8 Factors that Determine Your Final 401(k) Balance

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Stock market and bank performance and fraud. I did all of the above and had a significant amount of money sitting in what appeared to be a well-diversified and safe portfolio when I retired in January 2008. Six months later, my 401K was down by 40% and it certainly hasn't recovered. Accumulation over the long term can go away very quickly. There is no such thing as a truly safe asset allocation in todays highly volitile market controlled by a wealthy few unless you cash every thing out and hide it in a box. Even that won't work because the government will take a hefty sum through taxes.

johnrt of LA 10:54PM April 30, 2010

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Hotels Munster of 5:24AM April 07, 2010

I started my daughter on a ROTH-IRA as soon as she began working at 16. The first few years she did not make very much maybe $1000 a year, so not much could be purchased --- 25 shares of McDonalds (MCD), 35 shares of Coke (KO), etc. I matched whatever she made up to the federal limit of $5000. One year she only made $800. Well, she is graduating college this May and now has over $11,000 and she is 21. Those stock purchases are set up so that dividends are automatically reinvested. Can you imagine what they will be worth in 40 years when she is getting ready to retire?

TJ of VA 9:31PM March 26, 2010

I did start save in my 401k, my Roth IRA in my 25 when I started my job.
I am starting 10%+5% match from my company for 5 years, later I bumped it up 15% in my 31. Now at 36, I've seen the consistency paying off.
As of right now, My 401k is 101,000.00 . My Roth IRA is 22500.00. My cash on hand is 30,000.00. I am debt free except my mortgage. I am not show off but if I can do it, so anyone can. I start my career in 1997. But I started contributing 401k in 1998. Even in tech bust in 2000-2001, the credit crisis. I did well with my investment. the matter is keep consistent and learn how the market work to change when condition change.

Hd Nguyen of TX 12:16AM March 23, 2010