Roth IRA

Financial Literacy- Does It Still Work?

Posted March 30, 2009 by Bernz

Financial literacy means being savvy with your cash flows and understanding your financial transactions in order to make better decisions that will protect and increase your wealth. Many feel that financial literacy is no longer useful or relevant in the face of our current economic meltdown. They feel that, no matter what consumers know or do, they will be hurt in this recession.

financialiqHowever, financial literacy is more important than ever. Understanding your financial position and how to navigate through tough economic times will give you a leg up in ensuring your financial security.

The people who will survive and thrive in today’s economy are those who have a handle on their personal finances. They know what they own and what they owe and they know where the cash is coming from and going. Every dollar that comes in has a name- meaning they know exactly where it is going.

(more…)

Popularity: 95% [?]

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in 401k, Debt, Estate Planning, Financial Education, Financial Goals, IRA, Index Funds, Investing Basics, Investing Strategies, Investing in Real Estate, Life Insurance, Loans, Mutual Funds, Retirement Planning, Roth IRA, Saving Money, Saving for College, Simple IRA, Stock Market Investing, Tax Reduction, Traditional IRA, Wealth Building | No Comments »

Retirement: Do You Plan on Working After Age 65?

Posted March 23, 2009 by Bernz

A generation ago, it was taken for granted that people would work hard at their jobs until their 65th birthday, then retire to a life of leisure. Most companies provided their long-term employees with retirement plans that made their post-work years comfortable. retirement

Today, however, workers are navigating a whole new employment landscape. Jobs are more transient than they once were. Workers are changing jobs and employers more often. Retirement packages are not a given any more and employees are lucky to find one that provides fully for the retired life. (more…)

Popularity: 68% [?]

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 401k, Career, Estate Planning, Financial Goals, IRA, Retirement Planning, Roth IRA, Saving Money, Simple IRA, Traditional IRA | 1 Comment »

Cleaning Up Your 401(k)

Posted February 25, 2009 by Bernz

If you are like most employees who have a company-sponsored 401(k) plan, you filled out all the paperwork when you first signed up, chose your investment funds from the list provided, and proceeded to forget it from then on. In the last 12 months, it is likely that every time you take a peek at your plan, it has gone down in value yet again. Best to just not look at it and hope for a miracle, right? Wrong!

401kkWhile there is not much that you can do about the global recession or the sorry state of the stock market, you can take charge of your retirement funds, especially your 401(k). Every 401(k) has an option to buy and sell the underlying investment funds every so often. You may be able to make changes to your plan every three months or even every day. Find out when you will be able to change out your investments and then take some time to know what’s going on with your existing choices.

(more…)

Popularity: 44% [?]

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in 401k, IRA, Index Funds, Retirement Planning, Roth IRA, Simple IRA, Traditional IRA | No Comments »

3 Benefits of a Roth IRA

Posted October 14, 2008 by Bernz

What’s a Roth IRA? It’s an individual retirement arrangement (aka retirement savings account) you fund with after-tax dollars. The money you contribute goes into your account and continues to grow without you having to pay any tax related costs. In other words, when the time comes for you to make a withdrawal, every cent you take out goes back into your wallet.

Part of what makes Roth IRAs so appealing is its tax-friendly quality. But there are 3 major benefits of a Roth IRA:

• You can contribute money regardless of your age and for as long as you like

• You can leave the money in the account without having to make minimum monthly withdrawals (something you must do with traditional IRAS)

• You can withdraw money whenever you want for any reason (but if you’re younger than 59½ you’ll face early withdrawal penalties unless you can prove you have a qualifying reason such as college tuition, medical expenses, or a first-time home purchase).

Thinking of starting a Roth IRA? If so you’ll need to make sure you meet these taxable income guidelines:

(more…)

Popularity: 21% [?]

Technorati Tags: ,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Tags: ,
Posted in Roth IRA | 1 Comment »