403b is similar to 401k, but is for public education employees (see: Willma). Both accounts are (usually) invested into various mutual funds which fluxuate based on the fund performance and the market as a whole. How much you contribute and how much the company matches is just a set percentage of your gross pay. When you look up your account, it should give you a YTD fund performance figure, and/or various other rates of return.



Currently mine is around 8% YTD. It was up to 12% about a month ago but the market took a shit these last two weeks.



:edit: sorry to bump this, but I was banned when the topic came up h: