401k-investments

This short book covered more than I thought it would, a must read if you are considering a 401k plan or are ready to retire.

Ms. Rowland does a great job answering just about every question imaginable when it comes to dealing with your 401K plan. There is advice for getting started,switching jobs, planning beneficiaries, actually retiring, taking loans out against your 401k...everything. The book is written in a series of 2 page articles she lists as "steps" so if you want to skip around you can. While a little of the material is dated as a result of the recent tax changes, it is mostly in regards to amounts an individual is able to contribute. I felt I was fairly knowledgeable on this topic before I started reading but I found it pretty interesting and worth the time.

This book is excellent! She explains, in-depth and in easy to understand language, exactly what a 401(k) plan is and how to use it to plan for retirement. Her book clearly explains the role of the 401(k) in retirement.

these series of books are always goodin my opinion. this one took the often tedious confusing facts and presented everything in an easy format to read

with all the IDIOTS guides easy to read format, this book provides an in depth look at 401K issues that may have otherwise been much drier if not done in this fun format. when i finished thebook, i lent it to my staff, who are first time 401K investors. i would say that this is a must buy for anyone who feels they are intimidated with 'what to do?' or 'what does this mean?' type of questions.

I wish I had read this book years ago when I started with a company that offered a savings plan. I think this book could have helped me save and make more money in my 401(k).

This book is very useful and practical. It defines the terms for all the parts of and the key documents relating to your 401(k) or savings plan. It also lists lots of useful resources and websites.

I also like that this book is easy to read and has lots of interesting stories from the authors experience helping people. This is not a dry, dull book. The author has a fun, easy style that helped keep my interest.

Crista Boyles does a great job in helping people to become more aware of their financial options and decisions they can and need to make in her book, "Enron Proof Your 401(k): Steps to Keep Your Money Safe". I have felt for a while now that I needed to educate myself in order to enable me to make healthy decisions
regarding my finances in general and particularly in regards to my 401k. Reading this book is a GREAT starting place to becomming informed about the options an individual has in regards to making important financial decisions.

After hearing great reviews regarding Ms Boyles work and regrettfully missing out on an opportunity to attend one of her workshops, I aquired her book. I was so excited that I read several chapters in it that night and continued reading every spare moment I had. It is very easy reading with very useful information. With the information learned from this book I will be able to make better decisions that in the long run that will benefit my future.

In any case, I'm revising the book right now. And I would welcome any comments. Warren Boroson

January 6th 2002 Barron's chooses "Protect Your 401(k)"
one of "Best Investment Books of 2002"

With an eye toward investor safety in the wake of last year's corporate scandals the editors at Barron's have singled out "Protect Your 401(k)", by Larry Chambers and Ken Ziesenheim as one of the best books of the year for reducing portfolio risk and safeguarding investments.

"Investing is an art where gut calls and vague feelings can play a pivotal role", says Jay Palmer, editor of Barron's annual guide to books on investing. "But it's also a science of...numbers and...techniques that can be learned. This year we looked through more than 300 books and have chosen "The Ultimate Safe Money Guide", by Martin Weiss and "Protect Your 401(k) by Larry Chambers and Ken Ziesenheim. Both offer nuts-and-bolts advice on how to protect retirement money. Anyone nearing retirement should read one or both of these books."

This book is an easy to read, easy to understand guide for those people interested in their retirement - and who isn't? With all the myriad of articles and books on the market, this book will guide you to the most important points to understand about planning for your retirement.

Read it!

I read You and Your 401(k) cover to cover in one sitting and loved it. This book gives me hope and direction. I recommend it to everyone with a 401(k).

Current for 2003, Your 401(k) Handbook is an invaluable and "user friendly" instructional guide to investment decisions for employees which authoritatively covers the basic fiscal rules for taking charge of one's 401(k) plan and making personal savings grow. From basic rules such as "diversify" and "ignore fads" to the advantages of a 401(k) including flexibility and tax deferment of contributions to learning how to evaluate investment options and view how they are doing and much more, Your 401(k) Handbook is an extensively detailed financial handbook written especially to be accessible to non-specialist general readers of all experience levels ranging from the novice to the more experienced wage earner in the constantly changing world of finance.

A very good overview - but by no means an in depth survey - of establishing and maintaining a defined contribution or benefit plan for a company.

Covered are the compliance issues, changes and ammendments to ERISA, and detail on plan distributions.

Not the only book to have on the pension industry - but if you work in the field, one to include in your pension library!

Author Butler is famous for the "Butler Index," which shows the hidden costs of having your 401k managed by the wrong people. Because he is not selling anything, unlike many others in the pension advice field, his advice is reliable. Well written and "two thumbs up" for this walking "consumer reports of 401k."

The author and the organization did a great job of covering the topic, however. The however is that it should be disclosed that much has changed in the qualified plan area, tax law changes and such, that effects this books revelance. I would encourage a update - or encourage readers to buy another book. Avoid this title until it is updated. This is not a place to be behind the curve.

I remember during my first job after graduating, our HR rep was telling me about my company's 401K plan and how good it is compared to others given the plan options and company match and boy did I turn a deaf ear to her! Like many new graduates I was just happy to get the paycheck and had no clue about retirement plans and IRAs. The older wiser employees used to talk about 401K during lunch etc and I wouldn't know what the hell they are talking about. I did figure out that it is something 'good' and everyone is ought to enroll.

I finally went to the bookstore and picked this book (at random). It turned out to be a life saver. It clearly explains what actually 401 plans are and how they work. It did not assume any previous knowledge on the subject. The book talks about the legal aspects of the plan as well and ofcourse how the employees can take advantage of this. You will clearly understand pre-tax deductions, company match, taxes relevant to 401K, what plan administrator is, what kind of different plan options are out there etc.

Most importantly it gives you an idea as to how you can set financial goals for your retirement and based on that and your age now how much you should contribute to your plan. There are many other facts about 401K covered such as taking a loan out of your 401 if you want to buy a house for instance. Ofcourse there are some 'penalties' associated with it and the book does a great job explaining those.

After reading this book I realized how important it is to enroll ASAP in 401K plan coz why the hell you'd want to miss out on $ for $ company match. Its literally free money for god sake!

This book does a great job of handling the task of explaining 401k investment options, asset allocations, and 401k distributions. The sample asset allocations for different styles of investors are great examples. Unfortunately the book does not cover Roth IRAs as the book was published before Roths came out. Otherwise a great book.