401k

Risk tolerance is a term you may have heard about when determining your investment strategy. While you might picture activities such as rock climbing or jumping out of an airplane when you think of risk, it has a different meaning when it comes to investing.

You just started a new job and have come across information about your company’s 401(k) in your benefits paperwork. You may be wondering what exactly it is and whether you should sign up. The 401(k) plan got its name from the portion of the IRS tax code that governs its use. In the past, most employees received guaranteed monthly retirement income through an employer-funded pension plan.

It’s rarely the plan, but it happens — you’re faced with a financial crisis and have to find extra funds fast. The need may arise from many circumstances including a medical emergency, costly home repairs, job loss or escalating credit card debt.

It’s rarely the plan, but it happens — you’re faced with a financial crisis and have to find extra funds fast. The need may arise from many circumstances including a medical emergency, costly home repairs, job loss or escalating credit card debt.

You’ve heard the saying that timing is everything? While that may hold true for matters of the heart, it’s actually terrible advice to follow when it comes to investing.

Sometimes small moves can yield big results. If you want to plan for a better, more secure retirement, start by increasing your 401(k) contribution by just 1%. You might be thinking that 1% can’t possibly make that much of a difference — but you’d be wrong.