Your guide to the latest in retirement plan catch-up contributions.
We’re ready for 2026, and like our favorite legendary Jamaican bobsled team, we’re back at the top of the hill — ready to make another epic run. But before we launch into yet another amazing year, let’s take a look at the track for year.
This year’s retirement plan updates bring some slick twists: higher limits, a new-ish “super” catch-up for ages 60-63, and a Roth-only rule for high earners. It’s time to suit up, stretch out, and take a look at what’s changing and what’s new.
The Catch-Up Basics (aka: Getting Your Sled on the Track)
Before we dive into the new moves, here’s the refresher:
- Catch-up contributions let participants age 50 or older save beyond the standard annual deferral limit in workplace retirement plans.
- In 2026, that regular catch-up limit is $8,000, meaning more snow in the savings bank.
- It’s the plan participant’s “sprint” option before the finish line, and it’s one way to boost retirement readiness fast.
Now, grab your helmet (or calculator). We’re hitting the ice and covering some changes.
The “Super” Catch-Up: Go for Gold
Just like Sanka upgrading from pushcart races to Olympic bobsleds, older participants in a specific age range now get to level up.
Under SECURE 2.0, if participants will be age 60–63 in the plan year, they qualify for a “super” catch-up — even more than the regular catch-up limit.
- In 2025, that meant $11,250 (max vs. $7,500 standard).
- In 2026, it stays at $11,250 (and, as mentioned above, $8,000 is standard this year).
Think of it as the turbo boost button halfway down the track — the extra momentum that helps participants’ savings rocket past the curve.
Roth Catch-Ups: A New Lane for High Earners
Participants pulling in over $150,000 in prior-year wages (indexed annually) will see a new rule of the race in 2026: Their catch-up contributions must be Roth.
That means these extra contributions will now be made after-tax, and the payoff comes later — tax-free growth and withdrawals once participants hit retirement.
Think of it as switching tracks mid-run: same destination, new strategy. These high earning participants will lose the quick burst of a pre-tax deduction now, but gain long-term speed with tax-free compounding down the stretch.
Final Words from the Ice
2026 is shaping up to be the year of the retirement plan glow-up. Higher limits. New opportunities. And a few plot twists.
AND, just like our favorite underdog bobsled team, adapting to new rules is part of the game. The best racers don’t fight the course — they learn its curves. Because in the end, whether it’s bobsledding or saving for retirement, the key is staying cool when the rules change.
Have questions about these changes? Fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to answer any questions you may have.
