401k – Investing For Retirement

You need 401k advice. Years ago almost every employee in every company received a pension through a company paid pension plan. People stayed on one job for their entire career and companies felt it was their duty to provide this type of loyalty after retirement as well. The major benefit of having a pension was that the employee didn’t need to contribute. It was a gift. Then life changed and so did corporate America. Companies still were willing to help you after retirement, but they looked for other vehicles to do it. And so came the 401k plan.

Its popularity spread quickly. Employers liked the idea that they weren’t the ones funding the accounts; the employees were. They had less responsibility with 401k’s because, unlike pension plans, they had no access to the money. All they needed to do was select a brokerage house and hand out paper work to the employees to begin the account. Even though companies could voluntarily contribute to the employees’ plans, many did at the beginning and then changed their minds when the economy collapsed recently.

Each person can contribute up to $15, 000 a year without regard to their income level. 401Ks are made up of mutual funds, and the employee can pick and choose which funds he wants to invest in. However, he is limited to funds offered by that brokerage firm managing the plan.

Not all 401k’s are created equal, and it’s for this reason that you really need to know what you’re doing as you make your selections on sign up day. Any help that the brokerage firm offers will be provided by salespeople on commission who will be very partial to suggesting funds that may have a poor track record and aren’t expected to perform well going forward. Get some outside advice before making a commitment.

If you try to withdraw any funds from your account before the age of 59, you will be taxed and then stuck with another penalty from the IRS. You invested with pre-tax dollars, so you’re going to pay your taxes at the end.

If you should change jobs, don’t forget about your 401k. Talk to a financial adviser to “roll it over” into a new 401k at your job, or roll into a Roth IRA.