Calculadora de préstamo 401(k): compara intereses pagados a usted mismo frente al crecimiento del mercado.
Financiar gastos con deudas de su propio plan previsional corporativo 401(k) se postula como una maniobra ideal: burla el buró de crédito habitual, y las sumas devueltas retornan a su propio portafolio. Sin embargo, sufre dos mermas críticas: su capital pierde de generar los intereses compuestos que el mercado accionario ofrece en dicho término, y los intereses de devolución son cubiertos con ingresos ya gravados tributariamente, cosechando un doble gravamen fiscal al retiro.
Costo real del préstamo 401(k)
Un préstamo 401(k) se paga a usted mismo con intereses, pero saca dólares invertidos del mercado. Si el fondo rinde 8% y el préstamo cobra 5%, el coste de oportunidad neto sigue siendo positivo.
Cambio de empleo suele exigir reembolso rápido del saldo pendiente—riesgo de distribución taxable si no puede pagar.
Compare contra préstamo personal o HELOC antes de pedir del plan—reglas del empleador y fees de originación varían.
Guía, ejemplos y metodología
How to use this 401(k) loan cost calculator
Model borrowing from your 401(k): loan amount, interest rate paid back to yourself, lost market growth on borrowed funds, job-change repayment risk, and alternative borrowing cost. US plans often allow loans up to 50% of vested balance (IRS limits apply).
Example (USD)
Item
Example
Risk
Loan
$20,000 from 401(k)
Not invested while outstanding
Opportunity cost
7% market return forgone
Can exceed loan interest
Job change
Balance due quickly
Potential tax + penalty if default
How we calculate
We compare ending balance if you left funds invested versus repaying a plan loan with stated interest, plus optional alternative loan APR. Plan rules, double taxation myths, and fees vary—read your SPD and talk to HR.
Common mistakes
Treating 401(k) interest paid to yourself as ‘free money’ while missing market gains.
Borrowing for discretionary spending instead of true emergencies.
Ignoring repayment if you leave the employer.
Reducing contributions while repaying the loan and missing the employer match.
IRS limits and plan rules (overview)
The IRS generally caps 401(k) loans at the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of your vested account balance (with additional rules for low balances). Not every plan offers loans; some allow two outstanding loans or restrict purpose. Maximum term is often five years except for primary residence. Your Summary Plan Description lists fees, default treatment, and whether you may continue contributions while repaying.
Job change and default risk
If you terminate employment with an outstanding loan, many plans require full repayment within 60–90 days. Unpaid balance may be treated as a distribution—ordinary income tax plus 10% early withdrawal penalty if under age 59½ (exceptions apply). That risk often exceeds the spread between plan loan rate and bank personal loan APR.
Alternatives to compare
Before borrowing from retirement, compare: taxable emergency fund, HYSA, 0% promo credit card (if payoff plan exists), home equity line (if secured debt is acceptable), or unsecured personal loan. Each avoids removing dollars from tax-advantaged compounding. Enter an alternative APR in this calculator to see if external borrowing costs less on a risk-adjusted basis.
Sometimes for short-term liquidity with stable employment, but opportunity cost and job-change repayment risk are real. Compare to a personal loan or emergency fund first using this calculator.
¿Qué se suscita ante despido con préstamo activo de 401k?
Deberá amortizar la totalidad de la deuda restante en un plazo sumamente acotado (generalmente la fecha límite de declaración impositiva anual). Si carece del capital, el remanente se declara penalizado con un 10% adicional por retiro anticipado.