How To Invest In Your 401k Wisely

By Lisa Martin


For those folks that have been putting off planning for retirement, it is never too late to get started. It is best to get started early to ensure you will have enough money to live comfortably when you retire. It is also important to learn how to get the most from a savings plan. Managing the plan well may enable folks to retire earlier than they thought. You will want to learn how to invest in your 401k wisely.

Starting a retirement fund is best started early rather than later. This type of savings should be a high priority. The best age to start planning for retirement is the mid to late twenties. However, people who begin saving in their 40s and 50s still have enough time to ensure they will have ample funds for retirement. Check with a financial planner for simple tips for getting started. If you have not started retirement savings, do it today.

Many companies offer their employees an employer match. Typically, employers will match employee contribution up to a specific amount. If you are employed by a company that offers a matching funds plan, make sure that you contribute at least enough to get the match. As an example, if an employer offers to match fifty cents for each dollar you put in, up to six percent of your pay, you should contribute at least that amount.

When you begin the savings plan early you can take advantage of the compounded interest sooner. Saving $5,000 each year for ten years, beginning around age 25, will provide a substantial return on the original investment. The money earns compounded interest over the next 40 years. Bear in mind that the money earned in the retirement plan is not taxed until it is time to withdraw the funds.

The amount an individual saves should be what they can afford without causing hardship or putting other obligations at risk. There is no set dollar amount that should be set aside. Folks should be able to save and maintain their regular financial commitments. If the contribution you make to savings is too high then you will not be able to pay your regular bills.

Folks who find themselves in this situation are actually saving too much money. Ten to fifteen percent is a good amount to save. Just make sure that you are investing enough to get the matching contribution offered by the employer.

One big mistake that investors will make is not identifying the mutual fund that is right for them. Folks should not be afraid to take a risk. Taking too little risk means the savings may grow at a snails pace. On the other hand, you do not want to be too aggressive. It is best to fill out a risk tolerance questionnaire to find the best balance between the risk and return.

Make sure to distribute risk over a number of accounts when building a portfolio. This practice is called diversification. For more information about diversification consult a financial planner. The experienced advisor is able to lay out the best plan for you. The professional can clearly provide the correct information.




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