If you don't know what a 401k is, it's essentially a savings plan that is used to help someone prepare for retirement. As money is regularly taken out of one's pay, it is then pooled into a separate account that can be used once retirement is reached. You might know the importance of saving, but did you know that there are other ways to get the most out of your 401k? Here are 4 tips, offered by Bob Jain, to help you do so.
According to authorities on finance like Robert Jain, you should contribute more to your 401k with every pay raise you receive. While you don't have to contribute your entire raise to each month's savings, the truth is that a little more can go a long way. This is especially true if you remember that a 401k has to be built over the course of several years. Don't let your raises go to waste; invest them wisely in this plan.
What if your employer is able to match your contribution? Believe it or not, many workplaces match what their employees put into their respective 401k plans, which means that those men and women earn more money toward said plans. This accumulation of "free money," for lack of a better term, ensures that these individuals retire sooner in life. If you feel like you're not receiving this benefit, ask your employer to learn more.
You should also resist dipping into the money in your 401k plan, as it can have many negative consequences. First, you will be penalized for taking money out, meaning that you'll have to make a payment on top of what you've withdrawn. Second, you will reduce progress made from a retirement saving standpoint. While it's understandable that someone may fall on hard financial times, taking money out of the 401k is an absolute last resort.
To wrap things up, and to help you truly maximize your 401k, review the plan in question at the end of each year. This will provide you with an opportunity to evaluate the progress you've made up until that point. It may also encourage you to make any financial changes that you see fit. If you feel like more money can be invested without hampering your day-to-day responsibilities, this should be considered. The more thorough your review is, the more you stand to gain from it.
According to authorities on finance like Robert Jain, you should contribute more to your 401k with every pay raise you receive. While you don't have to contribute your entire raise to each month's savings, the truth is that a little more can go a long way. This is especially true if you remember that a 401k has to be built over the course of several years. Don't let your raises go to waste; invest them wisely in this plan.
What if your employer is able to match your contribution? Believe it or not, many workplaces match what their employees put into their respective 401k plans, which means that those men and women earn more money toward said plans. This accumulation of "free money," for lack of a better term, ensures that these individuals retire sooner in life. If you feel like you're not receiving this benefit, ask your employer to learn more.
You should also resist dipping into the money in your 401k plan, as it can have many negative consequences. First, you will be penalized for taking money out, meaning that you'll have to make a payment on top of what you've withdrawn. Second, you will reduce progress made from a retirement saving standpoint. While it's understandable that someone may fall on hard financial times, taking money out of the 401k is an absolute last resort.
To wrap things up, and to help you truly maximize your 401k, review the plan in question at the end of each year. This will provide you with an opportunity to evaluate the progress you've made up until that point. It may also encourage you to make any financial changes that you see fit. If you feel like more money can be invested without hampering your day-to-day responsibilities, this should be considered. The more thorough your review is, the more you stand to gain from it.
About the Author:
Get in touch with Bob Jain if you would like additional advice regarding what you have just read.. Check here for free reprint license: 4 Pointers Related To Your 401K Provided By Bob Jain.
No comments:
Post a Comment