Investing 102

[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.

[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 A 401K is 100 grand but when withdrawn is 80 grand....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.

[Bow Tie 67]

I just found out I have the ability to self direct 50% of my 401k through Chase Investment services.

Fees are $8.95 per trade

$100 per account per year maintenance fee.

I feel like I just won the lottery!!

Are short term cap gains a non-issue in a self directed 401k? Or how does this work?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Bow Tie 67

I just found out I have the ability to self direct 50% of my 401k through Chase Investment services.

Fees are $8.95 per trade

$100 per account per year maintenance fee.

I feel like I just won the lottery!!

Are short term cap gains a non-issue in a self directed 401k? Or how does this work?

There is no tax due on 401k's until you withdraw.... and then you're paying INCOME TAX on the withdrawals... since money that is put into the 401 is PRE TAX. So you owe taxes on the whole enchilada. Obviously the idea there is that you'll save more - compounding more - and will withdraw when you're at a lower rate.

Don't worry about the LTCG or STCG etc.

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by Bow Tie 67

I just found out I have the ability to self direct 50% of my 401k through Chase Investment services.

Fees are $8.95 per trade

$100 per account per year maintenance fee.

I feel like I just won the lottery!!

Are short term cap gains a non-issue in a self directed 401k? Or how does this work?

Winning! Thank your company for having an option plan.

[CRCRFT78]

Out of curiousity, how do some of you decide how many shares to buy? I base it on what I can afford given the amount of money I have at that particular moment. For example, Greg, you picked up 400 shares of Apple & 1000 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, how did you come up with those numbers? Why not 500/800 shares? Just wondering everyones technique when it comes to picking shares.

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by CRCRFT78

Out of curiousity, how do some of you decide how many shares to buy? I base it on what I can afford given the amount of money I have at that particular moment. For example, Greg, you picked up 400 shares of Apple & 1000 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, how did you come up with those numbers? Why not 500/800 shares? Just wondering everyones technique when it comes to picking shares.

[Bow Tie 67]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Good one, Lol.

I added to my STD position today which drops my price per share, not to mention the next dividend, if history repeats itself, will be the big one of the year. " fingers crossed "

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by CRCRFT78

Out of curiousity, how do some of you decide how many shares to buy? I base it on what I can afford given the amount of money I have at that particular moment. For example, Greg, you picked up 400 shares of Apple & 1000 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, how did you come up with those numbers? Why not 500/800 shares? Just wondering everyones technique when it comes to picking shares.

It's a good question but one without a correct answer....

I actually "adjusted" yesterdays purchase after thinking about it -- and sold 500 CMG and bought 200 more AAPL.... so now have 500 CMG and 600 AAPL...

I look at my cash -- and the account that the stock I want to buy is in... and then my LIMIT is 2 or 3% of investable funds. Most people use 5% - but 5% for me gets to be a pretty big $ amount... so it's all just based on what your situation is.

I ALWAYS try to keep a pretty sizable cash position as well.... cash is always king -- you never have to sell into a down period (that can last 2 or 3 years) and you always FEEL BETTER having cash... so I could make that a consideration as well.