Start Saving Late Here is Some Advice

(A Really Late Start on a Nest Egg) Here is a good article to look at if you are looking to start late in the game to save for retirement. I like this article because it gives simple advice. Not everyone can start saving young, but when you do start late you need to do it will.

A Quick Read to Help Your 401K

(5 Ways to Whip Your 401(k) Into Shape) Here is a nice simple quick read article for this morning. It is simple it is quick and to the 5 points it makes.

6 Money Dilemmas

Here is a good quick article with advice on six common questions in the personal finance world.

1. Pay off a credit card OR fund your 401(k)
2. Save in a Roth 401(k) OR a regular 401(k)
3. Lease a car OR buy a car
4. Prepay your mortgage OR invest
5. Buy a home OR rent a home
6. Take Social Security early OR late

(6 money dilemmas)

Roth IRA or Not?

This is the best article I have found to date that address the debate over using Roth accounts as opposed to traditional tax differed accounts. The last section of the article is what makes the biggest statements to me. It said that an economist ran several senerios with both a Roth and regular retirement accounts. The results were more wins for one then the other, but the differences being rather insignificant. Remember in the end not stating to save to wait for the answer to this debate is your worst choice. Waiting a month, year, or decade is going to have a far worst result on your retirement savings that putting your money in a Traditional or Roth IRA. (Roth IRAs: Good for You or Not?)

A 401K Where The Company Invests For You

I found this article that seems to address an interesting point with retirement plans. It is a 401K plan that the employee allows the company to invest as it sees fit. This situation gives the benefit of a defined benefit plan where you don't have to worry about where to invest your savings. This seems like an interesting solution for the average person that does not have the time or desire to research investments. It lets someone that should have more information and resources invest your money for you. The idea seems great, but at the end of the day it could make a huge difference who is investing for you. If there is a well qualified team as there is com trolling pension funds, then this could turn out to be a great thing. If companies start to throw departments together with unqualified people this type of system could turn into a huge mess. Tell me what you think about this type of plan. (Redrawing the Route to Retirement)

Good Ideas For Your Average 401K

Here is an article I found helpful on what to do with an average to poor 401K plan. This first point is that you make sure to use it if your are getting an employer match. The cardinal sin of a 401K plan is to no participate and lose out on a match. This article does a good job of pointing out easy strategies for directing your money in a weak 401K. (Don't Panic If Your 401(k) Plan Stinks)

No-Match 401K

(A no-match 401(k): Still worth it) This is a good question a person or two is probably wondering. This article gives the answer to one man's questions about where to invest when you company 401K plan does not provide a match. The answer is that it can still be worth it to invest in a 401K with no match as opposed to a taxable account. In this article the man is already maxing out a Roth IRA. I would be interested to confirm my guess that it would be advisable to put money in a Roth IRA before putting money in a 401K plan that had no match.

10 Financial Planning Steps You Shouldn't Put Off

This article starts off by telling you that 25% of people report themselves as chronic procrastinators. The article then proceeds to give ten places where you can't afford to wait in your financial planning. Procrastination is a financial plan killer. Not starting to save is your biggest mistake when you are in your 20's. So along with a lot of the classic items such as starting to save. This article brings up a few less typical items. Take a second to read this and then get to work on your financial planning. Taking the time today, not waiting is always worth something. (10 Financial Steps You Can't Afford to Put Off)

Retire Rich: Beat the Market by Doing Nothing

(Retire Rich: Beat the Market by Doing Nothing) Here is a good article for our now volatile market. It is the first article in a while that I have read that talks about dollar cost averaging. This is a good concept to keep in mind as the market turns down and you have a long horizon for your retirement earnings to work themselves out.

Two New 401K Options

(Harvest a Rich 401(k)) This article talks about two new options for 401K's. The first is a Roth 401K which lets you take tax free withdraws in retirement, but there is no tax advantage up front. The second options is a 401K annuity. This is a product you buy through your 401K that gives you guaranteed income for the rest of your life once you retire. The article does a good job of explaining where each of these could make sense in your retirement planning. They also do a good job of giving you numbers for how much a good amount to stick in the 401K annuity would be. This article gives a good amount of advice along with producing the facts on these products.

401K Information

(Five Things You Should Know About Your 401(k)) Here is a quick read with some good information that you should think about for your 401K plan.

Don't Fly Blind When Investing for Retirement

(Don't Fly Blind When Investing for Retirement) Here is a quick article on options you should consider when your retirement plan is managed through funds that are not publicly traded. When your 401K doesn't have mutual funds here are somethings to consider to figure out where to put your money.

401K Screw-up

(Three great ways to mess up your 401(k)) Here is a good quick read with some easy knowledge everyone should know. This article brings up some of the most common and easily avoidable mistakes people make with their 401K's.

Start Saving in Your 20's

(To get rich, start saving in your 20s) This article goes over some good knowledge for a person in their 20's to hear about financial planning at your currently age. The basic idea is to start early and invest aggressively. It also covers the reasons for an emergency fund. It also covers the advantages of easy investments like mutual finds and target date funds.

401K Rules

(10 golden rules for your 401(k)). A great article that covers the entire spectrum of 401K investing from starting young to taking your money out in retirement. It seems to have all the points that keep reoccurring in smaller articles all together in one place.

Survey About Retirement

(One of five people plan to work till they die) A great article analyzing a survey by bankrate.com. This is the first article in my recent memory that says that younger workers are doing a decent job of saving. It also bring some numbers to how people feel about their retirement savings lasting. A significant amount of people feel that their retirement will be worse off then their pre-retirement life. Interesting facts in this article with numbers behind it to make a few decent points.

Young Adults Don't Use Retirement Vehicles

(Young adults all but ignore 401(k)s, IRAs). This article explains nothing that we have not heard before about people not saving enough, but it does share some good tips about how to get started and keep escalating savings for retirement.

Pay Down Mortgage vs. Invest for Retirement

This article covers a question I have always wondered (The Cost of Peace of Mind). The idea centers around the prospect that you end up with more money in the end investing in a retirement plan then sending in extra mortgage payments. The author makes a clear argument that there is a good chance you will come out on top investing for retirement, but most people find the piece of mind of paying more on a mortgage better for them.