Tag Archives: 401k
Rolling your 401(k) to a IRA? Think twice
Your employer’s 401(k) might be a better place for your retirement savings than a retail IRA
401(k) Day Trading Turns a Happy 4
By Richard Schmitt
SAN FRANCISCO (TheStreet) — It seems like only yesterday that my baby retirement savings portfolio came to life. Yet here I am, four years later, looking back fondly at that day in May 2008 when 401(k) day trading started transforming my tiny bundle of joy into a wonderful monster.
I’ll admit that when 401(k) day trading came into my life, I was hesitant about entrusting my wee one to a complete stranger. This newcomer had no track record backing its premise of methodically bringing out my precious baby’s untapped potential in uncertain times.
With no experience to review, I tried 401(k) day trading and observed closely its effect on the beloved source of my constant worry and affection. I quickly found that 401(k) day trading simply called for some give-and-take through daily transfers from one pocket of my retirement savings to another. Then I followed the book to ensure that my daily fund transfers abided by the retirement savings funds’ frequent-trading rules.
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‘Should my 401(k) hold company stock?’
I work for a Fortune 500 company that matches my 401(k) contributions in company stock, which I can then re-allocate to other investments every quarter if I wish. Given that I won’t retire for several decades and I think my company has great growth potential, how much of my 401(k) do you think I should have in my company’s stock? John, Minneapolis, Minn.
Retirement advice and news – CNNMoney.com
10 Ways Your 401(k) Can Fail You
BOSTON (TheStreet) — A quick way for any website or publication to grab eyeballs is to either predict the demise of 401(k) plans or lament their shortcomings.
The doom and gloom isn’t entirely unwarranted. Intended as an alternative to traditional pensions, 401(k)s have offered both success and failure to investors. Some of those failings are self-inflicted by investors — not saving enough, taking loans and hardship withdrawals. The more than $ 1 trillion lost to the market collapse of 2007-08, however, was an unavoidable disaster, especially for those nearing retirement.
We took a look at some of the ways 401(k)s, by design — though not necessarily intent — can fail you:
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IRA and 401(k) retirement drawdown: Just tell me what to do!
How to generate retirement income from your IRA and 401(k)? It doesn’t need to be hard
What Is a 401(k) Retirement Account?
If you are like most people, the first time you invest is probably going to be through a 401(k) account offered by your employer at your first “real” job. One of the most common questions the site receives is, “What is a 401(k)?“. To find out the answer, as well as some of the drawbacks you might face by investing in your retirement plan, follow the link to read the complete article.
What Is a 401(k) Retirement Account? originally appeared on About.com Investing for Beginners on Monday, March 26th, 2012 at 14:56:01.
Taking a 401(k) Loan Is Almost Always a Stupid Idea
I wish there were some other way to say it, some kinder, gentler phrasing that could soften the blow. Unfortunately, there isn’t. In most cases, taking a 401(k) loan is idiotic. It’s stupid. It is unnecessarily risky, especially for those having financial trouble.
That might seem counter-intuitive, especially if you convince yourself it is better to pay interest to your own retirement account instead of to a bank or credit card company. While that logic may seem rational on the surface, it doesn’t hold up when you factor in the way Congress has structured the 401(k) program, tax policies, and bankruptcy laws. To learn more, read 5 Things You Should Know About 401(k) Loans …
Taking a 401(k) Loan Is Almost Always a Stupid Idea originally appeared on About.com Investing for Beginners on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 03:18:26.
What Is a 401(k) Contribution Limit and Why Should You Care?
For most regular workers, the 401(k) can be a great deal. In exchange for a tax-deduction, free money from an employer, and the ability to grow your money without paying taxes until retirement, all you have to do is follow a few rules. Some of those rules pertain to the so-called 401(k) contribution limits. What makes it complicated is that there isn’t just one limit. There is a limit on the amount of money you, as an employee, can save from your paychecks. There is a higher limit if you are 50 years or older to allow you to save extra cash for retirement. Then, there is the overall limit that can only be reached if your employer funds the difference.
However, if you make more than $ 115,000, you might not qualify for these 401(k) contribution limits because you are what is known as a “highly compensated employee”, meaning the rules are different for you based on what other people working for your employer decide to do with their retirement account. Seriously. It’s a mess.
To get a basic overview of how these contribution limits work, read this week’s new article, What Is a 401(k) Contribution Limit?, which breaks down the components.
What Is a 401(k) Contribution Limit and Why Should You Care? originally appeared on About.com Investing for Beginners on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 05:41:33.
