Flight #123: Roth Catch-Ups, NECs, and Smarter Airline Retirement Planning
Fri Feb 06 2026
Recent changes to airline 401(k) plans—especially the Roth Nonelective Contribution (NEC) option—have created new opportunities and new confusion for pilots and airline professionals. In this episode, we break down what the Roth NEC actually is, how it works at airlines like Southwest, and why simply ignoring your elections could mean missing out on valuable catch-up contributions.
Take The Pilot Wealth Index to find out if you are on track for retirement!
You can find show notes, resources and more at: https://tinyurl.com/y7bncn35
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Recent changes to airline 401(k) plans—especially the Roth Nonelective Contribution (NEC) option—have created new opportunities and new confusion for pilots and airline professionals. In this episode, we break down what the Roth NEC actually is, how it works at airlines like Southwest, and why simply ignoring your elections could mean missing out on valuable catch-up contributions. Take The Pilot Wealth Index to find out if you are on track for retirement! You can find show notes, resources and more at: https://tinyurl.com/y7bncn35