Kroger 401(k) Plan Guide 2025: Easy Steps, Benefits & Login Help

Kroger 401(k) Plan. Think of the Kroger 401(k) as your “future paycheck.” It’s money you set aside now from your Kroger wages, so you have a comfortable life after retirement. Kroger partners with Merrill Lynch (and in some cases, Fidelity) to handle the plan.

You decide how much to contribute, and Kroger may add a matching amount, essentially providing free money.

• It’s automatic — money comes straight from your paycheck.
• It grows over time with investments.
• Kroger’s match boosts your savings.
• It’s tax-friendly — you pay taxes later, not now.

At some point, you might wonder: “Can I take my money out?”

Yes — but there are rules. If you withdraw before age 59½, the IRS usually charges:

• Income tax on the amount.
• 10% penalty for early withdrawal (unless you qualify for exceptions like hardship, disability, or medical bills).

Tip Box:

Early withdrawal should be a last resort. It’s like eating the seeds before planting — your future harvest will be smaller.

• Log in to your Merrill Lynch 401(k) account.
• Go to “Manage” → “Withdrawals”.
• Select type: hardship, rollover, or full distribution.
• Review tax implications shown on-screen.
• Confirm and submit.

Not all Kroger locations use Merrill Lynch — some use Fidelity to manage retirement accounts.

With Fidelity:

• The process is similar — you choose your contribution rate.
• The online dashboard is user-friendly, with colorful graphs.
• Support is through Fidelity’s dedicated retirement help line.

If you’re not sure which one your store uses, ask HR.

Here’s what sets it apart:

Benefit	Why It Matters
Employer Match	Kroger adds money to your account if you contribute.
Variety of Investments	Choose between stocks, bonds, index funds, and target-date funds.
Online Tools	Retirement calculators, risk quizzes, and learning videos.
Portability	You can roll it over to a new job’s plan.

Logging in is easy once you know where to click.

• Visit benefits.ml.com.
• Click “Log In” in the top right.
• Enter your User ID and password.
• If it’s your first time, click “Register Now” and follow the prompts.

Pro Tip:

Save the login page as a bookmark on your phone. I do that, so I don’t waste time hunting for the link.

Need to talk to a real person? The Merrill Lynch support line is available for Kroger employees.

Primary Contact Number: 1-800-228-4015 (typical hours: Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. EST).

Have your employee ID ready before calling — it speeds things up.

If your plan is with Fidelity, the login steps are slightly different:

1. Visit netbenefits.com.
2. Click “Log In”.
3. Enter username/password or register if you’re new.

From there, you can see your account balance, contribution rate, and investments.

Merrill Lynch handles 401(k) accounts for many companies — not just Kroger.

Key features:

• Wide investment menu.
• Strong security for accounts.
• Retirement planning tools.
• Access via website or Merrill mobile app.

In 2025, you can contribute up to:

Age	Annual Limit	Catch-Up (50+)
Under 50	$23,000	—
50 or older	$23,000	+ $7,500

Your contribution is taken before taxes, lowering your taxable income.

• Not enrolling early: You lose out on years of growth.
• Ignoring the match: It’s literally free money.
• Overreacting to market drops: This is a long-term plan.

• Start with at least enough to get the full Kroger match.
• Increase your rate by 1% each year.
• Review your investments twice a year.
• Don’t cash out when switching jobs — roll it over.

Imagine you earn $35,000/year and put in 5%:

• You save $1,750/year.
• Kroger matches 3% ($1,050/year).
• That’s $2,800/year invested.
• In 20 years, with 6% average growth, you could have over $100,000.

The Kroger 401(k) Plan — whether with Merrill Lynch or Fidelity — is one of the easiest ways to set yourself up for a comfortable retirement.

Start early. Get the match. Don’t panic at market swings.
And if you ever forget your password (like I did twice last year), just reset it — your future self will thank you.