401K & Investments

[Dixie_Peach 1]

Okay, so the deal is that my boss will implement 401K next week. I am eager to participate, but I am not savvy about investment options.

This is the list that is on the packet... please give your input or experience so that I can weigh and evaluate my options... thank you for your help!

Asset Class Fund Name

SP Rydex Real Estate Fund C1 H

IS Euro-Pacific Grth Fund R3

IS Evergreen Glbl Opp Fd A

SC GdmnScs Core Sm Cap Fd A

SC Wells Fargo Sm Co Val Fd A

MC Fid Adv Leveraged Co Stk A

MC GdmnScs MidCp Value Fd A

LC AMCAP Fund ClassR3 Shares

LC Wash Mutual Investors R3

LC Fidelity Adv Freedom 2040 A

LC GrdmnScs Core US Eqty Fd A

LC RvrSrc Divrs Eq Inc Fd A

BA Amer Balanced Fund R3 Shs

BA Capital Income Builder R3

BA Income Fund of America R3

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2005 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2015 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2025 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2035 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2010 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2020 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2030 A

BD Bond Fund of America R3

BD Dodge & Cox Income Fund

BD EV Gov Obligations Fd Cl A

BD MFS High Yield Oppor Fd A

BD PIMCO TtlRetrn Fnd Cls A

BD RvrSrc Divrs Bd Fd A

I have NO idea what these are... and have done... and will continue to look for them on the internet... but to be truthful, I have no idea what I am looking at... anyways, hope you can help. Thanks!

Lynne

[Jenn! 918]

I would think that your company would make the prospecti for the various funds avaliable to you, at least that's what my company does. You shouldn't have to do all that research on your own. Have you asked HR?

[Dixie_Peach 1]

I would think that your company would make the prospecti for the various funds avaliable to you, at least that's what my company does. You shouldn't have to do all that research on your own. Have you asked HR?

My boss went out on his own and got this company (Nationwide is the name), he held a meeting with them and gave him the packet... no one has explained anything to any of us... we are a small company... and I am HR, payroll, shipping, receptionist.... the list goes on and on... I have called Nationwide, but keep getting put on hold...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Dixie,

Consider a session with a financial advisor. They may cost a bit but a good advisor should be very helpful to you in interpreting the information you read in the prospectuses.

[ktmmansgal 0]

Okay, so the deal is that my boss will implement 401K next week. I am eager to participate, but I am not savvy about investment options.

This is the list that is on the packet... please give your input or experience so that I can weigh and evaluate my options... thank you for your help!

Asset Class Fund Name

SP Rydex Real Estate Fund C1 H

IS Euro-Pacific Grth Fund R3

IS Evergreen Glbl Opp Fd A

SC GdmnScs Core Sm Cap Fd A

SC Wells Fargo Sm Co Val Fd A

MC Fid Adv Leveraged Co Stk A

MC GdmnScs MidCp Value Fd A

LC AMCAP Fund ClassR3 Shares

LC Wash Mutual Investors R3

LC Fidelity Adv Freedom 2040 A

LC GrdmnScs Core US Eqty Fd A

LC RvrSrc Divrs Eq Inc Fd A

BA Amer Balanced Fund R3 Shs

BA Capital Income Builder R3

BA Income Fund of America R3

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2005 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2015 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2025 A

BA Fidelity Adv Freedm 2035 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2010 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2020 A

BA FidelityAdv Freedom 2030 A

BD Bond Fund of America R3

BD Dodge & Cox Income Fund

BD EV Gov Obligations Fd Cl A

BD MFS High Yield Oppor Fd A

BD PIMCO TtlRetrn Fnd Cls A

BD RvrSrc Divrs Bd Fd A

I have NO idea what these are... and have done... and will continue to look for them on the internet... but to be truthful, I have no idea what I am looking at... anyways, hope you can help. Thanks!

Lynne

Hey there I have sent your list to a good friend of mine who's hobby since childhood has been investing --- He gives me advice on my 401 K --- and has been pretty "right on." Give me a day or two and I will give you his recommendations. To give you and idea how well he does -- in the tech stock crash days --- he was still making 200% on his money --- and during the Tech stock boom, he was making over 400 percent on his money -- needless to say, he is doing pretty well--- and he is a super person on top of all that cash --- What he gives free in advice, he gets back ten fold in cash --- you know the old saying, what goes around, comes around -- works for both good and bad ---

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Just get it started. You can still move stuff around once you have created the account.

[cmartyn 0]

What are your companies matching policies?

If the company is not offering a match, Id say run away from the entire deal. If they are matching you need to choose the dogs with the least fleas. I bet Nationwide is paying your boss to stick his employees with that pantload.

[almaty 19]

sister lynee, i split mine into 4..2 were safe risk..lower yield and 2 were moderate risks....i have done great..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What are your companies matching policies?

If the company is not offering a match, Id say run away from the entire deal.

I don't think that is very good advice.

Even if there is no match, your 401k contribution is tax-deferred. Even if you don't trust stock markets with your money, most 401k plans will allow for more 'stable' choices as well. You're better off deferring the tax on a few thousand dollars a year and putting that money in a stable fund, than if you paid your full tax rate on it today and stuck it in your checking account.

JMHO.

[mercuryroad 0]

Euro-Pacific growth has been good to me but it is risky. Your age and plans should also dictate the level of risk you are willing to accept in your portfolio.

The Fidelity Freedom funds get riskier as the dates go further out.....then get more conservative as they approach. They are designed to coincide with your retirement.

Usually the company has some sort of advisor.

[Dixie_Peach 1]

What are your companies matching policies?

If the company is not offering a match, Id say run away from the entire deal. If they are matching you need to choose the dogs with the least fleas. I bet Nationwide is paying your boss to stick his employees with that pantload.

my boss IS offering a match... but not over 5%... i have a call into nationwide... hoping they will call back... and also a call to my friend @ H & R Block... she does investments...

thanks guys! keep it coming!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

my boss IS offering a match... but not over 5%...

dollar to dollar on the first 5%? That's pretty good. My employer sucks.

[Elizabethnhenry 0]

Just get it started. You can still move stuff around once you have created the account.

I agree - to wrap your head around all this in short time will make you dizzy and nervous.

We use nationwide as well, but not the funds you listed - only some of the Fidelity Funds. When I first signed on ten years ago, I chose randomly and when I understood what I was doing and got better recommendations, I moved stuff around, as Rich said.

cmartyn asks a good question, what are the matching policies. We get matched dollar for dollar. Some companies give you 25cents for every dollar you put. And some companies give $2-3 for every dollar you put. So you need to find out. If it is zero, you may be better off on your own with a financial advisor.

my boss IS offering a match... but not over 5%...

dollar to dollar on the first 5%? That's pretty good. My employer sucks.

Yeah, that's pretty decent.

What are your companies matching policies?

If the company is not offering a match, Id say run away from the entire deal.

I don't think that is very good advice.

Even if there is no match, your 401k contribution is tax-deferred. Even if you don't trust stock markets with your money, most 401k plans will allow for more 'stable' choices as well. You're better off deferring the tax on a few thousand dollars a year and putting that money in a stable fund, than if you paid your full tax rate on it today and stuck it in your checking account.

JMHO.

Good point.

[LaL 418]

Consider a session with a financial advisor. They may cost a bit but a good advisor should be very helpful to you in interpreting the information you read in the prospectuses.

gosh it would sound sooo much better if it was PROSPECTI

cactuses, octopuses, hmmm

sorry dixie!!!!

[mercuryroad 0]

What are your companies matching policies?

If the company is not offering a match, Id say run away from the entire deal. If they are matching you need to choose the dogs with the least fleas. I bet Nationwide is paying your boss to stick his employees with that pantload.

my boss IS offering a match... but not over 5%... i have a call into nationwide... hoping they will call back... and also a call to my friend @ H & R Block... she does investments...

thanks guys! keep it coming!

Take the full 5% too if you can manage it.....free money baby!