Is there a new grad in your household who is starting out on their first “real” job? If so, you may want to share this story by personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary, writing for the Washington Post, as she talks about helping her daughter set up a 401(k) account on her first full-time job. It’s […]
Tag Archives | 401(k)
Yes, You Can Still Build Wealth After 50
Congratulations! If you just turned 50, you’re in the final stretch toward retirement. With today’s longer life expectancies, you may spend thirty years or even more in retirement living off of your savings. So don’t rest on your laurels just yet. Take advantage of the next decade or so before you retire to build up […]
My 401(k) Match Just Got Axed. Now What?
It’s another sad reflection of the coronavirus pandemic gripping our nation. Your employer has just axed the matching contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan. For the average employee that’s a loss of over $4,000 per year. What to do now? Here’s answers to your most common questions: What’s a typical 401(k) match, and how does it work? […]
The Market’s Down: Should You Make Changes To Your 401(k)?
Yes, the market is down. A lot. One of the most common questions we’re getting from clients is what they should do with their 401(k) contributions and investments. You have several choices. Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of each. Option #1. Stay the course As hard as it may be to stomach […]
Digital 401(k) Statements Save Trees, But You Still Have To Read Them
Most employers nowadays are eco-friendly. Instead of mailing you a quarterly 401(k) statement, like they did in the old days, they email the statement to you or make it available to you digitally through a workplace portal. We’re all for saving trees. But, any statement, whether emailed or paper, doesn’t do you any good if […]
More Americans Topping $1 Million Dollar Retirement Account Balances
A record number of Americans have accumulated $1 million or more in their 401(k) or IRA savings accounts, according to Fidelity Investments, which oversees 30 million retirement accounts. The number of workers with $1 million or more in their 401(k) rose from 200,000 to 233,000, due to market gains and new account contributions. The number […]
Do You Have Too Much In Stocks? Fidelity Warns Boomer Investors to Check Allocations
Fidelity just issued an interesting report warning baby boomers that they may have too much invested in stocks in their 401(k)s. It’s been a long bull market and the market has given investors a good ride. But good times don’t last forever, warns Fidelity, so now may be a good time to consider dialing back […]
Hey 401(k) Savers: You Can Contribute More In 2020
Good news for 401(k) savers! The IRS says you can contribute more to your 401(k) in 2020. Under 50? The savings limit will increase from $19,000 this year to $19,500 next year. Age 50 or over? The limit goes up from $25,000 to $26,000. Make sure to tell your employer to change your payroll deductions […]
Got A 401(k)? See If It Offers These Special Perks
Got a 401(k)? About one-third of all Americans do. But you may not be aware that not all 401(k)s are created equal. People are often surprised to learn that many plans do not offer all the perks and benefits permitted under IRS rules. That’s because employers are allowed to pick and choose the features they […]
401(k) Secrets You Need To Know
There’s a dirty little secret about 401(k), 457, 403(b) and other retirement plans you may not know. They don’t have to offer you all the tax-saving provisions allowed under law. These include perks like stretch distributions, plan loans, rollovers into and out of the plan, “still working” exceptions and in-service distributions. You may not always […]
About Mari Adam, CFP®
Mari Adam, Certified Financial Planner™ has helped hundreds of individuals and families build wealth and plan for a more secure financial future for over 30 years. Her advice has appeared in publications such as Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, Money Magazine, Business Week, and CBS MarketWatch.
