Category: Retirement Tips
Heading into the Homestretch
If retirement is just around the corner, here are some tips you might want to consider in preparation for the big day. Protect your 401k. If your plans are to retire in the next 12 months or so, you might want to consider getting ultra conservative in your 401k. If you plan on taking your 401k and rolling it over to an IRA, protect your current balance from potential market declines by moving into a common 401k option, a stable value fund. You could give up some upside potential, but you may sleep better at night knowing you have limited downside risk. Even if retirement is more than 12 months away, get the 401k ready for the future. Now is probably not the time to be taking on additional risk; the opposite could be your best option. But be careful using bonds; many 401(k) investors invest in bonds to reduce risk and lock in more stable returns. But if interest rates continue to rise, bond fund returns could suffer. Don’t jump from the frying pan into the fire! Pick pension option. If you’re among the one in five private sector workers who still have a pension, you may be offered the option of taking a lump sum rather than a stream of checks for life. Do your homework before you make any decision; this decision will be carved in stone. If you’re a disciplined investor, you theoretically could do better by taking the lump sum and investing it. The lump sum might also be a smart call if your annual pension reports show the fund is seriously underfinan
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