Is it worth it for a student who makes less than $10,000/year to invest outside of a tax-sheltered account? [more inside]
posted by mahoganyslide on Nov 25, 2009 - 7 answers

What to do with a 'leftover' 401k account? [more inside]
posted by bookdragoness on Aug 30, 2009 - 9 answers

PARS distribution questions -- I taught part-time for 10 years. Recently I realized that life is too short for doing that and so I've stopped. The school notified the PARS retirement and they want to distribute to me. [more inside]
posted by notned on May 19, 2009 - 1 answer

I need to know what my options are for moving this thing, given that I have a negative net worth. Can I roll it into another brokerage-style Rollover IRA at a brokerage firm, not a bank, and avoid the money laundering law stuff? Or am I relegated to Bank IRAs until I'm out of school debt? Do I suck it up and take the $75/month hit until I can start depositing money again (I don't know when that will be), and hope that the investments make up the difference in the long run? I haven't lost as much as most in my portfolio, and I know I have time to make up the losses, the monthly fee just seems like an unnecessary loss I should be able to avoid. [more inside]
posted by blue andrea on Apr 20, 2009 - 5 answers

I inherited an IRA (under 50 K). Because the person who contributed all the money is dead, I am required to take annual distributions. It's currently managed at a big bank, for an annual percentage, plus fees. I'd prefer to have it local, low-cost. Who might offer this, plus managing the distribution, at very low cost? [more inside]
posted by theora55 on Mar 7, 2009 - 14 answers

Does one reduce risk by investing in mutual funds held by different groups? If I invest in an S&P 500 index fund with both Fidelity and Vanguard is that better than just going with Vanguard? Or is the SIPC protection such that I need not worry about such things? [more inside]
posted by grouse on Feb 9, 2009 - 7 answers

My partner and I need to pay off some debt, and unfortunately we need to dip into our retirement funds. Our tax accountant is on vacation and we can't find the answer to our question. We have two sources–either sell some stock or cash out a couple of short-term IRA CDs. Which is the lesser of two evils? [more inside]
posted by al_fresco on Dec 13, 2008 - 11 answers

I am trying to figure out how to invest money for retirement and otherwise. I am in my late 20s, earn $55,000 annually, have no debt, and about $90,000 in savings. I am currently putting 5% of my salary into a 403(b) which is the maximum amount my employer will match. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 - 11 answers

Can I opt out of paying income taxes on inherited retirement benefits in the USA? I won't be filing a tax return, anyway. [more inside]
posted by xanthippe on Jul 22, 2008 - 9 answers

What, if anything, is a "Target Retirement" fund like VTIVX missing? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise on Jun 30, 2008 - 4 answers

Will opening a Solo 401(k) before year's end reduce my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)? I'm a 28-year-old freelance worker with a sole proprietorship, and I'd like to be able to fully fund my Roth IRA for 2008 [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 26, 2008 - 1 answer

Questions about opening a Roth IRA -- particularly, does it matter where I open it? If so, Fidelity vs. Vanguard? [more inside]
posted by salvia on Apr 6, 2008 - 13 answers

Can I contribute to my Roth-IRA from my savings account if I don't earn an income? [more inside]
posted by ruwan on Mar 19, 2008 - 7 answers

The new job I'm at offers a crappy 401K program--no matching at all!! Should I enroll in it or just keep my money and put it into an IRA when I have the minimum? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah on Nov 6, 2007 - 23 answers

IRAfilter: Am about to get a traditional IRA to roll some retirement funds into from an expired employer plan. Got stuck when I was asked which mutual funds to select. [more inside]
posted by ikahime on Jul 17, 2007 - 10 answers

What are the rules about selling shares held in a Roth IRA? Warning: still a bit of a finance n00b... [more inside]
posted by electric_counterpoint on Jul 13, 2007 - 17 answers

Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) ... Can they be used as just another tax-free retirement account after you max out your Roth IRA? [more inside]
posted by MrBCID on May 16, 2007 - 6 answers

I'm an employee at a small business. I need retirement fund ideas beyond the Roth IRA? [more inside]
posted by cschneid on Mar 1, 2007 - 9 answers

I have a 401(k) from a previous employer. What should I roll it into? [more inside]
posted by SpecialK on Feb 27, 2007 - 9 answers

Does it make sense to (and what are the tax implications) of converting IRA funds into a Roth IRA account? [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Jan 25, 2007 - 12 answers

A friend in her mid-40s is, for various reasons, only now getting a belated start on planning for retirement. Help me point her in the right direction! [more inside]
posted by fizzyliftingdrink on Nov 3, 2006 - 13 answers

I'm confused - I want to plan for my retirement and have got as far as applications for a 401k and a Roth IRA; but then it all goes hideously wrong.... [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Aug 13, 2006 - 19 answers

Having trouble with my 401(k) direct rollover... how screwed am I? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise on Jun 26, 2006 - 6 answers

Please help with some early retirement advice: I am 35 and have a slowly progressive degenerative neurological condition. I would like to save money for the future because I'm not sure how long I will be able to work. I don't make a lot of money. I have a 401k at work, but what else would you recommend for someone in my situation. [more inside]
posted by spakto on Mar 7, 2006 - 20 answers

I want to open a Roth IRA account. How do I choose the bank? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Jun 22, 2005 - 16 answers

InvestmentFilter: So I'm permanent now at work, and have to pick a 401k option. I don't think i'll be there for many years, and cashed out the last time I had one. (But then again, i'm older now, and 70 is only 31 years away).What do you guys suggest for a 1-3 year timeframe, 401k-wise, given the fluctuating market? (If I need to, I have absolutely no qualms about cashing out again, and have never had much faith in the market at all, in general.) [more inside]
posted by amberglow on Jan 29, 2004 - 23 answers