How to enroll
Employees are enrolled automatically in the 401(k) plan, with a pretax paycheck deferral of 6%, within approximately 30 days of your hire date. Your contributions will be invested in a Vanguard Target Retirement Trust based on your age. After that, your contribution will be increased automatically by 1% every March.
Interns are not automatically enrolled but can choose to participate by registering and opting in at vanguard.com.
International transfers returning to the U.S. are not automatically enrolled, but can choose to participate by restarting deferrals at vanguard.com.
First-time International transfers to the U.S. are automatically enrolled but can make changes or opt out at vanguard.com.
Enrolling sooner
To begin your paycheck deferrals in advance of automatic enrollment, visit the Vanguard 401(k) website, and follow these steps to enroll [PDF]. (It may take a week after your hire date for your information to be available at Vanguard.)
Opting out
To opt out of Adobe’s 401(k) plan, visit the Vanguard 401(k) website, and follow these steps to opt out [PDF].
You can also change your elections or opt out anytime by visiting the Vanguard 401(k) website or calling 800-523-1188 (Adobe plan number 096204).
Prior Contributions
If you contributed to your retirement at a previous employer this year, use Vanguard’s Contribution Maximizer tool to add that information. Select Manage my money and then Maximize my contributions on the right side of the screen. You will then be provided with the best personalized contribution percentage based on all your retirement saving sources along with current IRS limits.
What you can contribute
You can defer 1%–65% of your eligible pay. In 2024, the IRS limit for pretax and/or Roth after-tax contributions is $23,000 (including contributions made to a 401(k) through a previous employer). In 2025, the IRS limit for pretax and/or Roth after-tax contributions is $23,500 (including contributions made to a 401(k) through a previous employer).
2024 401(k) annual contribution limits
| Pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions (402g limit) | $23,000 |
| Adobe company maximum match* | $10,350 |
| Traditional after-tax contributions | $35,650 |
| IRS maximum contribution limit total (415 limit) | $69,000 |
*Based on IRS-eligible annual compensation maximum
2025 401(k) annual contribution limits
| Pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions (402g limit) | $23,500 |
| Adobe company maximum match* | $10,500 |
| Traditional after-tax contributions | $36,000 |
| IRS maximum contribution limit total (415 limit) | $70,000 |
*Based on IRS-eligible annual compensation maximum
If you’re age 50 or over, you can contribute an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions. In addition, in 2024 you can defer up to $35,650 in traditional after-tax contributions for a maximum contribution limit of $76,500. In 2025 you can defer up to $36,000 in traditional after-tax contributions for a maximum contribution limit of $77,500.
Use Vanguard’s savings limit calculator to help you determine what payroll deferral percentage to elect to reach this year’s maximum. Payroll contributions are calculated in a set order. Refer to this article on Inside Adobe to see the effect of your 401(k) deferral percentage on your other paycheck deductions.
Rollover contributions
You can roll over your account from a previous employer's 401(k) plan by following these steps to start a rollover [PDF].
Maxed out your 401(k)?
If you’ve hit the annual limit for pretax contributions, remember you can also put pretax money in your HSA to use in retirement.
Matching contributions
For each $1 you add as pretax or Roth after-tax contributions to your 401(k), Adobe will contribute 50 cents, up to 6% of your eligible pay, each pay period. If you contribute more than 6% of your pay, Adobe matches 3% of your annual compensation, up to the IRS-eligible annual compensation maximum of $345,000 in 2024 ($350,000 in 2025). All company contributions are completely vested.
To make sure you can take full advantage of the company match even if you reach your IRS contribution maximum of $23,000 in 2024 ($23,500 in 2025) before the end of the year, Adobe provides a year-end true-up. So, for example, if you contribute your full-year amount in the first quarter to maximize the annual earnings potential in your 401(k), Adobe will make up the per-pay-period match that you don’t receive for the remaining three quarters. To receive the true-up (which occurs in late February), you must be an active employee on December 31.
Company match examples for 2024
Company match examples for 2024
Adobe matches half of your contributions up to 6% of your compensation.
Your annual compensation: $100,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 6%
- $100,000 x 6% deferral = $6,000 (your contributions)
- $6,000 (your contributions) x 50% = $3,000 Adobe match
If you contribute more than 6%, Adobe’s match is 3% of your compensation.
Your annual compensation: $150,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 10%
- $150,000 x 10% deferral = $15,000 (your contributions)
- $150,000 (your annual compensation) x 3% = $4,500 Adobe match
If your compensation is more than the IRS limit, Adobe’s match is capped at 3% of the limit.
Your annual compensation: $375,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 6%
- $375,000 x 6% deferral = $22,500 (your contributions)
- $345,000 (the IRS annual compensation limit) x 3% = $10,350 Adobe match
Company match examples for 2025
Company match examples for 2025
Adobe matches half of your contributions up to 6% of your compensation.
Your annual compensation: $100,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 6%
- $100,000 x 6% deferral = $6,000 (your contributions)
- $6,000 (your contributions) x 50% = $3,000 Adobe match
If you contribute more than 6%, Adobe’s match is 3% of your compensation.
Your annual compensation: $150,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 10%
- $150,000 x 10% deferral = $15,000 (your contributions)
- $150,000 (your annual compensation) x 3% = $4,500 Adobe match
If your compensation is more than the IRS limit, Adobe’s match is capped at 3% of the limit.
Your annual compensation: $375,000
Your contribution to your 401(k): 6%
- $375,000 x 6% deferral = $22,500 (your contributions)
- $350,000 (the IRS annual compensation limit) x 3% = $10,500 Adobe match
True-up example
True-up example
If you contribute 6% or more, Adobe’s match is 3% of your compensation. Assume you make all your contributions in January through March (6 pay periods).
Your annual compensation: $150,000 ($5,769 per pay period)
Your annual contribution to your 401(k): 10% ($15,000 for the full year)
- $150,000 (your annual compensation) x 3% = $4,500 Adobe match
- $5,769 (your per-pay-period compensation ) x 3% = $173 Adobe match per pay period
- $173 x 6 pay periods = $1,038 Adobe’s match by the end of March
- $4,500 (your full-year eligible match amount) – $1,038 = $3,462 Adobe end-of-year true-up
Your investment options
Choose the plan’s funds
Vanguard provides a number of investment funds so you can build a portfolio that meets your needs.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consider a Target Retirement Trust. You select a fund named for a year close to when you expect to retire, and that fund’s mix of stocks, bonds and other investments automatically becomes more conservative as the target year approaches.
Learn about your investment options. To choose your investments, call Vanguard at 800-523-1188, or log in to your account.
Invest on your own
The Adobe 401(k) plan offers a self-directed brokerage option through Charles Schwab, where you have access to thousands of investment choices. Keep in mind that the risks are substantially higher with any brokerage strategy and that you’ll be responsible for paying commissions and other costs.
To register your account:
- Log on to your retirement plan account at vanguard.com/retirementplans.
- If you have multiple accounts at Vanguard, select Employer plans.
- Select Manage my money.
- Select Manage my brokerage option.
If you have questions, call Charles Schwab at 888-393-7272.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing
You may want to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into your investment decisions. Just be aware that ESG investing may involve lower returns and greater risks than traditional investing, due to the more limited universe of available stocks and the fact that financial performance is not the sole consideration of the investment managers.
You have two options for ESG investing for your 401(k) account:
- Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund: Available within Adobe’s core investment menu, this fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index. View the fund overview for more information.
- The self-directed brokerage option: As described above, you may direct your own investments through Charles Schwab. Use the Mutual Fund Screener to view and select socially responsible funds based on your criteria.
To learn more about ESG investing, check out the Vanguard ESG investing guide and the Morningstar ESG fund screener.
Get investment advice
Whether you just want a little guidance or prefer ongoing investment management, Vanguard offers options to find the help that’s right for you.
Situational Advisor: one-time meeting
Situational Advisor: one-time meeting
With Vanguard Situational Advisor, you can set up a one-time meeting with an advisor to discuss any financial situation that pops up. Explore Situational Advisor.
What you get
- A 45-minute consultation with a financial advisor
- Help with a specific goal or question
- Expert advice you can put into action
- A custom financial plan if your advisor recommends one
Cost and eligibility
This valuable service is free for Adobe employees, and there’s no minimum account balance to sign up.
Get started
Log in to your account. If you’re not yet registered for online account access, use your Adobe plan number: 096204. If you have multiple accounts at Vanguard, you may need to select Employer plans after you log in.
Digital Advisor: online advice
Digital Advisor: online advice
With Vanguard Digital Advisor, you can get expert advice and money management for all your financial goals, entirely online. Explore Digital Advisor.
What you get
- Expert digital financial advice
- Professional money management
- A custom financial plan for all your goals
- An online experience to easily track your progress at any time
Cost and eligibility
If you choose to continue with Digital Advisor after your free 90-day trial ends, Digital Advisor will cost about $15 a year for every $10,000 you invest.
Get started
Log in to your account. If you’re not yet registered for online account access, use your Adobe plan number: 096204. If you have multiple accounts at Vanguard, you may need to select Employer plans after you log in.
Already enrolled in Digital Advisor?
Log in to make sure your profile is up to date so you can feel confident that you’re getting the most value out of the service. Remember, the more info you provide, the more customized the advice you receive.
Personal Advisor: ongoing advice
Personal Advisor: ongoing advice
Personal Advisor is Vanguard’s premium advice and money management service. It combines the sophisticated technology of digital advice with unlimited access to professional financial advisors. Explore Personal Advisor.
What you get
- Expert advice and unlimited access to financial advisors
- Professional money management
- A custom financial plan for all your goals
- An online platform to easily track your progress at any time
Cost and eligibility
Personal Advisor costs about $30 a year for every $10,000 you invest. You must have at least $250,000 in your account to enroll.
Get started
Log in to your account. If you’re not yet registered for online account access, use your Adobe plan number: 096204. If you have multiple accounts at Vanguard, you may need to select Employer plans after you log in.
After-tax and Roth conversion
Traditional after-tax contributions
Traditional after-tax contributions allow you to contribute above the IRS limit for pretax and Roth after-tax contributions. You can make traditional after-tax contributions at any time—either while making pre-tax and Roth contributions or starting after reaching the pretax and Roth after-tax IRS limit. If you choose to start after-tax contributions, after you’ve reached the IRS limit for pretax and Roth after-tax, you can have your 401(k) payroll contributions automatically converted to traditional after-tax money by selecting the automatic redirect option.
- Traditional after-tax contributions are not matched by Adobe.
- You will not owe taxes on a withdrawal of your traditional after-tax contributions, but you’ll owe taxes on the earnings.
To learn more, visit the Vanguard site. Begin making traditional after-tax contributions anytime in your account.
Roth in-plan conversions
You can convert all or a portion of your pretax and/or traditional after-tax savings to Roth money within the 401(k) plan; you can even set up automatic conversions. You’ll owe ordinary income tax on the pretax money converted to Roth in the tax year of the conversion. If you convert after-tax money to Roth, you’ll owe taxes on the earnings in the year in which the conversion is made (unless you setup auto conversion). Taxes must be paid from assets outside of the 401(k) plan.
- Roth money, including any earnings, can be withdrawn tax-free if you’re age 59½ or older and the Roth account has been established for at least five years. Tax-free withdrawals can be a significant benefit in retirement.
- You’ll be responsible for paying any taxes on a distribution or withdrawal from pretax accounts. A distribution or withdrawal of Roth 401(k) earnings is usually also taxable, unless the initial Roth contribution was made more than five years ago and you’re at least age 59½.
- Early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% federal penalty. Vanguard will make the appropriate tax withholding, as required. We recommend that you consult a tax advisor before taking any action.
To learn more, visit the Vanguard site. To elect a Roth in-plan conversion, call Vanguard at 800-523-1188.
Your 401(k) plan if your company was acquired
If your company was acquired by Adobe, you’ll have approximately 12–24 months to access your old 401(k) account and allocate investments, but you won’t be able to roll over assets or request an account distribution until a plan audit with a favorable determination has been completed by the IRS, which typically takes 12–18 months.
Following the plan audit and receipt of a favorable determination from the IRS, you can do one of the following:
- Roll over your account assets into Adobe’s 401(k) plan at Vanguard.
- Roll over your account assets to an individual retirement account (IRA).
- Request an account distribution, which may be subject to taxes and early-withdrawal penalties.
If your employment ends, you can immediately initiate a rollover or account distribution by contacting the plan’s provider.
Be sure your contact information is up to date so you receive notifications about your account and actions you have to take. See below for address-update directions for your plan.
Here’s the status of the 401(k) plans for recently acquired companies.
Frame.io 401k plan
Frame.io 401k plan
- 401(k) provider: Slavic, 800-356-3009, Plan Number S180719
- Individual retirement account (IRA) provider: PenChecks, 844-446-9472, myIRA@penchecks.com
- Status: All account assets at Slavic have been distributed, effective August 2, 2022. If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Penchecks. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by PenChecks. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, you may roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact PenChecks if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call Slavic to update your address for tax reporting purposes if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact PenChecks if your account assets were automatically transferred.
Workfront 401(k) plan
Workfront 401(k) plan
- 401(k) provider: J.P.Morgan, 855-576-7526, Plan Number 168041-01
- Individual retirement account (IRA) provider: Millennium Trust Company, 877-682-4727, arp@mtrustcompany.com
- Status: The IRS has issued a favorable determination, and all account assets at JPMorgan have been distributed, effective October 18, 2022. If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Millennium Trust Company [PDF]. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by Millennium Trust. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, you may roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact Millennium Trust if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call JPMorgan to update your address for purposes of tax reporting if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact Millennium Trust if your account assets were automatically transferred.
Marketo 401(k) plan
Marketo 401(k) plan
- 401k provider: Fidelity, 800-835-5097, Plan Number 29593
- Individual retirement account (IRA) provider: Millennium Trust Company, 877-682-4727, arp@mtrustcompany.com
- Status: The IRS has issued a favorable determination, and all account assets at Fidelity have been distributed, effective March 5, 2021. If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Millennium Trust Company [PDF]. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by Millennium Trust. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact Millennium Trust if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call Fidelity to update your address for purposes of tax reporting if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact Millennium Trust if your account assets were automatically transferred.
Magento 401(k) plan
Magento 401(k) plan
- 401k provider: Schwab, 800-724-7526
- Individual retirement account (IRA) provider: Millennium Trust Company, 877-682-4727, arp@mtrustcompany.com
- Status: The IRS has issued a favorable determination, and all account assets at Schwab have been distributed, effective November 1, 2020 (for balances up to $4,999) or December 7, 2020 (for balances $5,000 and over). If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Millennium Trust Company [PDF]. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by Millennium Trust. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact Millennium Trust if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call Schwab to update your address for purposes of tax reporting if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact Millennium Trust if your account assets were automatically transferred.
Bizible 401(k) plan
Bizible 401(k) plan
- 401k provider: Ascensus/Vanguard (My.vanguardplan.com), 866-794-2145
- Status: The IRS has issued a favorable determination, and all account assets at Ascensus/Vanguard have been distributed, effective October 15, 2020. If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Millennium Trust Company [PDF]. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by Millennium Trust. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact Millennium Trust if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call Ascensus/Vanguard to update your address for purposes of tax reporting if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact Millennium Trust if your account assets were automatically transferred.
TubeMogul 401(k) plan
TubeMogul 401(k) plan
- 401(k) provider: Fidelity, 800-835-5095, Plan Number 20645
- Individual retirement account (IRA) provider: Millennium Trust Company, 877-682-4727, arp@mtrustcompany.com
- Status: The IRS has issued a favorable determination, and all account assets at Fidelity have been distributed, effective March 31, 2020. If you did not take action on your account, your assets were liquidated and automatically transferred into an individual retirement account (IRA) at Millennium Trust Company [PDF]. Your account balance has been invested in a money market fund, subject to all applicable maintenance fees charged by Millennium Trust. We encourage you to take control of your assets and, if you're an Adobe employee, roll over your IRA account balance into the Adobe 401(k) plan at Vanguard. Participants also have the option to redirect investments, take a distribution and move the money to another qualified retirement plan or IRA. Contact Millennium Trust if you'd like to take any of these actions.
- Address updates: Call Fidelity to update your address for purposes of tax reporting if you received a rollover or distribution. Contact Millennium Trust if your account assets were automatically transferred.