some suggestions \nWhat I need to know (the basics)\nwhat questions to ask the 401k rep.
136646
You need to know whether or not your company is going to match dollar for dollar what percentage is the company going to top off at? How many employees? What type of retirement-investments-bonds-stocks \nGet with the company below go to contact and just ask\nHow do I get started they will go from there.\nThere are also independent dealers look in your phone book
86552
I don't know if there is a specific percentage that you should have, but it's never too early to start investing and saving for retirement through an account like an IRA or 401k, which are often available through your place of employment.\n\nI think it is important to consider the expense of living for a considerable amount of time with little to no income during retirement.  Other things to figure are inflation rates, longevity, and the quality of life you would like to maintain in retirement.\n\nI suggest you find a financial consultant to discuss your retirement plans.  They deal with planning people's investments day in and day out and may be able to better assist your in your inquiry.
55293
As a unit of One, you will want to consider the Indivdual K plan design. Much cheaper to administer than a full 401k. Other alternatives are SEP IRA's and SIMPLE plans. Look for a financial planner that specializes in designing qualified plans for small businesses.
82205
1. Consider yourself blessed. If your bosses would just pick up and close shop the way they did, did you really want to be loyal to a place like that.\n\n2. Call unemployment and file as quickly as possible.\n\n3. Did you have a 401k plan? If so, you may be able to    \n   withdraw against it (There are tax and early withdrawal \n   penalties involved) But if you need the money,   \n   sometimes you do what you gotta do.\n\n4. Call all utilities and get on their budget plan. This \n   will begin to help you formulate a budget if don't  \n   already have one. And you'll know what your basic bills \n   wlll be each month.\n\n5. Write a letter to all your creditors telling them you  \n   will be making lower payment amounts because your income \n   situation has changed.\n\n6. Update your resume.\n\n7. Ask any and everybody, do they know of any place hiring.\n\n8. Surf the net for possible leads.\n\n9. Post your resume to a job search site like Monster dot \n   com.\n\n10.Volunteer somewhere doing something.  Sometimes you can \n   find the answer to your problems by helping someone else \n   with theirs. And who knows this may be where you get  \n   your best leads from. \n\n11.Exercise. If you don't already, start a routine that \n   will help you reduce stress.\n\n12. Finally, is there a dream in your life you haven't \n    reached for? Maybe now is the time to do what you were \n    sent here to do. When you are reaching for something  \n    you have always wanted, you'll encouter stumbling  \n    blocks but you'll never fail. Self employment might be \n    calling your name. You have 30 years of service, you \n    can't tell me you don't have the background to succeed \n    at whatever you want to do.\n\nI wish you Godspeed and the best of luck.
240083
Those questions vary employer to employer.  If you right away go to another job that offers a 401k, you can roll yours into it.  If it's a while between jobs, you'd have to roll into over into an independent IRA.  You can cash it out but you will have to pay taxes on it.  It will be reported as income on your next tax return which will bump you into a higher tax bracket and more taxes.  \n\nLosing what your employer has put in depends on whether or not you are 'vested'.  For most companies, it's a year or two before you are vested.  Once you are vested, any money they contribute is yours regardless of when you leave or how.  If you're not vested, you could lose just a percentage of what they've paid in or all of it. Again, depends on the company.  Any money that you have contributed is yours and yours alone.\n\nSorry I can't be more specific but it's really a question for whoever takes care of the 401k stuff at your place of employment.
469169
Well, if you already have an account set-up with a brokerage house you should have access to research functions.  If not, then the first thing to do would be to set-up an account (I would suggest sharebuilder.com myself).  You might need to define short term.  It would also help if the dollar amount available is known.  I'm a big fan of treasurydirect.gov.  That site allows you to purchase government backed securities (t-bills) that are short term (4 weeks, 13 weeks, 26 weeks).  The interest rate is 5% and the money is state tax free so that's the equivalent of earning 7-8% in a taxable account.  As far as specific stocks go, I would be very wary of taking anyone's word on "hot" stocks.  So please be careful.  This is just a broad brush stroke answer.  I work in the industry (though not at sharebuilder) so if you'd like more details or have additional questions feel free to drop me a line.  Good luck!
49514
If you are still employed by the plan sponsor your withdrawal options may be limited. Read the plan summary you should have received or talk to your HR person. You might be able to take a loan from your account, but it must be repaid within 5 years.\n\nIf the 401k is from a previous employer, then your options are greater. You can roll the account over into a Traditional IRA. This transaction does not trigger any taxation. \nIf you are over 59.5 years old, you can withdraw money from the account. Any amount withdrawn will be taxable to you as income.\nIf you are not over 59.5 and you withdraw money not only will you pay taxes on the amount you withdraw but you will also pay a penalty of 10% of the withdrawn amount.\n\nIf you do not need the money to cover basic living expenses right now, do yourself a favor and roll the money over into an IRA. Work with a financial planner in your area if you would like help deciding upon an appropriate investment strategy.
558108
Please talk to your 401K/IRA administator.  The rules are complex and you shouldn't trust the information you get from a bunch of strangers on the internet.  Good luck!
523818
Check out the on line sites for retirement statistics. That will help you pinpoint the nest location for you. Remember, hospital access, housing, insurance rates, etc etc, Do some research in depth. It will pay off.
276766
I'd run it by Crown Financial at: heyhoward@crown.org.  They take this type of questions all the time.  It will probably take a week or so, but they'll answer you.
306847
1. Figure out your aversion to risk...are you a person who would sweat a higher risk investment everyday?  If so, it isn't worth it.  \n2. Determine your goals (Making as much as possible without loosing it is not really a goal).  They need to be concrete, like I need $1.5M to retire...how much time do I have to invest?, what return do I need?, how much do I intend to invest additionally?  \n3. Sit down with a "Kiplinger's" (a magazine) for a few months and get a handle on what investments might make sense for you.  They list the best mutual funds monthly among plenty of other financial advice.  \n\nAfter you have done all of that prep work, you should have a good idea of what investments might fit into your plan.  \n\nThen you can go to a broker at a discount brokerage house.  You can listen to what they recommend but research it very thoroughly before you invest.  They do give biased advice sometimes.  The advantage is that making purchases and trades are generally cheaper (besides you've already done the hard work above...if you don't want to do the work, go to a full service broker or pay a financial planner he/she will do the work for you, for a fee)\n\nGood luck.
105421
Start by asking your bank what you can do to save $ for the long run. Maybe a IRA plan? Do you have a full time JOB...if so, ask your employer if they have a 401K plan or anything similar. Stocks too me is just like gambling your money. But whatever suits you
589536
All the brokerages you listed are expensive ( relatively ) in their commissions, especially if you're going to be trading stocks, often, instead of just buying funds and leave them for a while.\n\nIf this be the case, you will be better off, exploring other deep-discount brokerages...such as E*Trade, TD Ameritrade etc.\n\nIf you have sufficiant funds in your Rollover IRA ( > $50K for E*Trade ) the commission per trade is lot less than what you will pay in your list of brokerages.  I think it's $9.99 or something along that line, with almost all brokerages, per trade.\n\nThe commission is something that you should consider. Also, some of these companies charges few cents per share. Only the first 1000 shares are covered by their flat fee. Anything above that limit, you pay additional CENTS per share.\n\nAll the tools - charts, portfolio manager, research tools etc...are all kinda standard all over the place.\n\np.s.\nSince you're rolling over and NOT THRU' YOUR COMPANY 401(k) anymore...There is no more free lunch. You will pay $$$ per trade..So, give it some thought
663612
I have a friend who has taken an entry level job with an investment company and is doing very well, but she is not in a call center.  Fidelity is a good company.  The real answer to any question like this, is it is up to you to find out in the interview what the job really is and whether it will work for you.  The employer wants you to ask good questions.  They want the people they hire to be a good fit for the job.  Be up front, but positive.  You can say something like "I feel I have a real aptitude for costumer service, but I am not at all comfortable with cold calling.  Is this job mostly dealing with incoming calls, or do I have to call people who may not want to hear from us?"  Given that it is 401Ks you are likely to be dealing with people who are either already costumers or are seriously thinking about becoming costumers.  Good luck.
595977
You should learn more.  The LA Times has an excellent introductory site to money and investing called the Money Library (free registration required).  Until then, you would probably best be served by buying into funds that have targeted retirement dates.  \n\nThese funds diversify your money for you based on how long until you retire.  They will generally pick appropriate amounts to invest in domestic and foreign stocks, corporate and gov't bonds, and also further diversity between each type of stock, like small cap, big cap and mid-cap.  Same with bonds.  They'll diversity based on investment grades.  \n\nLook for funds called Target Retirement or Lifecycle with a year like 2030 (or close to when you plan to retire) in the title.  Those are the ones that do this diversification and rebalancing automatically.\n\nAlso recommend you pick a very low cost fund, so your gains aren't eaten up in expenses.  The three mutual fund companies I'm listing below all have targeted retirement funds and very low costs.  I've had or have funds with all 3 at one point or another.
46357
Contact your former employers H.R. department.  They should be able to tell you who their 401k carrier is or was during your time of employment.
196656
I'd choose royce premier (ryprx)   I have that part of my 401k that they offer at work and for the last year, ( March 2005-2006)  it went up 33.57%.  Plus its 18.74 each share so that would be around 53 shares.   So far since Jan 2006, it went up 11.15%