<prompt> Human: Have felt like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place for the last 6 months. Things are going well at work, in that I am well liked and received a promotion after 15 months, but the moneys just not there. been there for 2.5 years now. Ready to move on and get paid, but the 6k plus employer matching in my 401k makes me sit here stagnating for 6 months until my 3rd anniversary.  <response>: Note that the vesting period only applies to employer contributions. You are always 100 vested in your own contributions.A vesting period is used as a tool for employee retention.This means you have a decision to make: Is it worth however much you have in employer matching funds to take a job somewhere else before the next 6 months are up? Only you can answer that. 