401k-investments Books

I never saved much because I didn't believe my small savings could make any difference and I never knew what to do with my money. Read this book to learn why saving is key and time (and compound interest!) are your best friends. The book also suggests money allocation strategies as you get nearer to your goals.

If you are looking at a quick, easy way to learn about 401(k) plans, then pick this up.

Knute Iwaszko does a good job of simply describing what it takes have a successful 401(k) plan. Through "Knutes Knotes" and good commentary, novices to retirement plans will benefit and enjoy. The moral of the book is save as early and as much as you can. As an added bonus, Knute demystifies some of those investing terms that many of us are afraid to ask about.

I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who is knowledgable with 401(k) plans and investing. This book will just be filled with obvious common sense for them. I feel like I knew a decent amount, and still feel like I took a good deal of information out of it.

Your retirement just may depend upon it.

I write as a retired individual who started investing toward the end of my career. When I was young I was advised to save $20 a month, but to someone who was earning $27.50 a week it was not in the cards. Much later when my company came out with a plan to match up to 10% of my contribution I started saving. Unfortunately travel enticed me more and I routinely dipped into these funds. With all of this, I was still, in retrospect and un-knowingly, following his plan. It does work. Too bad for me, that I did not have sufficient discipline and was not satisfied with reading about "Far-away Places". All in all, everything worked out for the best. Give it a chance and you will be very pleased with the results. Way to go Knute!

Like a good diet or fitness book, The 401(k) Millionaire is a terrific inspiration to get started now, not just saving for retirement but working your money smart. Iwaszko makes it really hard to resist finally getting serious about your 401(k)--I guess because he's got a million good reasons why you should! In fact, excuse me, I need to go max out right now. The 401(k) "makeovers" in the book may be the best part about it. Totally worthwhile read.

In Coming Up Short: The Challenge Of 401(k) Plans, co-authors Alica H. Munnell and Annika Sunden collaborate in exploring the emergence and impact of 401(k) plans, the fastest-growing type of employer-sponsored pensions, with respect to the American public and national economics. Written with an especial eye toward the risks and challenges of a post-Enron scandal nation, Coming Up Short covers the special case of company stock, leakages from 401(k) plans, withdrawing from 401(k) funds at retirement, how to make pension plans do their job, and much more. Researched in-depth and filled with charts and graphs revealing its findings, Coming Up Short is a highly practical resource for not only financial service professionals, students and policymakers, but also lay individuals planning their own retirement. Highly recommended.

In this concise volume, the authors first lay out a bleak assessment of the future of private retirement funding in the United States, and then provide a clear roadmap to reform with straightforward remedies that will lead to better funding and more secure futures for retirees. This is not a diatribe against 401(k) plans, but rather a clear explanation of the shortcomings both in current law and in the strategies (or lack thereof) employed by individuals in such retirement savings vehicles. A good choice for an anyone with a 401 K plan, a great choice for anyone interested in the public policy of retirement.

Dire predictions over the future of social security divert attention from a more immediate reality. The fact is that social security benefits only replace about forty percent of pre-retirement earnings for the average worker retiring at sixty-five. Future retirees, our current generation of baby boomers, will need to develop other sources of reliable income to maintain their standard of living. The obvious supplemental program for workers atempting to build wealth is the voluntary 401(k) salary reduction plan. Technically this is a "defined contribution" plan, different from a defined "benefit" plan, with greater potential to accumulate wealth. Unfortunately a quarter of eligible workers fail to sign-up for it. Many do not begin to seriously save until they are fifty. Fewer than ten percent contribute to their maximum permitted level. And those who do contribute make basic investment errors at every step of the way according to the authors.

Among the authors' other findings:

Many employees expose themselves to excessive risk by aggressively stuffing their plans with their company stock. A misplaced sense of worker loyalty or a desire to emulate the success of their corporate leaders may partially explain why participants ignore the first rule of risk reduction, diversification. On the other hand a recent study concluded that twenty-eight percent of all participants had no stock exposure despite the undisputed historical outperformance of stocks over bonds.

Few employees buy an annuity with their plan assets. But an annuity contract addresses the biggest risk faced by retirees, namely that they will outlive their nest egg. It is telling that the main purchasers of annuities are large sponsors of defined benefit pension plans whose paramount purpose is to guarantee retirees a life-long stream of income. Surrendering control of a significant sum of money after years of accumulation is a wrenching decision. The choice of an annuity is particularly difficult for those who believe they are skilled at managing their money or who want to maximize their bequests once they pass on. Retirees may also fear extraordinary healthcare expenses that would not be covered by an annuity. My guess, however, is that participants who have never considered an annuity might be swayed here to consider a partial commitment to one.

The authors see the need for a set of default choices based on sound financial planning experience that addresses each of the shortcomings they discuss. Participants overwhelmed by their options need some structured simplicity in the process. These are choices that can be confirmed or declined. Workers can only benefit from more professional guidance and education, but employers should not risk liability if the desired investment results are not achieved. COMING UP SHORT has a grasp of the current research on its subject and clearly (albeit dryly) outlines the issues. Experienced financial planners will find this book sobering but will not likely be surprised by its findings. Policy makers will find this a balanced and objective study. Lastly, 401(k) participants who just skim it will be motivated to do more on their own behalf.

The authors, currently academic economists, trace and bemoan the demise of traditional defined benefit pension plans and make the case that 401(k) plans, which have significantly supplanted the "DB plan" on the employee benefit plan menu, will not, without a number of changes, adequately take the DB plan's place in providing retirement income for an important number of today's American workers. Citing a broad range of studies and the developing literature on 401(k) plans, the book explains in a workmanlike way the legal underpinnings of 401(k) plans (accurately enough for the authors' purposes), how 401(k) plans might operate, in theory and, most importantly, how they seem to operate in practice. (I say "seem" because, as the authors point out more than once, good data is hard to come by.) There is a large gap.

That is, there is a gap between what 401(k) plans could, theoretically, provide in the way of retirement income and what it looks like they will in fact provide. Employees (and, it is fair to say, employers) don't contribute enough to 401(k) plans in the first place. Employees, who are almost invariably asked to decide how to invest their 401(k) plan accounts, don't invest wisely. (In the case of investments in "Company Stock," the employer's own stock, employees often aren't even given the chance to invest wisely.) Finally, at the end of the road, premature withdrawals and the failure to annuitize account balances means that the opportunity to maximize what there is of the 401(k) plan's retirement benefit potential is often squandered. The discussion of annuitization, that is, the conversion of a single sum account balance into a fixed stream of income for life, may be the most useful material in the book.

Although the Munnell and Sunden offer several suggestions for "reform" of the pension system ("change" would have been a more appropriate word to use here), they conclude that their real goal is "to stimulate a debate that we hope will generate other ideas and options." To the extent that the book accomplishes this purpose it will be useful. However, long on data and data analysis and short on thought provoking discussion, I'm not sure that's going to happen.

Another difficulty I have is that I uncertain who is going to read "Coming Up Short." What's the market? It is certainly not written for the typical employee who wants practical information that he or she can use in understanding and making the most of his (or her) employer's 401(k) plan. (Not that we need another book on that subject right now.) Moreover, the politicians, bureaucrats and other inside players in the employee benefit plan game -- actuaries, accountants, lawyers, consultants, record keepers and the financial industry, primarily mutual funds and insurance companies -- are already well aware of the shortcomings of 401(k) plans as retirement plans. After all, neither by law are 401(k) plans required, nor by employer choice and design (except in rare instances) are they intended, to be retirement plans. The challenge for those of us who are interested in pension or retirement income politics is to first take one step backward and to acknowledge that 401(k) plans are not retirement plans.

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.

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."

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!

I didn't think reading about money/investing could ever be this fun or interesting. Straight talk and clear definitions for all the finance jargon.

Great book, lays it all out in terms I can understand. I started investing based on this book, and I refer to it often.

I bought this for my daughter, who is taking this a college course.
She seems to be happy with it. She asked for this book it as the instructor told her she needed it for the class. Sorry I can't give you more info but I am sure it's a good book.

Kathy in Las Vegas

I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.

I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.

I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.

I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.

I usually throw away the material from my human resource department about benefits because it's so difficult to understand. On the other hand, this book really helped me to decide how much money I should be contributing to my 401(k) plan and how to choose my allocations. This is a useful book for all employees with 401(k) plans.

Written for investing novices, this book explains and clarifies the details of investing in a 401(k) plan. It was very useful when I set up my 401(k) account for the first time, and has subsequently come in handy as a reference guide when questions arose.

My only small complaint is that at times the material was "dumbed down" a little too much, and the author used generalizations rather than delve into some of the specifics of investing for retirement.

Saving money for retirement is not always easy, knowing where to put your money is perhaps complex with so many options. Depending on your situation, you can choose a plan with various tax consequences. Understanding the options is the first step towards a financially secure retirement.

This step-by-step guide will bring more understanding to the question of how to build a nest egg. The important principles of retirement plan investing are set out in a uncomplicated way. There are practical explanations to help you make sense of the legal and financial restrictions and opportunities. Charts show a visual representation of where you stand now and explain how you can reach your goals.

Will Social Security be enough to live on? According to the American Association of Retired Persons, Social Security benefits will replace 43% of the income you earn during the year before you retire. This income will also not protect you against inflation, so it is wise to plan for your own future.

Did you know there is a way to withdraw money from an IRA without penalty before you officially retire? See page 18. You might also want to consider an education IRA which is not a retirement account, but a vehicle to help pay for a grandchild's education. This handy book shows if you are eligible and what the contribution limits are.

While the information on taxes is comprehensive, you will still want to consult with a professional before making any final decisions. Some of the tax laws might have changed slightly from this edition but overall, the information will make you more aware of the choices you should consider to make the most of your money.

~The Rebecca Review

The great 401(k) hoax has a long-term view that is very sobering and that people must pay attention to. The public has been told that they will do best if they take care of their own pension plans -- this saves corporations billions of dollars!

The Title of the book states "Why your family is at risk, what you can do about it?" After nearly 188 pages on the first part of this phrase, the authors talk about "stillwater" investing which seems to be "random walk" by another name. The authors complain loudly and convincingly (with some irritants mentioned by other reviewers), but I'd have expected similar vigor and greater clarity in listing out the solutions....disappointed.

This intelligent book lays out some startling truths for babyboomers about to retire --mamany of them have only a small stake in the stockmarket because their incomes may not have been particularly high and they will only have a tiny portion of what they will need later in their lives. It's a wake-up call to reinvent themselves and work longer, find more interesting work and keep bringing in income.

I have been reading a lot of books lately regarding investments and finances. This book trips itself up on some kind of a political agenda (I have yet to figure out if the authors were trying to smear Republicans, Democrats, or both), so much so that I was completely distracted by what the authors had to say and quit reading after a few chapters. The political jabs were distracting and they made the authors seem less credible. The book had too much of a "doomsday/completely hopeless future" feel to it, it almost was painful to read, it made me squirm inside!
There are many books out there that can offer a lot more help (and hope) than this one, if you are looking to secure your financial future.

Like several other reviewers who I should have read first, I found myself seeing a loooong stretch to this book's short stack of information and too much snarky cereal filler. You'll be angry, trust me.

Must have family who edited the thing and printed it.

Written by the top officer of Entrust, whose business is to manage self directed IRAs, this book is not to be taken as an objective analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of buying real estate within a self directed IRA. Although never actually lying (I'm sure Entrust's attorneys made sure of that), it avoids the topic of fees and lack of control, that are involved in maintaining any real estate investment within an IRA. It also doesn't mention any of the costs of setting up an LLC with one or more members. Setting up an LLC is a likely scenario and was, in fact, recommended to me, by Entrust. Buying real estate within an IRA is very different than doing the same investment outside of an IRA. Given the fees involved with this type of investment, what would be the minimum investment recommended to absorb these fees/costs and still realize an acceptable return? No answers here. Examples of returns are unrealistic in today's more normal market conditions. The author does make some good points, and the concept is really great. But buyer beware. I was so disappointed to come to the conclusion that buying a $350K investment property, using the required non-recourse loan with a higher rate, and setting up an LLC with 2 members (the bank and my IRA) was too complicated and restrictive. This book is an excellent starting point, but the drawbacks either aren't mentioned, nor fully addressed. Basically, the author is selling. Remember what he does for a living. Get your highlighter out and read carefully!