Check your 401k's

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 10:33 AM
  #1  
Modsquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
10-Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Default Check your 401k's

Well, checked in on the 401k to find it down 29.1%....that's a nice chunk of change that just evaporated into thin air. I'm having my friend that works for a financial institution look into all the funds I can invest in with my 401k & give me some advice to see if I can minimize my losses from here on out. I know this is going to affect some people severely & push back retirement dates....makes me want to lynch all the white collar crooks that shaft us regular Joe's. Although I wish I'd started saving when I was younger, at least I don't have a huge amount invested already, so although my losses suck, I'm sure there are others out there way worse off than I am.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 10:38 AM
  #2  
2002_z28_m6's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Central MA
Default

Well if your not going to retire soon when the marker recovers you should have a descent chunk of change. If you think about it now is the time to invest because when stock are low its like they are on sale and you buy them cheap and they go up. So I hope when all of this goes up we will make some $$$$.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 10:45 AM
  #3  
Deerhunter-Z28's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Default

I've only had my 401k for a few years, since I was 25, but i guess I'm not really worried since I'm 25+ years from retirement.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 10:46 AM
  #4  
Stroked96Bowtie's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Tx
Default

Yep 30% drop is about the average Im hearing for 401k loss...Im invensted in mostly stocks but not retiring soon so I will wait it out.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 10:47 AM
  #5  
Modsquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
10-Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Default

Yea, but I'm already invested in the aggressive funds which took a hit, so in essence, the amount of shares my fund owns won't change, just their value, so maybe they will come back, maybe they won't. That's why I'm asking him, because he knows way more than me, and the guys he works for are brokers. He works at Meryl Lynch....which just got bought out, lol....the financial world is going nuts man!
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
A-Dub's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 835
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
Default

Unless you plan to retire in 5 years, leave your existing investments alone, they will recover. You guarantee a loss selling low.

If you have free cash, buy buy buy!
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 11:17 AM
  #7  
ZONES89RS's Avatar
In-Zane Moderator
15 Year Member
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,941
Likes: 33
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

I work for the state, i have a separate retirement and a 401K is optional, you make me glad i did not do the 401K.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 11:22 AM
  #8  
SSilverSSurfer's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,182
Likes: 0
From: College Station/Pasadena
Default

agreed if you don't need it now don't touch it, same thing happened to my friends dad and he lost 90k, that's a big hit so he is now looking into ira's and although it's only roughly 4% gain a year it's better to have a guarantee of making money then to lose 90k just like that. He was retired and then recently went back to work, fast money has alot of good info
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 12:35 PM
  #9  
ProjecT 9's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Default

I don't even want to think about how much money I've lost. But if I pull out now the money I lost is gone. If I stay in, the market will turn around eventually and I'll have the option to make my money back.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 12:46 PM
  #10  
djjab57's Avatar
TECH Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

i would just make sure your money is spread out over the market, they dont have it all in one or two investments people put there whole life saving in one market (enron for example) and when it went so did there money. but like most said it should recover
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 03:27 PM
  #11  
Modsquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
10-Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Default

I am going to put all my future contributions into our 'conservative' fund, while leaving my existing contributions alone....investing for retirement should be for the long term. So yea, we shouldn't be doing any knee-jerk decision making....just bums me out at the domino affect caused by all the deceptive practices. All the ******* moron mortgage companies lending money to people without even getting proof of income....geez, never saw that biting anyone on the ***?
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 05:19 PM
  #12  
CySevans's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, TX
Default

It's not a loss until you sell. The market will rebound. Just don't look at it. Change your contributions, but I wouldn't move anything around right now. That's selling low and buying high. Now is the time to buy, not sell.

I must be lucky (or well diversified). I'm only down ~21% year over year.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 05:26 PM
  #13  
bmxer8699's Avatar
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: dfw
Default

roth IRA @ age 19.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 05:33 PM
  #14  
Modsquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
10-Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Default

Originally Posted by bmxer8699
roth IRA @ age 19.
Wish someone would have taught me about finances & saving at that age. Keep it up!
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 08:21 PM
  #15  
Greed4Speed's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Worth-ish
Default

I'm not too worried about it. I have a 401K but I don't really expect to be able to fully retire anyway. If I do great, if not I won't be suprised. I definately don't expect to get anything out of SS.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2008 | 04:48 PM
  #16  
BLWNLT1_T/A's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

Well mine is down 32.5% ... Don't plan to retire soon so i will wait it out...
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2008 | 05:14 PM
  #17  
Modsquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
10-Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Default

Mine was down 39% yesterday & then 33% today. Hope it keep snapping back!
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2008 | 05:19 PM
  #18  
bigbadblack93z's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Katy
Default

its so volatile right now its not worth getting worked up about because you really can't do anything about it. Mine came up 10% from Friday to today. I upped my contribution and will continue to leave it high until things start to stabilize. I keep having people at work come to me about what they need to do w/ their 401k, there is no blanket answer for them, some are older and some are early 20's. I just remind them that if they take it out not only are they down they will get hit w/ fees and taxes.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2008 | 06:20 PM
  #19  
jvlz28's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood, TX
Default

You only lose money if you sell. It will come back it always does
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2008 | 07:26 PM
  #20  
OUTLAWZ RACING's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 1
From: COLUMBUS GA.
Default

Well I pull my savings out in 2008 of all my accounts and put them in a safe in my mother house untill my house is done. Mind you the contractor for my house is out of business, But the new one took over and I have to wait alittle longer. My investments are holding and my cd and ira is fine. But I just dont like to hear how banks are running out of money thats why I took mine out.


Oh and I loved the police escort.

Last edited by OUTLAWZ RACING; Oct 14, 2008 at 07:35 PM. Reason: ooops
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:41 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE