Comments on: Are 401(k)s doomed? http://catstockblog.com/2009/01/are-401ks-doomed/ Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) stock news and links Sat, 19 May 2012 11:32:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: tom http://catstockblog.com/2009/01/are-401ks-doomed/#comment-59 tom Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:28:10 +0000 http://catstockblog.com/?p=548#comment-59 My 401k track record is nothing to boast about. I'd love to get in on some of this low-price action but I need to realistically plan on having enough cash to be unemployed for a year or so. My 401k track record is nothing to boast about.

I’d love to get in on some of this low-price action but I need to realistically plan on having enough cash to be unemployed for a year or so.

]]> By: Mahkno http://catstockblog.com/2009/01/are-401ks-doomed/#comment-58 Mahkno Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:29:08 +0000 http://catstockblog.com/?p=548#comment-58 I've read that 75% of mutual funds are dogs and do worse than the market as measured by the indexes. So... seeing as most 401ks are heavily dependent on using mutual funds you really have to wonder if depending on 401ks is a really good idea. Frontline on PBS did a good piece on retirement. It is a couple years old but is still very relevant today. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/view/ A good line from the show went like this. A guy asks some rich executive if he would let some low level guy manage his retirement portfolio. Naturally he said of course not, the low level man isn't remotely qualified. Followup question, then why do we expect employees to manage their 401ks? Additional notes... rich successful employees tend to have well managed 401ks. Low level, less educated, employees not so much. Watch the episode online, its good. I’ve read that 75% of mutual funds are dogs and do worse than the market as measured by the indexes. So… seeing as most 401ks are heavily dependent on using mutual funds you really have to wonder if depending on 401ks is a really good idea.

Frontline on PBS did a good piece on retirement. It is a couple years old but is still very relevant today.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/view/

A good line from the show went like this. A guy asks some rich executive if he would let some low level guy manage his retirement portfolio. Naturally he said of course not, the low level man isn’t remotely qualified. Followup question, then why do we expect employees to manage their 401ks?

Additional notes… rich successful employees tend to have well managed 401ks. Low level, less educated, employees not so much.

Watch the episode online, its good.

]]>