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)

Investing To Beat Inflation

Here is an interesting article that monitored several areas of stocks through years of inflation to find out the places that perform the best. This article takes a different view on how to beat inflation. (Investing to Beat Inflation)

Rent vs. Buy

The debate rages on with the currently falling real estate values. Does the subprime effect change which side wins? This author has a few good examples of places where renters are winning in this market. I tend to like the idea of buying for more non-financial related reasons. I want the feeling of owning what I live in. I don't want to have to worry about what the rent will go up this year. Or for any half way decent reason being asked to leave or not being able to resign a lease when my term is up. I see the argument financially that you could save money by renting and the money invested properly could be worth a lot more if it is put in the stock market. Just remember if you are going to use this as your excuse for renting to actual put that "saved" money in the stock market. Too many times we use the idea that we can save money by doing something, but they we throw the money away in another wasteful place. Then at the end of the month we are in the same boat of wondering where all our money went. Read this article for a little light on how current events are shaping the rent vs. buy debate. (Now That Housing Has Soured, Renters Are Glad They Didn't Buy)

Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do

(Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do) Here is an article that describes some new products that are aimed at getting you a monthly check for the rest of your life after you retire. This is just something to keep your eye on. It appears that companies are moving past the annuities to funds that provide income for life. These new funds are at their beginning stages and seem to have some things that need smoothed out. This is just a good article with some information about a new choice when you retire.

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.

Wedding or a Million Dollars?

(Want $1 Million? Elope) When you are looking at the front end of getting married you should remember the aftermath of your decisions. Your wedding day is only one day of your life. The debt you accumulate can literally affect the rest of your life. This is an article that points out that if the average amount spent on a wedding was invested, that by the time the couple retires they could easily have a million dollars. The article points out that the typical wedding involves debt to cover the costs. This debts pulls the opposite effect of the investing your wedding fund money and ends up costing you even more and impacting your life for even longer. The article then gives some tips on how to manage your spending for your wedding day, because not having to tell your mother your eloped last weekend can easily be worth the cost of your wedding.

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.

Higher Returns for Savings

(Silver Lining in Mortgage Mess: Higher Returns for Savings) This story is some quick information about higher savings returns. A little about why the rates are going up, a little about where to find good rates, and a little about when to get in.

The 80% Rule Could Be Wrong For Most

(Why your retirement won't be so bad) This article contains information on why you probably won't need the rule of thumb of 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement. It has some good points, but you have to keep in mind that every one's situation is different. If you want to sail in your golden years you might need more that 100% of your pre-retirement income, but if you plan to just spend time with your grand children while living with your child, 10% of your pre-retirment income could cover you.

What To Do With an IRA

(Rev Up Your IRA). This article has some great ideas of what to do with your IRA. It also stresses the fact that a person should start saving young for retirement with the typical mathematical models. The reason I posted this article is that it has a great list of ways to diversify your IRA and it goes beyond more than just having more that one stock to tell you how to easily invest in things beyond stocks and bonds. This article is definitely worth reading if you need ideas for your IRA.

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.

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.