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Four Phases of Retirement -- The Third One Is Not Much Fun -- If you're not preparing emotionally and socially -- and many boomers aren't -- retirement will be a bumpy ride. Riley Moynes, a writer and public speaker, issues this warning in the video here. But he also offers sound advice on how to smooth things out. The advice is dispensed in his descriptions of the four phases of retirement: vacation, loss, experimentation, and the reward. He arrived at these phases after interviewing dozens of retirees.

Changing Jobs? Don't Leave Your Old 401k Behind -- Moving retirement savings when switching jobs isn't always top of mind. It's one more thing on your to-do list, and frankly, many folks are flummoxed by the process. But kicking the decision down the road can set you up for a fiscal pitfall. Here's the breakdown of options when you change jobs to maximize the return on your 401k retirement plan.

The 401k vs. Student Loans Decision -- According to the author, behaviorally speaking, you're often better off paying down debt rather than investing. Mathematically speaking, there are times when investing makes more sense than paying down low-interest-rate debt, even though paying off the debt provides a guaranteed return. Deciding between maximizing a 401k retirement account and paying off moderate-interest debt, however, can be a conundrum. The article discusses this issue.

How to Use Your 401k Funds to Start a Business -- One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face, after coming up with their idea, involves financing that new business. If you've been working for some time, you've no doubt had the opportunity to set aside some money to use for this purpose. On the other hand, that savings may not be enough. Did you know there might be a source close to home? It's sitting right there in your 401k plan. This strategy is referred to as "Rollovers As Business Startups" or "ROBS."


Resources

A chart of the 401k plan contribution limits for year 2018 through 2024.

A glossary retirement plan and investment terms available here.

This is a guide to retirement industry acronyms and abbreviations.

Here is a handy on-line 401k calculator.


Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions that come to our pension experts.

What is a 401k plan?

The Beginner's Guide to 401ks

Does my employer have to provide a matching contribution?

How do I locate an old 401k that I think I contributed to at a former employer?

If I needed to get access to an old 401k, what are my options?

If a Company You Work for Goes Bankrupt, What Happens to Your 401k

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Managing Your 401k Plan Assets

We are not in the investment advice business, but these articles may give you some important insights. You should always consult with your financial advisor for more detailed information and advice.

A Look at 401k Plan Fees

Asset Allocation Made Simple

Behavioral Finance -- What's Behind Your Investing Decisions?

Company Stock In Your 401k -- Keep it Balanced

Investment Basics

Indexing Prevails in "Stock Picker's" Market

The Magic of Compounding

Ten Steps to Making a Financial Plan to Create a Secure Retirement

Making the Transition: A Pre-Retirement Checklist

The Value of Asset Allocation

Nurture Your 401k Portfolio Using Asset Allocation

Why Is Knowing the Investment Style of a Stock Mutual Fund Important?

Understanding Investment Risk


Some Useful Information

We have gathered a few articles and other information on important 401k issues that are often asked about.

Do Surviving Spouses Have a Right to a 401k or an IRA? - Summary: When choosing a beneficiary for a retirement plan, it is important to understand how your spouse will be treated under the plan. Surviving spouses are treated differently under 401ks and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). While a 401k provides protections for a surviving spouse, an IRA does not.

Top 10 Reasons to Join Your 401k Plan - Summary: Compared to other savings plans available to private sector workers, the 401k plan has many good points. Here are our top 10 reasons why you should join your plan.


Loans and Hardship Withdrawals

Articles on the various rules, regulations. practical issues and guidelines related to 401k loans and hardship withdrawals.

401k Retirement Plan Loans: An Overview

401k Hardship Withdrawals: An Overview

Hardship Withdrawals Give Access to 401k Savings, but at a Cost

Emergency Access to Your 401k: Hardship Withdrawals

Do's and Don't's of Hardship Distributions

Eight Reasons to Never Borrow From Your 401k

Don't Tap Your 401k to Pay Off Debt


Other Good Information on and About 401k's

How does a 401k plan work? When does my employer have to deposit my payroll contributions? How can I take an early withdrawals without penalty? Are there warning signs I should look for? What are my pension rights? We have gathered articles on these and other important issues so you can quickly find in depth information and analysis. And we regularly update and add to this content.

Click Here to review all the articles we have on a wide variety of topics.


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