Understanding Vesting Schedules
Most employer contributions in a profit sharing or 401(k) match plan come with a vesting schedule. This means the employee “earns” rights to those contributions over time. For example, a plan might vest as follows:
- Year 1: 0% vested
- Year 2: 20% vested
- … up to 100% at Year 6
If your divorce occurs before full vesting, the alternate payee can only receive the vested portion. The QDRO must clearly state this to avoid disputes or miscalculated benefits.

