401(k) vs. IRA: What’s The Difference?

April 24, 2012
401k Versus IRA

It’s the ultimate showdown: the 401(k) vs. the IRA. Which wins? Let’s define the terms and find the right investment strategy for you.

3 comments Read the full article →

How To Do A 401(k) Loan: Pros And Cons Of Borrowing From A Retirement Plan

February 9, 2012
Pros and Cons Of 401k Loans

The 401(k) often has an option where you can take out a loan and pay yourself interest. There are risks to be aware of, however, when taking out a 401(k) loan.

3 comments Read the full article →

401k Contribution Limits And Rules For 2011

June 16, 2011
401k Contribution Limit

We are contributing to a 401k in addition to our Roth IRA. Here are the contribution limits for 2011 for others who will also use a 401k

2 comments Read the full article →

Nearly A Quarter of Fidelity’s 401(k) Accounts Have Loans Against Them. Why This Is A Bad Idea.

September 9, 2010
401k Loans - Are They A Good Idea?

A while back I wrote an article about 401k loans and taking early withdrawals from your retirement account.  I talked about the penalties you could face, and explained why I think it’s a bad idea. This week I was reading some economic news and came upon an article on Reuters.com that gives a startling statistic [...]

11 comments Read the full article →

Important Inheritance Tips For Your 401(k)

July 12, 2010
401k Inheritance Tips

Most people are busy learning about a 401(k), taking steps to set it up and choose the right investments. But how often do you think about what will happen to your retirement savings if something were to happen to you? To be honest, such thinking has been off my radar screen, but after getting a [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Reader Question: Is It A Good Idea To Get A 401k Loan To Pay Off Debt?

November 13, 2008

I had a question posed to me this week about 401k loans, and whether they were a good idea.  The person said they were considering using a 401k loan to pay off some higher interest credit card debt.  The rationale behind doing this was that they’d rather pay themselves interest than the credit card company, [...]

22 comments Read the full article →

Is Your 401k Losing Money? DON’T PANIC!!!

October 7, 2008

photo credit: epicharmus Scary financial times With the economy in the middle of a giant plunge, it is getting harder and harder not to feel a little panicked when you watch  your 401k balance drop by $10-20,000 or more.  In the last 6 months my wife and I have watched our 401k do just that. [...]

13 comments Read the full article →