Anyone else worried about their 401k?

F8LBITEva

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I've got a nice little chunk sitting with Fidelity that I contribute to through work. With the economy the way it is I'm afraid it could start to drop like it did a few years ago. I've got more than a years salary in there and I don't trust the banks. What would you guys do to protect your investment?
 

VirtualSVT

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What kind of returns are you currently getting now? What kind of options do they give you to control it?

Can you afford to lose it?
 

F8LBITEva

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Its roughly 3% returns. I contribute a lot or else I owe taxes. I've never attempted to change anything, I just let the guy that handles our accounts do whatever.
 

VirtualSVT

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I managed my last 401 through at&t online and I threw it all in risky ventures and made a good bit. And I got in on the Ford stock crash.

In all honesty call the guy that handles your accounts and ask about more aggressive options.
 

SteveChris

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i kept my contributions the same but took the existing cash and transferred it into a stable fund.
i think the dow is a bit high right now, hasn't been a correction in awhile.
i'll transfer it all back once it blows over.
 

Willie2

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what would I do to protect my investment?

leave it in there.

don't be scared by falling returns because guess what, it works in cycles. if something costs $100 today but drops to $50 tomorrow....I look at it like this, if I keep contributing the same amount I did when it was $100 I'll get double. then when the market cycles back around i'll be in great shape because I bought it for $50.

How old are you? if you are about to retire you need to be stable with your money. If you are young you can be a little more risky and chance getting very high returns. you need to sit down with your administrator.
 

Drive XR7

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I was +12% in 2012. That's low. A buddy was +18% because he didn't have as much in international funds as I did.

Rediversify and refund in the higher yielding funds.
 

Willie2

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I was +12% in 2012. That's low. A buddy was +18% because he didn't have as much in international funds as I did.

Rediversify and refund in the higher yielding funds.

really? International have always been one of my best performers. A little more risky though. If you had a bad year last year....expect a turnaround this year..

maybe.
 

jbs$

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It is time to look at inflation hedges, stocks with hard asset bases that will hold value.
 

Drive XR7

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really? International have always been one of my best performers. A little more risky though. If you had a bad year last year....expect a turnaround this year..

maybe.

International took a beating in 2011. I got only 3% return from them after 2012. Over 5 years, -5-8%. Awful. I hope Greece and the other EU countries get their shit together, or we'll in for some deep trouble.
 

Willie2

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International took a beating in 2011. I got only 3% return from them after 2012. Over 5 years, -5-8%. Awful. I hope Greece and the other EU countries get their shit together, or we'll in for some deep trouble.

good point, I forgot about all that Greece and EU stuff.

Sometimes it's better to play dumb.

I guess it also depends on your administrator. My old 401k was with a large company so they may of had more analyists.
 

ford fanatic

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I'm with Fedelity also, when the market was coming up from it's last "crash", I put everything into the Fixed Income Fund when the Dow hit 13000. I continued to buy my regular funds though. When the market crashes again, I will destribute my fixed income funds into different investments and watch it grow...
 

Willie2

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I'm with Fedelity also, when the market was coming up from it's last "crash", I put everything into the Fixed Income Fund when the Dow hit 13000. I continued to buy my regular funds though. When the market crashes again, I will destribute my fixed income funds into different investments and watch it grow...

that's one thing with 401k's. you cant change your contributions hourly.

daily at best.
 

ON D BIT

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Its only a loss if you take it out. If your looking at retiring in the next couple years, one may want hedge your 401k and place it in a slow steady investment.

If your still 10+ years away from retirement, I would leave it alone. Maybe even stop contributions, and double up when and if the bottom does fall. Use your money to Buy Low!:idea:


I am actually more worried about executive orders allowing the government to take 401k's to pay off this insane spending. I would not put it past potus to say he needs our retirement to fund ss, medicaid, and medicare.
 
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Crimson2v

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Its only a loss if you take it out. If your looking at retiring in the next couple years, one may want hedge your 401k and place it in a slow steady investment.

If your still 10+ years away from retirement, I would leave it alone. Maybe even stop contributions, and double up when and if the bottom does fall. Use your money to Buy Low!:idea:


I am actually more worried about executive orders allowing the government to take 401k's to pay off this insane spending. I would not put it past potus to say he needs our retirement to fund ss, medicaid, and medicare.

If the government takes my 401k they better gaurantee a nice retirement for myself, just like they get.
 

CobraBob

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Diversify your portfolio to lessen the odds of a big hit. That and being more conservative with your investments. Higher risk investments could pay bigger dividends, but they also come with that higher risk. As I near retirement age, my portfolio is more conservative. I like it that way. I also make it a point to sit with my financial adviser each Spring to review my portfolio, review my current and future needs, and make adjustments accordingly. Some review/make changes on a more frequent basis. My adviser is pretty sharp and she does alert me if she feels it is time for more changes.
 

AAG

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Nope, not worried. I had almost a 25% return on mine last year and I always keep an eye on it. If the stock market starts to drop again, ill move money around to stable funds and bonds until I feel comfortable moving it back.
 

VegasMichael

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If you are worried about a loss in your 401k equity account just transfer some/all into one of the Fidelity cash accounts. No, you won't make anything, but you stated you were worried about preservation.
 

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