Plastic pigs sitting on a 3D pie chart. Copy says, "Transfers, Rollovers, and 60-Day Rollovers."

Transfers, IRA Rollovers, and 60-Day Rollovers

A while back, one of our clients called to inquire about our thoughts on the article, IRA Rollover Ruling Stuns Advisers and Savers. After reading it, I can certainly understand how the terminology in the article can be very confusing for the average person, so let’s clarify a few of things regarding this. What is the difference between Transfers, Direct …

What choices do you have for your 401(k)?

If you’re like many Americans, you have spent your working years focused on building up your nest egg in the form of retirement plans like a 401(k) or an IRA. But when it’s time to retire, you may be left scratching your head about how to turn that nest egg into a livable income. One of the biggest questions people …

Breathe New Life into Your Old 401(k)

5 Steps to Breathe New Life into Your Old 401(k) Leaving a job is stressful and emotional. Still, it’s critically important for you to remember to claim all your benefits and assets before you say goodbye. Most people don’t realize the choices they have with their ‘old 401(k)’ because it’s with a previous employer. But the truth of the matter …

Part 2: Control Your 401(k) Destiny

“It’s my money and I need it now.” You’ve probably seen the JG Wentworth® commercials that say, “It’s my money and I need it now!”  Well, 401(k) plans dictate how you can have access to your own money.  Yes, it’s your money but you may not be able to get it now! Believe it or not, many plans only have a …

Part 1: Control Your 401(k) Destiny

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” -Benjamin Franklin Have you ever asked yourself who is in control of your 401(k) savings plan(s)?  Like many plan participants, you may think you’re in control. But the truth of the matter is that while you get to choose how to invest your retirement savings in an employer-sponsored plan, that’s about the extent of your …

Don’t Brag Yet

by Jesse Anderson, CFA® Last weekend a long-time friend said to me: “I cashed out my entire 401(k) before the tech bubble, and Thank God!, because I would have lost everything.” My friend is so proud of his decision that he’s still bragging about it over 10 years later.  I did not have the heart to tell him that his …

End of year resolution… Take back your old 401(k)

Every year we revisit our goals and set a new list of items to accomplish throughout the year. About this time of year we reflect on all the items that were left incomplete and try to justify the reasons why we didn’t get them taken care of. Today I’m challenging you to set a goal to complete before the end of this year. Consolidate your accounts and roll that old 401(k) into your IRA account.

401k Funds: What’s the Difference?

If you have set up a 401k plan with your employer, you will notice that you cannot invest in everything available in the stock market. Typically you can only pick from a select list and allocate 100% of the contributions among them. The selections are limited because the 401k plan goes through an administrator, and each plan has a different list of investment vehicles available to the plan participants. To some, looking at the list and figuring out which funds to pick may seem as clueless as finding a light switch in a foreign room. By the end of this article, aligning its contents with your own financial situation will allow you to navigate the room as if it were your own.

Should I contribute to my IRA, 401(k), or Savings Account?

Saving is a critical part of your personal financial success. But how much, when, and where you save can also have an important and lasting effect. When you have multiple accounts, you may not be sure where to start, but answering a handful of questions will help you prioritize the order in which you should make contributions to the various accounts available to you.

Generation Lost?

There is an increasing amount of attention gathering around the Millennial generations’ entrance (or attempted entrance) into the workforce. This is truly the workforce of tomorrow, yet things will be very different from the experiences of the previous Baby Boomer generation. The common dream of going to college, starting that dream job, starting a family and purchasing a home have all been faded by the current economic climate. While I realize that the majority of our readers are probably not in this generation, the mass majority of you do have children or family members who are.