Financial Launchpad

Nucor Steel Crawfordsville · Your complete money guide
$100,000
$23,500
$4,300
$0
Monthly spending plan
$900
$400
$150
$60
$35
$100
$200
$100
Car — the real cost
$300
$150
$120
$75
Sinking funds (save monthly, spend annually)
$200
$150
$100
$0
All amounts shown as a share of monthly take-home pay (after tax and retirement contributions). The retirement bucket is paid first — automatically deducted before your paycheck arrives. Every other bucket is funded from what remains.
—
—
Biweekly paycheck — what changes
No savings
401k + HSA
+ Roth IRA
Income tax FICA 401(k) HSA Roth IRA Take-home
Annual allocation — side by side
Income tax (fed + IN) FICA 401(k) HSA Roth IRA Take-home
Coast settings
19
50
$60,000
2.5%
7.0%

How changing one factor shifts the coast date

All other inputs held at current settings above

Balance trajectory
Contributing Coasting (zero new contributions) Required nest egg
Retire at 50 settings
19
$60,000
2.5%
3.5%
7.0%
Coast date to retire at 50
Contributing Coasting to target Required nest egg at 50

What if you don't stay at Nucor forever?

Every path looks different — but the money saved early keeps compounding regardless of what comes next.

Path A · Stay 5 years
Max everything, then reassess
5 full years of contributions starting at age 19
Total deposited over 5 yrs—
Balance after 5 yrs (with growth)—
That balance grows to at age 50—
Coast point reached?—
401(k) if you leaveRoll to IRA ✅
Tuition reimbursement eligibleAfter 6 months ✅
5 years of max savings at 19 very likely crosses the coast point. The money works for 25+ more years without adding another dollar.
Path B · Leave after 2 years
Nucor as a launchpad → college
2 years max contributions, then pivot
Total deposited over 2 yrs—
Balance after 2 yrs (with growth)—
That balance grows to at age 50—
Coast point reached?—
Roth contributions (not earnings)Withdraw anytime ✅
401(k) → roll to Roth IRAPay tax while $0 income ✅
Even 2 years is a massive head start. Do not cash out — roll the 401(k) to an IRA. In a low-income year (school), convert to Roth and pay almost zero tax.
Path C · Stay home with kids
Front-load now, step back later
Save hard at 19–24, then choose family
Roth contributions → withdrawableAnytime, no penalty ✅
HSA stays yours foreverPortable always ✅
Spousal IRA (if married)$7,000/yr still ✅
401(k) keeps compoundingNo action needed ✅
Nucor paid parental leaveAvailable ✅
Balance grows to at age 50—
Years at home don't derail the math. The accounts compound silently. A spousal IRA lets a non-working spouse still build retirement savings.
Path D · Career welder
Stay the course, coast early
10+ years, hit coast point, live freely
Coast point (max contributions)—
Total deposited to coast point—
Nest egg at 50—
Contribution-free years—
Nucor profit sharing bonusAdds on top 🎯
Redirect savings after coastHouse / travel / biz ✅
After the coast point, that $2,500+/month is yours to redirect — house, business, travel — while retirement takes care of itself.
The rules that apply to every path
Never cash out a 401(k) when leaving. You'd lose 30–40% to taxes + penalty immediately. Roll it to an IRA — one phone call, costs nothing.
The Roth conversion ladder. Low/zero income year (school, home with kids)? Convert Traditional 401(k) money to Roth IRA. Pay tax at 10% or 0% — then it's tax-free forever.
HSA is the most portable account you own. Never expires. Never tied to an employer. After 65 it becomes a second IRA usable for anything. Max it every year you have access.

Nucor Crawfordsville — confirmed benefits

Verify exact plan details and match rates at your open enrollment. These are publicly confirmed benefits.

Retirement
✅ 401(k) — up to $23,500/yr (2025)
✅ Profit sharing bonus → deposited to 401(k)
✅ Employee Stock Purchase Plan
✅ 401(k) match (verify % at enrollment)
⭐ Known "Yippee Bonus" year-end profit share
Health & HSA
✅ HSA — $4,300/yr individual (2025)
✅ Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield medical
✅ Dental + Vision
✅ On-site clinic — free for employees
✅ FSA option also available
Other benefits
✅ Tuition reimbursement (up to 80%)
✅ Short + Long-term disability
✅ Paid family / parental leave
✅ Life + Critical illness insurance
✅ Employee Assistance Program

Optimal contribution order — fill the buckets in this sequence

The goal isn't to pick one account — it's to fill them in the right order to minimize taxes and maximize growth.

①
401(k) to get full match
Whatever % Nucor matches — capture every dollar of free money first. This is an immediate 50–100% return on that contribution.
②
Max the HSA ($4,300)
Triple tax advantage — the only account with tax-free contributions, growth, AND withdrawals. Use Nucor's free clinic. Never spend HSA money if you can help it.
③
Max rest of 401(k) ($23,500)
After match + HSA, fill the 401(k) to the $23,500 limit. Every dollar reduces taxable income today and compounds tax-deferred.
④
Roth IRA ($7,000)
Post-tax now, but 100% tax-free forever. Also your most flexible account — contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn anytime without penalty if life changes.
⑤
Taxable brokerage
If you've maxed everything above and still have money to invest — open a taxable brokerage at Fidelity or Vanguard. No limits, but no tax shelter.
HSA — "stealth retirement account"
Requires Nucor HDHP plan
2025 limit (individual)
$4,300
Tax on contributions
None — pre-tax
Tax on growth
None
Tax on withdrawals (medical)
None ever
Tax after 65 (any purpose)
Ordinary income (like IRA)
Rolls over year to year
Yes — never expires
Invest in index funds
Yes
Reduces state + federal tax
Yes — both
Nucor free clinic = $0 spend
Bank it, invest it
Traditional 401(k)
Through Nucor — biggest limit
2025 limit
$23,500
Tax on contributions
None — pre-tax
Tax on growth
None (deferred)
Tax on withdrawals
Yes — ordinary income
Early withdrawal (<59½)
10% penalty
Rolls over if you leave
Yes — roll to IRA
Invest in index funds
Yes
Profit sharing added here
Yes — Nucor bonus
Roth IRA
Open at Fidelity or Vanguard
2025 limit
$7,000
Tax on contributions
Post-tax dollars
Tax on growth
None — ever
Tax on withdrawals (retirement)
None
Contributions withdrawable anytime
No penalty ever
Rolls over year to year
Yes
Reduces taxable income now
No
Portable — no employer tie
Always yours