Official Investing Thread

[SportsFromA2]

I put in the max my company allows me too...

...

You are able to contribute 1 - 75 percent of your compensation. You may change this election at any time.

which is why I have no idea what to do, lol. I think 75% might be a little much, so I guess I need to budget out my life to figure out how much I can afford and go from there? sounds like a PIA

[GF-22a]

No, I don't day trade at all. I pay attention to it on a daily basis though. I make less than 5 trades a month.

Do you use one of the Internet companies or a broker? Sorry if this stuff has been brought up before

[GF-22a]

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which is why I have no idea what to do, lol. I think 75% might be a little much, so I guess I need to budget out my life to figure out how much I can afford and go from there? sounds like a PIA

75%? Wow that might be hard to do . I'm allowed 18

[GF-22a]

I'm wondering if I should cut my 401 amount down and invest myself

[pGekko]

There's a limit (absolute dollars) that you can contribute per year ... I can't remember what it is. 18k or something like that.

[SportsFromA2]

75%? Wow that might be hard to do . I'm allowed 18

yeah I don't mind contributing 75% of vcash to my 401K but that's about it...

Plus there are pretty significant penalties for using your 401K early, IIRC.

it's like there are waaay to many unknowns to figure out how much to kiss away for the next ~40 years or so (you can't touch it until your 65 or something like that?).

[pGekko]

Do you use one of the Internet companies or a broker? Sorry if this stuff has been brought up before

I used to pay a broker, but I changed that about a year ago. I use Fidelity.

I actually use Fidelity for everything now (checking, brokerage, 401k). It's pretty convenient to have all of our money in one place.

I take that back, my wife has some secret BofA account that I don't know about. But almost all is in one place.

[GaryAngel]

On the 401K, unless you are in catch up mode (ie a older worker, which changes how much you can put in) there is usually a make amount that the employees of a company can contribute.

Here is a articale on how much you can contribute: http://www.money-zine.com/Financial-...tch-up-Limits/

Hope this helps.

[GF-22a]

There's a limit (absolute dollars) that you can contribute per year ... I can't remember what it is. 18k or something like that.

Really? I didn't know that (probably should). 18k isn't very very to some people

[pGekko]

yeah I don't mind contributing 75% of vcash to my 401K but that's about it...

Plus there are pretty significant penalties for using your 401K early, right?

it's like there are waaay to many unknowns to figure out how much to kiss away for the next ~40 years or so (you can't touch it until your 65?)

You should max out a ROTH IRA for sure Raj. You can take out your contributions (not the growth) without penalty.

Only issue with those are income limits. But I would max the IRA after you contribute to your 401k up to the match. If you still have money left over, I would personally invest it on my own. There's your strategy right there.

[GaryAngel]

I have two stock accounts. One is at MerrillLynch (retirement account all post tax, and I can call it quits at 55 if I want) the other is a scottrade account (play account).