Employee Contributions vs. Employer Contributions
401(k) accounts contain two main types of money: the amounts the employee contributes from their paycheck (always 100% vested) and the amounts the employer contributes. But here’s where it gets tricky—employer contributions often have a vesting schedule. In other words, the employee doesn’t fully own those contributions unless they have worked at the company for a certain number of years.
When splitting the Executive Investigation & Secu 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust with a QDRO, it’s critical to:
- Request a vesting schedule from the plan administrator
- Identify which employer contributions are vested and which may be forfeited
- Ensure the QDRO specifies how to handle partially vested funds

