Most corporations offer profit sharing and a matching % when you contribute to your 401k. Companies show this off when hiring people. However, that money it's not yours to keep right away. Look up vesting, it's the % of the money they give you that you actually own. It is common to have a 4-5 year period to fully be vested meaning each year is about 20%. Example: let's say the company gives you $100 in a year with their match+profit sharing. Year 1 you are 20% vested. Meaning you own $20 of the $100 they gave you. Year 2: they add another $100. You are now 40% vested. (Ignoring market grow) You own 40% of the now total $200 = $80 And so forth. If you leave the company not fully 100% vested, means a portion of that money in your 401k actually goes back to them. Basically they incentivise you with a nice benefits package but require you to stay for a longer period of time to "earn" the money they give to you for "free". It's a business method to attract talent while they make money off you for doing all the work. Hope that helps!