06/05/2026
I'm a huge fan of automating your savings, but if your automation logic isn't percentage based as your income goes up, your savings rate actually goes down.
If I make $100K and save $500/mo, my savings rate is 6%.
If I get a raise and make $110K, my savings rate is now 5.4%.
Over the course of someone's career this can create a devastating undersaving. They may determine their savings rate is suffcient at 30, then not realize their error until 40 and have to make up for a decade of undersaving.
Your 401(k) plan is likely percentage based and may even have the ability to increase the percentage rate annually. Your taxable brokerage and IRA savings are probably fixed dollar. I like making a calendar or phone reminder during the time annual reviews are done to go in and change any fixed dollar savings to account for a change in salary.