I was looking around for information on long-term investment planning and I ran across
this page, which says that after adjusting for inflation, long-term stock market returns are only 1.9% before taxes. The whole site seems to advocate this sort of really creepy gold fetishism that's been popping up lately, so my natural reaction is to dismiss it. But I still have doubts, and this plays into my anxieties about whether retirement savings is worthwhile at all.
Help me debunk this? (Existential crisis inside.)
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posted by aw_yiss
on May 12, 2013 -
28 answers
I'm taking a new job with a very small company that doesn't offer a 401k. My spouse's job does offer a 401k. Based on what I see
on this page, with our income, we would not be able to deduct any contributions I make to an IRA, and we're not eligible for a Roth IRA. So what is my best retirement investment strategy?
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posted by primethyme
on Apr 25, 2013 -
10 answers
Hello! I'm in my early 30s and am finally financially stable enough to start socking away some cash in a Roth IRA (my employer does not offer any retirement plans). However, I'm a little worried that, with the market being at such a high, that something will happen due to all the current BS going on with Congress and the market will crash again, and I will lose a good chunk of money. Is this fear totally unfounded? Should I just start my Roth and hope for the best?
posted by emily37
on Apr 2, 2013 -
20 answers
My 401(k) has changed - any financial gurus able to explain how I am going to be affected?
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posted by erstwhile
on Jun 15, 2012 -
9 answers
Are there any retirement calculators that aren't super-simple? I'm specifically looking for a retirement calculator that would look sort of like multiple calculators where you could put in an age-range, and then all the normal inputs (starting age, starting retirement principal, income, income increase % year over year, % saved for retirement, etc).
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posted by mbatch
on Mar 14, 2011 -
8 answers
Expat needing to organise and manage money across two (or more) countries. How best to save in multiple places, and organise superannuation/retirement accounts?
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posted by wingless_angel
on Jul 16, 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?
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posted by al_fresco
on Dec 13, 2008 -
11 answers
If you had a very strong incentive to invest money before the end of the year with a 30-year outlook, and a further strong incentive to not adjust your investment strategy over that timeframe unless absolutely necessary, what kind of portfolio would you assemble?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 5, 2008 -
15 answers
I want to close out my 401k (and pay the necessary taxes) so I can pay off some debt. My 401k says I'm not allowed. Why not? Can I change anyone's mind?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 9, 2008 -
14 answers
PersonalFinanceFilter: 25 year old looking to start making payments into something pensionesque, but with an international bent. Any suggestions?
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posted by Cantdosleepy
on May 15, 2008 -
6 answers
So, we're in a recession. At what point should we pull our investments out of the stock market?
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posted by raddevon
on Apr 25, 2008 -
30 answers
Can I contribute to my Roth-IRA from my savings account if I don't earn an income?
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posted by ruwan
on Mar 19, 2008 -
7 answers
Should I use a hardship withdrawal for my 401K to pay down/off my credit card revolving credit debt? The total debt is over $200K.
I am 57. I do not anticipate retirement for another 10 years or so. I have approx $100k in the 401K that I can access.
I know that there are IRS penalties for such a withdrawal but my thought was it is better to pay off the debt now and build the 401k back up.
So, should I withdraw or not?
posted by cmh0150
on Dec 3, 2007 -
22 answers
Looking for good articles, links, etc. that discuss (rationally, not all panicky-like) strategies for managing one's 401(k) in light of recent shifts in the market and (perhaps more importantly) the declining dollar. So far, everything I've found seems geared toward investors managing their stock portfolios rather than workers managing their retirement accounts.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 1, 2007 -
7 answers
Should we save for down payment or pay off our student loans? and what about retirement?
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posted by esolo
on Jun 11, 2007 -
20 answers
When must an employer deposit their matching funds in a 401(k) account?
I understand that employee contributions must be deposited "as soon as possible", but what about the employer's matching?
posted by blue_wardrobe
on Jan 18, 2007 -
7 answers
my new employer is offering a 401k package via fidelity investments that is, dare I say it, overwhelming to me. I am especially bothered by the fact that the only advise available on said fidelity investment choices is via the nice folks from fidelity investment. so I looked for financial advisors - but how to judge them?
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posted by krautland
on Aug 28, 2006 -
19 answers
I am presently working with a financial advisor to select mutual funds for my retirement plan. He has explained the differences between Class A, B, and C funds to me, and also suggested that Class A is probably the best option. Is he correct? [more inside]
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posted by ajr
on Dec 30, 2004 -
13 answers
