Greg, I have enjoyed reading this thread. You make me think more and more about my retirement years in 2045 haha! I was purchasing stock from my previous employer through a ESPP where i was buying last years average price less 15%. It was always hovering around $50 or so then they acquired another company ~$4B and doubled overnight. The stock price then went to high 70's. I was really happy when i saw the values of my shares. What was also really cool was I could log into the system and see the dividend payments...man they really start to add up.
I was curious your thoughts on utilizing company match 401k. I always put in to get the company match maxed out in the last 2 companies i worked for. I figured it was "free money". What i didn't like is the cookie cutter plans you can invest in. They utilize plans based on desired retirement date which started aggressive and would get less aggressive as your retirement years approached. I have been averaging ~8% return but feel like I have less control then going out and picking 25 stocks. Another question is i am part of retirement plan through a retirement service (wellsfargo) do i actually own the stocks in the plan or do i own the plan and the service is bundling the stocks internally? I got thinking because i don't receive a dividend payment on the plan stocks. I never really paid attention till now but i always put in knowing deep down i need to have a retirement plan.
|