investing $$$$$

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

well yes and no...there are mutual funds out there that are much safer, and other "investments" like ira's, cd's, mma's, and a few others are set, they wont lose money only accrue more over time...if your company presents the mutual fund as a fixed deal and then the bottom falls out, it's different then jumping aboard a fund that you know is high risk (many companies invest in too many new technologies and up and coming companies)...my uncle lost something like $230k and was set to retire early...401k is also an excellent option if you have it, as long as your company has good match rates and it's protected...my company matches up to 35% for up to 15 and then 25 after 15 years years which is almost unheard of...

An IRA is NOT an investment vehicle. You cannot classify them with cd's, mmas, ect.

It is an Account, like a savings account. You can invest in **** near anything. You can lose everything in your IRA.

A CD is a certifcate of deposit, it is a loan to the bank, not an account.

A MMA is very similar. You gain some liquidity, you lose some return.

The federal government matches your first 5% at 100%. So you automatically double your money.

 

[rtillaree 10+ year member]

thats what these " " were for man...you don't have to regurgitate it, i heard it the first time...we understand you know what your talking about //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

But you cannot invest in IRAs.

You can invest in CDs, MMAs, etc.

Not everyone knows the difference.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

This thread is making my head hurt, so i'm going to the gym.

I'll be back to see how many times flip says an IRA is NOT an investment haha, jk flip thx for ur help, and everyone else.

 

[rtillaree 10+ year member]

only reason i said "investment" is because many people utilize an IRA with investment in mind, and investment firms offer IRAs and your life's investment...so they are loosely considered an investment even though they don't offer actual investment benefits and so on...right?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

only reason i said "investment" is because many people utilize an IRA with investment in mind, and investment firms offer IRAs and your life's investment...so they are loosely considered an investment even though they don't offer actual investment benefits and so on...right?

They may associate the terms, but that is due to financial ignorance.

The firms offer the accounts, and suggest investments.

 

[bigharv]

Where would you suggest opening an investment account at? I've been looking at opening up an account with e-trade.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

etrade is good.

There tools for risk profiles and ensureing you don't overweigh a particular security are top notch. It is what I use.

 

[rtillaree 10+ year member]

my cd's are with e-trade, im very satisfied with them, and their customer service is bar none...

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

my cd's are with e-trade, im very satisfied with them, and their customer service is bar none...

ahhh what we actually agreed

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

an IRA is NOOTTTTTTTTTTTT an investment... it is merely an account created to take advantage of a tax code, and given the name of "Individual Retirement Account". The "Roth" variety allows you to put in after tax money, let it grow tax free, then it allows you to start drawing on it at a given age tax free....

Through your IRA you invest in actual assets, like stocks and bonds.

Also for real estate investments, when saving for retirement, just throw in a slice of REIT's... maybe 10-15% of your total portfolio for exposure to real estate...

Also I'd just like to say I approve of Flipx's advice so far... he is not full of shit and not doling out dubious advice from uncle ted... it's all been sound advice..

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

an IRA is NOOTTTTTTTTTTTT an investment... it is merely an account created to take advantage of a tax code, and given the name of "Individual Retirement Account". The "Roth" variety allows you to put in after tax money, let it grow tax free, then it allows you to start drawing on it at a given age tax free....
Through your IRA you invest in actual assets, like stocks and bonds.

Also for real estate investments, when saving for retirement, just throw in a slice of REIT's... maybe 10-15% of your total portfolio for exposure to real estate...

Also I'd just like to say I approve of Flipx's advice so far... he is not full of shit and not doling out dubious advice from uncle ted... it's all been sound advice..

Lies.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Lies.
//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

hehe

anyways... my advice:

For 95% of the general public:

Get your money into an IRA with vanguard and buy into index funds.

30% Total US Stock Market

30% Gov Bond Fund

20% Total Intl Stock

10% Emerging Markets

10% REIT Index

Now, ignore the market entirely and once per year (or so) log into vanguard and re-balance the portfolio. Those %'s aren't hard and fast and there are more efficient ways to invest but for someone who doesn't understand the market this is a great way to invest, long term, and not be subject to you or your families idiocy/fear/greed.

For those who understand how to value companies, and detect overheated markets I like value investing. Quite a few have gotten ridiculously rich (Warren Buffet) with prudent investing...

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

See...I like the lifecycle funds that automatically do the rebalancing for you.

That is what I reccomend for John Q Public.

I like/use etfs because I THINK I can predict market swings. I was right this time with the comeback of large caps that I dumped $$ in while everyone else was buying international.

Not too concerned about this latest pullback, but because I predict (like many others) a recession. I am moving into income stocks.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

See...I like the lifecycle funds that automatically do the rebalancing for you.
That is what I reccomend for John Q Public.

I like/use etfs because I THINK I can predict market swings. I was right this time with the comeback of large caps that I dumped $$ in while everyone else was buying international.

Not too concerned about this latest pullback, but because I predict (like many others) a recession. I am moving into income stocks.

Inverted yield curve.....

We'll see a recession the day a democrat walks into the white house...

I plan on using ETF's and sharebuilder myself once I get my *** employed...

What are the fees like on those lifecycle funds?