Employee vs. Employer Contributions
401(k)s often contain both employee contributions (what the participant puts in) and employer contributions (matching or profit-sharing). In many plans, only the employee’s contributions are fully vested right away. Employer contributions may have a vesting schedule—meaning some of those funds aren’t actually owned by the participant until they’ve met certain service requirements.
When dividing the Van Ess Electrical Contractors, Inc.. 401(k), it’s critical to determine:
- What portion of the employer contributions is vested as of the divorce date
- Whether unvested contributions will remain in the account or be forfeited
- What the plan document says about vesting schedule specifics

