3 Retirement Questions to Ask HR (ASAP)

Assalamu Alaikum girlie! 🌸

So here’s a little secret a lot of early-career professionals don’t fully realize:
Your job might be giving you free money and you could be missing it.

Let’s talk about your retirement plan.
If you’re working a 9-5, there’s a high chance your employer offers some kind of retirement account like a 401(k). And if you're like, “yeah I signed up for it... I think,” then keep reading.

Today’s newsletter is your permission slip to actually understand what’s going on with your job’s retirement benefits and to ask some questions that could literally be worth thousands of dollars.

Here’s what we’re covering:

✨ How your work retirement plan actually works
👀 3 essential questions to ask your HR department

Let’s get into it.

🧠 How Retirement Plans Work (the cute version)

When you sign up for a retirement plan at work (like a 401(k)), you're telling your job to take a portion of your paycheck and invest it for your future. That money gets put into a special investment account and it will grow over time.

You might already be enrolled without realizing it (some jobs auto-enroll you). But just because the money’s being taken out doesn’t mean it’s actually being invested the way you want. Or that you’re even taking advantage of all the benefits.

This isn’t just “boring HR stuff” - this is your future. And the earlier you start being intentional with it, the better.

Sometimes, your employer might match a portion of what you contribute. (Yes girl, free money 😌) But here’s the catch: you gotta ask the right questions to know what’s actually available to you.

💬 The 3 Questions to Ask

1. Do you offer a match?

This is the golden question. A match means your job is offering to give you free money toward retirement just for showing up and investing in yourself.

For example, if you make $60,000 and contribute 5% ($3,000), and they match 3% ($1,800)… that's $1,800 in free money. A raise in disguise. 👀

Not asking means you might be leaving it behind every year.

💡 If there’s a match, consider contributing at least enough to get the full benefit. Don’t let them keep what could’ve been yours.

2. What type of retirement plans do you offer?

All retirement accounts are not the same. Ask if they offer:

• A Traditional 401(k) (invest now, pay taxes later)

• A Roth 401(k) (pay taxes now, money grows tax-free)

• Or other types like 403(b) or 457(b) depending on your sector (nonprofit, government, etc.)

Understanding which one you have matters because it affects what your future withdrawals will actually look like. $1M in a Roth hits very different than $1M in a Traditional account after taxes eat their slice.

3. Can I access a brokerage window?

This one’s for the girlies who are trying to invest with their values in mind.

Most employer plans give you a limited menu of investment options (like 20–50). But what if none of them are Shari’ah-compliant?

A brokerage window gives you access to the broader market so you can choose halal options like Shari’ah-compliant investments. This small detail can be a game-changer.

📌 Ask: “Is there a self-directed brokerage option available within the plan?”

🔐 Want the full list?

I walk my 1-on-1 clients through 7 more questions that’ll help them choose the right plan for their goals. If you're tired of piecing things together from TikTok threads and IG carousels, let’s talk!

Catch you soon,

Fatimah