Annotation. The second edition of this popular title is completely updated for 2001 tax laws, including the President's Tax Bill.-- Currently, 76 million Baby Boomers are looking ahead to their retirement; when you add in all the people who are eligible to join a 401(k) program, the audience is huge!-- It's important to do your own research on 401(k)s and not just trust the company you work for to get the best deal for you - 55% of the typical 401(k) portfolio is invested in company shares; co-workers investing the same amount of money over the same period of time can have a 100% differential (Money Magazine).-- Likewise, most of the information workers are given by their employers is provided by a particular fund or investment group - information that may be slanted in its own favor.New, improved text referencing stock market volatility and need for diversification -- and how to do it. Expanded text, analysis, and examples on Roth IRAs and conversions Congressional/presidential action -- fromPresident Bush's proposed tax cut to proposed changes to 401(k), 402(g), 415, and pension portability. How to use 401(k), Roth, and Sec. 529 plans -- and which one is right for you -- to save for your children's education. ETFs and other new investment products and self-directed brokerage accounts. Pension plans, pension equity plans, Cash balance plan conversions -- what's the difference?

Get it while you can ... Complex, ever-changing, and controversial, the future of our current system of Social Security and Medicare is uncertain. This indispensable guide explains the proposed changes and current status of these important social programs. Completely revised to incorporate changes to compensation scales and survivor benefits, and with an expanded section on Medicare and the new drug programs, this book is the most up-to-date overview of Social Security and Medicare currently available. * Revised and updated with the latest 2006 statistics on income scales and cost of living; such Social Security Benefits as survivor benefits and disability payments; tax codes; and more * Completely new chapters on Medicare, the Medicare Drug Programs, and the current political climate and proposed changes * Completely revised section on resources

Get the most out of your 401(k) in any economy Filled with sample 401(k) portfolios for every stage of life Invest your 401(k) money wisely and make the most of your retirement Want to know what kind of investment mix you need to make your retirement money grow? Don't know what to do with a 401(k) account from your last job? Worried that your company's 401(k) plan doesn't cut it? Relax! This simple, plain-English guide shows you how to manage your accounts, minimize your risks, and maximize your returns. The Dummies Way * Explanations in plain English * "Get in, get out" information * Icons and other navigational aids * Tear-out cheat sheet * Top ten lists * A dash of humor and fun

From the basics down to investing, get the most out of your 401(k) and IRA in any economic environment When you’re ready to start setting aside (or withdrawing) money for your retirement—whenever that might be—401(k)s & IRAs For Dummies is here for you! It covers both types of retirement plans because they each have valuable tax benefits, and you may be able to contribute to both at the same time. With the practical advice in this book, you learn how to manage your accounts, minimize your investment risk, and maximize your returns. Sounds like a win-win, no matter your situation or where you’re at in life. Written by a well-known expert and ‘father of the 401 (k)’ , Ted Benna, 401(k)s & IRAs For Dummies helps you keep up with the ever-changing rules surrounding both retirement plans—including the rules from the SECURE and CARES Acts—and avoid the mistakes that can lead to higher taxes and penalties. Additional topics include: Tax strategies before and after retirement Required distributions and how much you need to take Penalties for taking money out early and how to avoid them What happens to your or your spouse’s retirement plan after death or divorce The rules for taking money out of an inherited plan Methods for calculating required minimum distributions Special tax benefits for conversions to Roth IRAs How to recharacterize IRA or Roth contributions Why IRA based plans are a better options for many small employers Helping solo entrepreneurs and other small businesses pick the right type of plan Whether you’re just starting to think about a retirement plan, planning when to retire, or you’re facing retirement, you’ll find useful and practical guidance in 401(k)s & IRAs For Dummies. Get your copy today!

Advice and guidance on planning for retirement Retirement Planning For Dummies is a one-stop resource to get up to speed on the critical steps needed to ensure you spend your golden years living in the lap of luxury—or at least in the comfort of your own home. When attempting to plan for retirement, web searching alone can cause you more headaches than answers, leaving many to feel overwhelmed and defeated. This book takes the guesswork out of the subject and guides readers while they plan the largest financial obligation of their life. Take stock of your finances Proactively plan for your financial future Seek the help of professionals or go it alone Use online tools to make retirement planning easier Whether you're just starting out with a 401(k) or you’re a seasoned vet with retirement in your near future, this book helps younger and older generations alike how to plan their retirement.

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This is the same diagnostic system I use with my own clients and with the financial advisors I train. So, going through it will be like having me sitting beside you, whispering in your ear, guiding you every step of the way.” –from Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map Corporate pensions are disappearing. Social Security is in trouble. And the sizable postwar generation is reaching retirement age. With the futures of millions of Americans at stake, Ed Slott, the country’s foremost retirement planning advisor, now offers expert advice on weathering the perfect storm of financial instability that looms on the horizon. Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map, Slott’s most essential and accessible book yet, provides clear step-by-step directions through the highways and byways of IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other major accounts. In five helpfully focused sections, Slott combines crucial facts with interactive checklists and questionnaires (those he uses with his own clients) to teach investors and beneficiaries alike the best way to save and to maximize an inheritance. Inside you’ll discover • My Account Inventory: an overview of every retirement savings account you own, whether you’re thirty or sixty-five–from what it is and where it is to who gets it and how, plus where to put important data for easy access and where to store your essential documents (hint: not in a safe-deposit box) • The Account Owner’s Care Solution: how to properly fill out retirement account beneficiary forms so that whatever amount of money is left in your account after you’ve fully enjoyed retirement will go to whomever you choose and not to relatives who suddenly pop up out of nowhere • The Account Beneficiary’s Care Solution: what to do when you inherit so that you won’t lose any of the tax benefits and other opportunities your benefactor has created for you, or make a mistake that could wipe out an inherited fortune that took years to build up • The Special Issues Care Solution: how to handle the out-of-the-box issues that could affect you or your beneficiaries (e.g., life events such as divorce or incapacity; tax issues for unmarried partners; decisions about trusts) • The Follow-up Care Solution: how to keep your planning on track and make adjustments when circumstances change, and how to determine whether your professional retirement advisor is really up to the task of preserving and protecting your money • Plus: the most up-to-date information on tax laws, including the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which provides major new retirement incentives that you can take advantage of Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map is an indispensable planning solution that is sure to become the standard how-to on a complex subject that is becoming relevant to more people every day.

This book will change the way you think about and invest in your retirement savings plan-forever. Internationally bestselling author and consumer advocate Dan Solin challenges some basic and misguided assumptions about traditional retirement plans to reveal that: ? 401(k) and 403(b) plans are laden with Porky Pig fees, poor investment choices, and conflicts of interest. You may be better off just saying "No!" ? There is a simple way to make smart choices in these plans- and this book shows you exactly what to do and which funds to avoid. ? There is one investment that could be the key to a successful retirement plan. You can do it yourself, with pre-tax or after-tax money. Create your own, inflation-proof pension plan that is guaranteed to provide you with monthly income for as long as you live, and beyond! Smart Investing is not complicated. You have the power to make meaningful changes to your retirement savings plan-no matter what your age or financial status. "If you haven't taken a recent look at what your own retirement investments are doing and-perhaps even more important-how they are put together, reading Solin's smart little book might provide the impetus for action." -Miami Herald