Retirement

Common 401(k) Mistakes People Make

There are many pitfalls when it comes to investing for your retirement. Unfortunately, a good many of these mistakes center around the 401(k), which can be a tremendous boost to your retirement plans when appropriately used to build your portfolio. The problem is that the mistakes are often the only things we hear when it comes to retirement plans and investing. I suggest beginning with the errors so that we can move along to better information and advice soon.

The first and perhaps largest mistakes that people make when it comes to 401 (k) is not signing up. Yes, you heard that right. What people do not understand is that this is something your employer offers so that you can have some security for your future. It is a manner of saving money for your future that shouldn’t be overlooked or taken for granted. Even a bad 401 (k) plan is better than no 401 (k), and with strict regulations, those are few and far between. More importantly, if your company offers to match the funds in your 401 (k) plan not taking them up on that offer is tossing money in the garbage can.

The next big mistake when it comes to your 401 (k) is risking too little. Rewards begin with risk. If you aren’t taking any chances with your investment, then you are by and large throwing money down the drain. In addition to that, it is nearly impossible to meet your retirement goals without taking some risks, and some hits along the way. It doesn’t mean you should be reckless but along the way you are going to need to make some calculated risks to receive the bigger payouts that most of us hope for when investing in their retirement funds.

They are risking too much. There are many risks involved when investing in the stock market. There are a few that deserve a little more mention than others. First, stocks present a relatively significant risk, particularly to the uninitiated. While it is true that great rewards are most often the product of great risks you do not want to risk the bulk of your retirement by investing it all in stocks.

Another thing you want to avoid doing if possible is investing in your company stock. We’ve seen too many lives destroyed when companies go undertaking the financial stability of their employees along with them. Many companies offer incentives to employees for investing in their stock, which may be tempting but I recommend spending as little as possible in your company stock whenever possible as this could lead to problems down the road.

Finally, borrowing against your 401 (k) is the worst thing you can do. There are so many ways in which this could go wrong, and the penalties for this are more than a little prohibitive. They are designed to be that way so that you will use the funds for their intended purpose. If you have no other option is the only way I would recommend borrowing against your 401 (k), and I would seriously consider selling a kidney before doing that.

When it comes to your financial retirement, 401 (k) mistakes can be far more costly than you may realize. Avoid common mistakes, and you will have an enjoyable retirement.

We hope this information was beneficial. You can have anything you want if you are enthusiastic about putting in the time, effort and plans to get to your goals. Discover the secrets why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips!

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Invest in Property to Secure Your Retirement

Have you considered property investment to secure your retirement’s financial future? There are many great ways that you can let real estate build a nice little nest egg for your retirement, and the sooner you begin the process, the better.

While there are all kinds of stocks and mutual funds that confuse even the most intelligent among us, real estate is a straightforward business. The problem is that many people feel it is too risky. The truth is that there are many different types of real estate investing that all carry different risk to the buyer. One thing is for sure, and that is that with proper care and attention properties tend to gain value over time rather than lose value. If you purchase properties today and adequately maintain them, you can not only reap years of rental income while paying the mortgage on these properties, but you can also find your retirement home and pay today’s prices for it rather than the rates of tomorrow.

When it comes to real estate, it is always good to arm yourself with knowledge before taking any steps, and you should carefully discuss all plans for your financial future with your trusted financial planner or advisor. His or her job is to guide you when making plans and purchases that will affect your financial stability and security. They can also help you with the matters of taxation, cost analysis, estimated inflation, and the average rise in property value for an area.

As mentioned, before there are always risks when it comes to any investing. The same holds for real estate investing. Things can go wrong. On occasion, you will find lemon properties; for this reason, you need to have a complete and thorough inspection performed before you purchase the property. You should also make sure that you are aware of your state and local laws as they apply to landlords. For this reason, it is a good idea to consult with an attorney that specializes in financial investment in addition to your financial advisor.

Rental properties aren’t the only way to build a property investment portfolio. There are all kinds of property investment opportunities for those that are willing to take the risk. When it comes to property investing, the more significant risks often net the greater potential rewards. The thing you must remember is that you are gambling with your financial future. I tend to stick with rental properties as they are a safe bet and pay for themselves over the years while building a nice nest egg for my future.

There is the eternally fascinating investment opportunity that property flipping presents for one. When flipping a property, you purchase a property below market value—preferably one that requires minor cosmetic repairs. Make the repairs. Then sell the house for a substantial profit. It is a risky venture for those who are novices to the field, and many would be investors have lost a great deal of money doing this. Successful investors, however, can net significant profits in a short amount of time if they have the knowledge and skills to do the work themselves and time things correctly.

There are even more property investment opportunities that provide even higher risk, as they are highly speculative known as pre-construction investing. It is the investment that creates millionaires. On the flip side, it has sent many into bankruptcy along the way as well so tread very carefully before engaging in this sort of real estate investing and take great care never to spend more than you can afford to lose.

As you can see, there are ample opportunities in real estate to create an outstanding financial retirement plan for you and your family. You only need to decide whether property investment is the right thing for you.

Earn Money at Home with Unique Home Employment Opportunities

Now you can earn money at home with unique home employment opportunities such as offering credit solutions to others, money brokering, free affiliates, etc. Here are some great tips to get started.

For stay at home moms, retirees and anyone that wants a new job, home employment may be the ideal solution. There are many ways to earn money at home within reach of anyone who wants to find them. Join the more than three million people estimated to be working at home now.

Many Advantages when You Earn Money At Home

Anyone willing to work will be able to have a successful home-based business. Whether it is full or part-time is up to you. It doesn’t matter if you have children at home, or have other obligations, you can work at your own pace, and on any schedule you choose. You will be able to earn money at home without having to leave the comfort of your own surroundings.

Think of the advantages of working for yourself at home. You won’t have rigid hours and bosses to answer to. You can have your own business with the computer or other equipment you already have, without costly offices and overhead. You will have the freedom to make your own decisions and will eliminate the stress and costs of commuting.

Working For Others At Home

There are numerous possibilities for home employment. Depending on your interests, you can work for yourself or other companies and earn money at home. There is a unique need for assembling products at home for all manner of companies. There are directories offered on the Internet that will give you a comprehensive listing of companies needing workers.

By purchasing a directory like this, you will be able to study the entries and pick out one or several that appeal to your interests or skills. There are also companies that will pay you to do clerical and computer work, telephone polls, background checks, and process insurance claims.

Be Your Own Boss

If you would like to work as your own boss and earn money at home, there are services that people need and will pay for. Helping people find credit solutions and money brokering is an opportunity that’s in demand today, and you’ll need no prior experience. Some companies will train you in these services. You will collect the fees yourself without going through a middleman.

Start Your Own Business

If you have a unique product or service to offer, you may want to open your own Web business. There are sites on the Internet that will help you get started, and many are free. Another way to earn money at home is to join a free affiliate program online and sell the products of others through your own website. You can earn extra cash by advertising for other companies and receive commissions from the sales it generates.

For anyone with ambition who wants to earn money at home, the sky is the limit. Start looking now for the kind of job that you would enjoy doing at home. Make your life more fulfilling and profitable by taking control of your destiny.

Which Retirement Plan is right for You?

So many people find the chore of planning their financial retirement future confusing? If you are one of those this article is dedicated to explaining the differences between a 401 (k) plan and an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). There will be many terms you will come across during your research that will be somewhat confusing until you get the terminology down. The path to financial doesn’t have to be as complicated as we tend to make it.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to seek the guidance and advice of a professional financial planner. The resources and knowledge that a competent financial advisor can share with you will be invaluable when it becomes time to make the decision that will affect how your retirement savings are put to work for your retirement. We go to a mechanic for mechanical advice (at least I do) so it only makes sense that we would go someone who has trained in financial matters for financial advice.

Getting back to business, when it comes to financial retirement planning you should find that both IRAs and 401 (k) plans have strengths and weaknesses. There are also limitations as to how beneficial they can be when used in combination with one another as well as their own limitations. Every benefit that aids you in taxes and retirement should be considered carefully before leaping.

Let’s first look at the 401 (k) plan. This is a plan that offers a few benefits that are much preferable to many over other retirement plans. The first thing you might want to consider is that you can invest up to 75% of your salary or a maximum of $18,500 per year (as of 2018). Of course, that is assuming that your employer doesn’t have limits on how much you can invest. The money invested in your 401 (k) account is pretax money so it lowers the amount of taxes you are paying out of each paycheck. Many people also find that because the money is taken from their checks before it arrives it is far less painless to part with. As someone who has closely watched taxes, FICA, and Fido get my money for years I can say that it is no less painful for me, but some find it comforting and that is a real benefit.

Finally, and perhaps the most important thing to consider is that many employers will match a percentage of your contribution up to a certain amount each check. As an employee, this is a boost to your investment that is well deserved and hard earned. I hope you appreciate the implications it has on your future earnings. You should keep in mind that the penalties for accessing these funds early are harsh indeed in order to discourage this practice from occurring. Take care that you do not over-invest in these funds to the point that you will need to access them in times other than dire emergencies.

IRAs are another creature altogether. You will find much stricter limitations on IRAs than on 401 (k) plans to begin with the fact that if your employer offers a 401 (k) you must make very little money in order to qualify for the tax deductions that this retirement fund generally allows. The maximum yearly contribution for your IRA will be $4,000 or 100% of your annual income; whichever is greater up until the age of 49. Once you’ve reached the age of 50 you can invest an additional $1,000 to your fund. The other major drawback when it comes to an IRA is the fact that you must begin receiving payments at the age of 70.5 from your account. You will also be heavily penalized if you make an early withdrawal from these funds.

Make sure you discuss the pros and cons of a 401 (k) plan versus a Traditional IRA plan before you make your decision.

Do you need Insurance in Retirement?

Not all the things you need in retirement are financial, but something to consider is all types of insurance to protect your financial future. When planning your financial retirement there are many things you should consider before taking the plunge and not all of them are overtly financial, though in some large way they are all very financial considerations, particularly if you don’t take the time now to consider their importance later. Insurance is an important consideration when it comes to retirement. Depending on your age at retirement you may or may not qualify for Medicaid, which could leave you in a bit of a pickle when it comes to covering the excessive cost of insuring your health.

If you have a spouse that will continue working for a year or two you may want to consider the cost of being added to his or her insurance coverage. Chances are it will be less expensive than striking out on your own for health insurance coverage, which tends to increase in cost with age and according to health.

Dental insurance is another huge consideration among those approaching retirement age. The cost of actual dental insurance can be quite cost prohibitive but there are other options in the form of discount programs. There are quite a few programs that exist and all you really need to do is a quick Internet search to find more than a few good prospects. You will want to make sure that the plan you are considering has providers in your area before signing up. Some of these plans offer discounts on other services such as vision, prescription drugs, and even medical care. The costs typically vary according to the offerings of the plans in question.

Medications are another important consideration when retiring, particularly if you are planning to retire early or prior to the traditional retirement age of 65 when Medicaid kicks in. Some of the plans mentioned above offer discounts on prescription drugs and there are other things you can do such as asking your doctor about generic options or less expensive methods for medication that might exist. Some drug companies are offering free medications to people who meet their qualifications.

Long-term care insurance is a relatively new concept and something that many of us do not wish to consider but is something that really should be considered when you are young enough to get reasonable rates. If you are in your 50’s and early 60’s you should be able to get this insurance for around $100 a month. Whether you want to acknowledge that this could be a need for you or not, the odds are that it will be a very real need in time. Unless you plan to leave a significant amount of debt in your wake it is an innovative idea to make sure you invest in long-term care insurance.

Home and auto insurance typically go through a reduction in cost as you age. This is good news on many levels as it leaves you the option of picking up additional insurance coverage or at the very least fill in the gaps that some of your other insurance costs are leaving in your carefully planned budget. You should keep in mind however that once you reach a certain age they will begin to rise again. Save the pennies you save on the premiums during the good years to cover the costs during the lean years. Insurance is one of those costs that simply must be covered. Make sure insurance is included in your retirement plans.

You can have anything you want if you are willing to put in the time, effort and plans to get to your goals. Discover the secrets why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips! In closing, I invite you to share your commits on this and all the posts. Like us on Facebook and Google Plus. Remember to keep an open mind and Shift 4 Freedom.