money you would've paid in taxes. When there's an employer match, it's a nobrainer, otherwise you're throwing away money. W/o a match, it's a personal decision, but I think it's a pretty good one. If you expect your salary to increase over time (significantly), you may prefer a post-tax ROTH IRA instead (that's what I'm in, after my employer move the vesting schedule to waaaay outside my intended employment period.)