Investing 102

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by WSSix

So Greg, what do you think a person should do if they have a great company match 401k but the mutual fund that it's invested in is crap and they are locked into just those funds? I know this is a little beyond 102 but I'm curious as to your opinion.

My opinion, and what I may end up doing since I'm somewhat in that boat with my 401k, is to set aside whatever you have to in order to get the max company match as that's free money but not go over that amount. Take the rest that you would have invested or want to invest for retirement and put it else where like a Roth IRA or open a brokerage account.

The company match is growth in your savings -- so really -- you have to kind of do a "total return" math... you saved 10% - they matched 3% - even if the fund had zero growth... you got a 30% "return". You put in $6 and they added $2.... that right there is a pretty good "return". The problem is -- you're losing out on the COMPOUNDING that continued dividends or growth bring... and that's where the Mutual Funds are KILLING people's retirement.

So - yes - If your fund choices suck.... then take the match... but save more OUTSIDE the company store. Do a ROTH and your own 401 if allowed to. The ROTH is the biggest savings gift EVER.... that growth and redemption without ANY taxes is just huge! 100 grand is a 100 grand..... A 401K is 100 grand but when withdrawn is 80 grand....

The company 401K is all most people ever save -- and that's a big mistake right there. That will "help" but in most cases won't be nearly enough to have a nice retirement. If people really thought about it ..... if you work for 30 years and save $500 a month.... but then you expect to retire and live another 30 years and "make" $3000 a month... that math doesn't really work out.