It's tempting to think that journalists who write about money for a living have all the answers. (Ugh. You should see my checkbook.) By way of analogy, I'd like to suggest a different way of thinking. We all know Steven Spielberg ranks as one of … [Read more...]
Six Financial Tips for 20-somethings From Financial Planner Cliff Caplan
February 19, 2013 by 16 Comments
The Five (And Only Five) Times it Might be OK to Tap a Retirement Account
February 14, 2013 by 3 Comments
Back in November, I spotlighted a letter from a reader who agonized over a debt dilemma that involved his retirement savings. "Nick from Michigan" wanted to tap his 401(k) to pay off $12,000 in credit card debt, but couldn't pull the trigger. I … [Read more...]
Can I Cash Out My Old 401(k) And Take The Cash?
January 1, 2013 by
It's a basic but all-too common question posed on financial blogs like this one: "I just left my job. I have like $1,000 sitting in my old 401(k) and I'm short on cash. Can I just cash out the 401(k)?" About cashing out old 401(k)s Technically, … [Read more...]
401k Asset Allocation: Two Methods for Headache-Free Diversification
June 5, 2012 by
Want to do one thing to ensure the money you’re saving today in your 401k or IRA will be around tomorrow? Diversify. Too many Americans have watched their retirement dreams disappear because they invested solely in the company stock of their … [Read more...]
Roth 401ks vs. Traditional 401ks
May 15, 2012 by
Last week, we asked: 401k or IRA? So the obvious follow-up is: Roth or traditional? If you read that and say, “huh?” Don’t feel bad. Despite hundreds of articles I’ve read on the topic, I have yet to find one that explains the differences … [Read more...]
401(k) or IRA?
May 8, 2012 by
Decoding retirement savings is as thrilling as an all-day cram session for a standardized test. I get that. But just like that grad school exam, your future depends on it. A few weeks ago, I sent my focus group a quick survey on 401k plans. I knew … [Read more...]
Which Retirement Account Is Right For Me?
June 23, 2010 by
Unless you’re new to the personal finance scene, you probably already know that you should be socking away a good deal of money into one of those handy-dandy retirement accounts to prepare for your future. This is especially true for the … [Read more...]
What To Do If Your Employer Doesn’t Offer a 401(k) Plan
December 23, 2009 by
About 75 percent of Americans have done at least a little saving for retirement. Yet only 55 percent of full-time employees in America contribute to an employer-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, according to reports by the Employee Research … [Read more...]
23 Things Beginners Absolutely Must Know About Saving for Retirement
October 27, 2009 by
Whether you're just starting your first "real job" or have been in the workplace for a few years but haven't gotten around to saving for retirement yet, listen up: it's never too early to start building a nest egg. Statistically, young workers are … [Read more...]
How Much Should Be in Your 401(k) at 30?
September 21, 2006 by
What should your contribute to your 401(k)? How much should you have invested for retirement at 30, 40, 50, etc? These are good questions. Here, I try to answer them, but I should warn you: Personal finance is PERSONAL! The more you can … [Read more...]
