Retirement Contribution Tracker
A printable multi-year log for tracking contributions across every retirement account type, with a contribution-limit reference, the 4-vehicle priority order, an annual savings-rate calculation, and a Canadian RRSP-vs-TFSA decision tree.
Retirement Contribution Tracker
Fill the snapshot once, then add one row per year to the US or Canada log. Total each year and divide by gross income for your savings rate: 15% good, 20% great, 25%+ excellent.
Saver Snapshot
Annual Contribution Log — US
| Year | 401(k) employee | 401(k) match | Roth IRA | Traditional IRA | HSA | Taxable | Annual total | Savings rate % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annual Contribution Log — Canada
| Year | RRSP | TFSA | FHSA | Non-registered | Pension | Annual total | Savings rate % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Contribution Limits Quick Reference (2026)
| Account | Annual limit | Catch-up / notes |
|---|---|---|
| US 401(k) | $23,500 | +$7,500 catch-up at 50+ |
| US Roth IRA | $7,000 | +$1,000 at 50+; income phase-out $146-161k single, $230-240k MFJ |
| US Traditional IRA | $7,000 | +$1,000 at 50+; deductibility phases out if covered by a workplace plan |
| US HSA | $4,400 individual / $8,750 family | +$1,000 at 55+; triple tax advantage |
| Canada RRSP | 18% of earned income, max $32,490 | Unused room carries forward indefinitely |
| Canada TFSA | $7,000/yr | Cumulative since 2009; ~$95,000 lifetime room if 18+ throughout |
| Canada FHSA | $8,000/yr, $40,000 lifetime | First-time buyers only; deductible AND tax-free for a first home |
The 4-Vehicle Priority Order
| Order | Fill this | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employer match | Free 50 to 100% return; the highest-return step in personal finance |
| 2 | Roth IRA (US) / TFSA + FHSA (Canada) | Tax-advantaged, flexible, easy to open; FHSA first for first-time buyers |
| 3 | 401(k) / RRSP beyond match | Higher limits, tax-deferred growth, once Roth/TFSA is full |
| 4 | Taxable brokerage | After sheltered limits are maxed; no shelter but no withdrawal limits |
Year-End Account Balance Tracker
| Year | Total retirement accounts ($) | Estimated FV at retirement | On track for target income? | Adjustment needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadian RRSP-vs-TFSA Decision Tree
| If this is true... | ...then prefer |
|---|---|
| You are a first-time home buyer | FHSA first (deductible AND tax-free for a first home) |
| Current bracket above 33%, lower expected in retirement | RRSP (deduction worth more now than the tax later) |
| Current bracket below 25%, higher expected later | TFSA (no deduction now, tax-free growth and withdrawals) |
| You expect GIS or fall in the OAS-clawback range | TFSA (withdrawals do not count as income) |
| High-income spouse plus low-income spouse | Spousal RRSP (splits income in retirement) |
Common-Mistakes Review Checklist
| Check | Periodic review item |
|---|---|
| Contributed to the vehicles in the wrong order (lower priority before higher) | |
| Left employer match on the table | |
| Money sitting in cash instead of an index or target-date fund | |
| Allocation too conservative for my age (too much cash or bonds) | |
| Missed catch-up contributions at 50+ (US) or carried-forward room (Canada) | |
| Concentrated too much in employer stock | |
| Skipped the Roth/TFSA because "it's only $7k a year" |
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use this retirement contribution tracker?
Fill the saver snapshot once (tracker year, gross income, current tax bracket, years to target retirement), then add one row per year to whichever log fits your country. US savers track 401(k) employee and match, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, HSA, and taxable; Canadians track RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, non-registered, and pension. Total each year and divide by gross income to get your savings rate, which the log flags as good at 15 percent, great at 20 percent, and excellent at 25 percent-plus. Once a year, also record the year-end account balance and whether you are on track for your target retirement income.
What are the 2026 contribution limits?
US: 401(k) $23,500 plus a $7,500 catch-up at 50-plus; Roth or Traditional IRA $7,000 plus a $1,000 catch-up (Roth IRA income phase-out roughly $146,000 to $161,000 single and $230,000 to $240,000 married filing jointly); HSA $4,400 individual or $8,750 family plus a $1,000 catch-up at 55-plus. Canada: RRSP 18 percent of earned income up to $32,490 with unused room carried forward; TFSA $7,000 per year, cumulative since 2009; FHSA $8,000 per year, $40,000 lifetime, for first-time buyers only. The tracker prints all of these in a quick-reference table.
What is the right order to fill these accounts?
Capture the employer match first (free 50 to 100 percent return), then fund a Roth IRA in the US or a TFSA and FHSA in Canada, then add to the 401(k) or RRSP beyond the match, and use a taxable brokerage only after the sheltered limits are full. The tracker prints this 4-vehicle priority order as a boxed reference so you can check your contributions against it each year. The most common mistake is funding a lower-priority account while leaving employer match on the table. Run the after-tax winner for your brackets in the Retirement Account Comparison Calculator.
RRSP or TFSA: how do I decide?
The printed decision tree walks the main factors: if you are a first-time home buyer, fill the FHSA first; if your current bracket is above 33 percent and you expect a lower one in retirement, prefer the RRSP for the deduction; if your current bracket is below 25 percent and you expect a higher one later, prefer the TFSA; if you expect to receive GIS or fall in the OAS-clawback range, prefer the TFSA because its withdrawals do not count as income; and if one spouse earns much more than the other, a spousal RRSP can split income in retirement. Most Canadians work down this tree once and revisit it after major income changes. The retirement starter guide covers each factor in depth.