原文刊載在 fortune的網路版
我覺得還蠻淺顯易懂的
有興趣就看看吧
Age 2o's
Your conundrum:
Retirement isn't even on your radar. You're probably strategizing about retiring your debt instead. On average, 2007 graduates who took out student loans left college owing $20,000, according to the Project on Student Debt. Still, it's crucial to begin saving for retirement early. You should start funding your 401(k), then pay off your high-interest debt like credit card bills.
Shocking fact:
Nearly half of all twentysomethings with a 401(k) plan turn down free money by not contributing enough to receive the full company match.
Catch-up plan:
Start brown-bagging your lunch so that you can stop leaving cash on the table. For someone making $30,000 a year, setting aside $35 a week is all it takes to sock away 6% of your salary into a 401(k). That's the ceiling for a typical full employer match, which ranges from 50% to 100% of the amount you're saving.
Pitfalls:
Job-hopping. Many twentysomethings are tempted to pull out their 401(k) savings when switching gigs. "While $5,000 may not seem like a whole lot of money, if invested, that amount will be substantial by the time you retire," says Vanguard retirement research guru Ann Combs.
Bottom line:
Downturns are a boon for young investors. Anyone with a long investment horizon can afford to wait for recovery while scooping up stocks and mutual funds on the cheap. So get moving!
Age 30's
Your conundrum:
Enrolling in a plan isn't enough. Now is the time to start paying attention to how your money is being invested.
Shocking fact:
Some 40% of all 401(k) participants make investing mistakes that impede their portfolios' growth, according to a survey by investment advisor Financial Engines. Some skew too conservatively (for instance, relying heavily on bonds), while others court excessive risk by investing too narrowly in a single stock or asset class.
Catch-up plan:
Learn to love asset allocation. Gail Buckner, a retirement expert at Franklin Templeton, recommends mutual funds that combine stocks and bonds, giving you instant diversification and a cushion against big market drops; you'll have a manager rebalancing as needed.
Pitfalls:
Taxes. If you worry they'll be higher by the time you retire - or if you expect to be in a higher income-tax bracket by then - you can limit your exposure by taking advantage of a Roth feature in your 401(k) in which you pay taxes upfront and your investments grow tax-free.
Bottom line:
Fine-tuning your 401(k) portfolio to the appropriate mix of risk and growth takes hard work and diligence. Start managing your investments early - or pick the right people to do it for you - so you can reap rewards down the line.
Age 40's
Your conundrum:
Too many claims on your paycheck. Even though you're entering your peak earnings years, major expenses like college tuition loom. When the AARP recently asked workers why they didn't save more for retirement, 33% of 45- to 49-year-olds said they were saving for a child's education instead.
Shocking fact:
Only 10% of 401(k) participants in their 40s are saving the full amount allowed under the pretax IRS or plan ceiling. (Worse still: That paltry figure is actually the highest proportion among all age groups.)
Catch-up plan:
Max out your contribution: You're actually benefiting from the stock market's low prices. "Since the underlying investments that mutual funds own are on sale now, you can accumulate shares at a much more rapid pace," says Franklin Templeton's Buckner. Bonus: In 2009 the maximum allowable contribution is being raised to $16,500.
Pitfalls:
"You can get car loans, you can get college loans, but you can't get retirement loans," says Fidelity's Mike Doshier. So don't dip into your 401(k) for expenses.
Bottom line:
Save as much as you can. If your 401(k) is your main bet for retirement, your savings (including the company match) should equal at least 10% of your income, says Vanguard's Combs.
Age 50's
Your conundrum:
A badly battered nest egg. The market will probably rebound before you retire, but how do you make sure you're protected against another downturn?
Shocking fact:
Seemingly seasoned investors still make rookie mistakes. Given the option, 40% of 401(k) participants in their 50s keep more than 20% of their savings in unrestricted company stock. That's a dangerous snare for anyone, but even more so for people nearing retirement.
Catch-up plan:
Once you hit 50, you're allowed to make catchup contributions. Starting in 2009, you can put away an extra $5,500 into your 401(k) every year (raising the ceiling to a total of $22,000 per year). Fewer than 20% of eligible participants take advantage of that option, according to Vanguard, even though it can be a big boost to savings in the home stretch.
Pitfalls:
Getting caught in a bear market. Create a cash cushion within your 401(k) so you aren't forced to sell stocks if you retire into a downturn. Charles Schwab's Dean Kohmann recommends shifting 5% to 10% of your balance into short-term bonds or cash vehicles two years before you plan to retire.
Bottom line:
Most 401(k) investors tend to leave their portfolios on autopilot. But in the decade before retirement, it's more important than ever to make sure you're controlling for risk and positioning your portfolio to ride out any rough patches.
Age 60's
Your conundrum:
Retire later or retire on less? That is the dilemma facing 401(k) investors whose savings have shrunk so drastically so late in the game. Prepare to adjust your expectations and your game plan.
Shocking fact:
More than half (55%) of workers over the age of 60 say they will probably postpone retirement, according to a recent AARP survey. Even more shocking: 68% of fiftysomethings and 70% of fortysomethings said they were likely to work longer than they had planned.
Catch-up plan:
Stay on the job. Working a few extra years can vastly improve your prospects: You can cover expenses, add to savings, and give your portfolio time to rebound.
Pitfalls:
Sticking to your pre-2008 expectations. If you've already retired, rethink your budget. Also, look for ways to postpone withdrawals. One option: Start Social Security early (you're eligible at 62), even though it will mean a smaller monthly check.
Bottom line:
Plan for longevity - and for inflation. That means keeping a portion of your portfolio in equities even after retirement.
其實呢
畢竟401K是有相當的風險的
保守投資在債卷上可能無法打敗通膨
但是遇上股票崩盤也很傷腦筋
不過無論如何
提前考慮到退休後的生活總是有利無害
大家互相勉勵吧
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