401K investing suggestions

[EXJAY]

im about to enroll into a 401k plan at work where they match

2 for every 3$ put in. im only going to start out with a 5%

deduction for starters but what would you suggest as far as

what to invest in and what percent, agressive, long term...?

thanks for any advice.

[gave20]

You'll get all kinds of opinions on this one. What I personally do is invest x% up to what the company will match. Then I have other money I invest into my own mutual funds as Roth IRA's most of these are agressive growth but have a 5 star morningstar rating and also have good growth over 5 years of the life of the fund. I also have stocks and plain mutal funds that I keep for liquid. I plan on staying with agressive growth stock till I reach 45-50 then the last 5 years of work I'll convert everything to bond funds to keep a steady 4-6% return. I also keep an eye on good bond funds some funds have a very impressive return so they shouldn't be overlooked. The items I listed above are the reasons why I don't not invest a large percentage into my 401K becasue they simply do not have the options like I can get on my own.

[tmf6902]

right now I have just 5% going into my 401k, but that's because my fiance is in school and doesn't really have a good money making job, as soon as she does I am going to put as much as I can in. I have all mine going into long term investments....I am definaltly not an expert by any means, but I do know that a 401k is one of the best investments out there, because your not being taxed on it when you put it in, and the company matches it. But its also a long term and I am pretty sure you get blasted if you take money out of it early. Like I said I am no expert, but I have always been told to put as much as I can in it....but by saying that I don't mean it should be your only investment.

[Shaners]

I work for GE and they will match me $0.50 on the dollar for my investments.

 

Currently I'm taking a chance and I've pulled all my other company investments and put them in GE stock, and I'm putting both my $ and the company $ into stock also...

 

I'm young enough (40 years old) that I feel I can take a chance on a large "Blue Chip" that has consistantly returned good numbers. As long as the stock prices stay low (I'm trying to buy quantity), I will stay like this...

 

When the stock prices rise again hoefully, I will leave my portfolio alone except for the fact that I will most like switch the matching company money back to either long term or mutual funds.

[RyanbabZ71]

I am with fidelity (what company are you going with?) and I put in 10% of each paycheck plus 6% company matched. Id definitely say dont stay in 1 fund. I have mine spread out and I have made a decent amount since July when i started

[Kenneth_400ex_z71]

stocks are great if you can find the right one..

 

my aunt put 2 hundred dollars in for me when i was born in 86 .. in 99 there was 17,+++ dollars... its not in there anymore though.. but when i turn 18 you know where most of my money is going... hehe

[Lance Link]

I'm in Fidelity as well- my company offers any fund within Fidelity, Vanguard or TIAA/Cref, and they will double my contribution up to 5%. So, if I put 5% in they will contribute 10%. We have an excellent plan.

 

I moved everything I had into the Fidelity Ginnie Mae fund in early 2000 and kept it there until earlier this year. In March I gradually started moving back into equities again and by August I was 100% back in stocks. Currently, I have roughly 30% in the Blue Chip Growth Fund, 40% in the Aggressive Asset Manager (fund of funds), and 30% in the Overseas Fund (x-Japan) and I'm up over 24% for the year so far.

 

I also have a Roth that I sort of dabble with- I buy stocks on my own. Not exactly day trading but close.

[Z71GUY]

Another with Fidelity. My company matches dollar for dollar up to 6% of my paycheck...I currently invest 6%. I have mine broke up into (4) sections...all ranging from risky to very mild. Doing ok so far... (fingers crossed)

[LarryE]

Mine is through National Life.. I put in 3% and the company matches it so thats 6% total.

[seadoons]

My company has theirs through JP Morgan/Chase, and I also put 5% in. I am only 22, so I am invested in about 95% stocks.