HOW RISKY IS YOUR 401(K)?
I have eight mutual funds in my 401(K) that include large-cap stocks, small-caps and international shares. I've done fairly well compared the S&*Tongue-in-cheek* 500, but I'm not sure if I'm taking on extra risk for the extra performance. How do I know?
Ref. Source
The 401(K) plan is a type of retirement plan available in the United States. Named after a section of the 1978 Internal Revenue Code, a 401(K) is an employer-sponsored qualified retirement savings plan. It allows you to save for your retirement while deferring any immediate income taxes on the money you save or their respective earnings until withdrawn. Ref. Source 6x.
A recent Money article outlines tips for managing your 401(K) have a read:
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Wow, this is a really good link you posted farseer. Reading this article and yours has really caused me to start looking at my 401k options and making sure I am maximizing benefit and profit so that I can retire some day. I hadn't realized that there are so many mistakes that can be made even when taking a safer road such as a 401K. Anyone using a 401k for retirement should read this article to prevent ending up at retirement age with very little to show for it despite the fact they have consistently put money into their 401k.
Glad it helped you, Konq. In the past, I haven't had the option to contribute to a plan. The company I'm with now offers it, and I've read some of the literature, but I'm still pretty shy about risk of any kind. I'm too old to risk losing anything, but I still need to start putting something away for my golden years. It's difficult for me to part with my hard-earned cash and put it in the hands of "fund managers" and those shady financial types who won't necessarily understand my needs. However, it's time, and past time. I found this article, and lots of others, while researching my situation.
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
I've been actively monitoring my 401k since I started working at IBM over 6 years ago. I'm very pleased with how it has done to date. Currently I invest in an aggressive portfolio, because I can afford to do that this early in my career. Later on, when I am closer to retirement, I will need to switch to a moderate fund, and then a conservative one to keep my funds stable.
I also contribute the maximum percentage of my salary for which my employer will match. Most companies match their employees contributions up to a certain percentage of their salary. Find out what that percentage is, and plan to contribute that much to your 401k. This will maximize your plan's potential.
Lastly, I agree with the article in not investing in your own companies' stock. If you want to invest in company stock, look into a stock purchase plan, because this is a better investment opportunity, as the stock's value is completely yours, and you can buy or sell usually within a year of obtaining the stock.
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TOO COOL FOR A 401(K)? DO THE MATH
QUESTION: Everyone says you should invest in a 401(k). But if my employer doesn't match my contributions and I don't expect to be in a lower tax bracket after I retire, I don't see the point. Wouldn't I be better off just paying taxes and putting my money in a mutual fund that generates little in the way of ongoing taxable distributions, such as an index fund? I don't see how a 401(k) helps me. -- Mark C., Wilmington, Delaware
Ref. https://money.cnn.com/2006/08/01/pf/expert/...eymag/index.htm
WHERE TO STASH YOUR 401(K) CASH
Question: I contribute 5% of my salary to my 401(k), which my employer matches, bringing the total contribution to 10%. My problem is that I don't know which mutual funds I should be investing in. Can you help? - Antonio Lara, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Ref. https://money.cnn.com/2006/12/05/pf/expert/...eymag/index.htm