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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
July 6, 2009
/ 14 Tamuz 5769
Fear can force better investment planning
By
Gail Marks Jarvis
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
You might be scared, but that's not always bad — if you channel it into action.
The stock market and housing market crash, plus rising unemployment and harsh credit card terms, have made Americans aware that their financial futures are fragile. But out of the pain has come laudable behavior: People are thinking twice before spending on a whim, for example.
Now it's time to take it a step further: No matter your age, you probably need to save more for retirement, and you may need to invest more wisely.
Retirement sneaks up on people who wait to invest. And with government debt soaring, you may end up with less Social Security and Medicare, and perhaps higher taxes too.
Here's what to do, at the beginning of adulthood, and through the mid-career years.
— Early start puts you ahead.
A 22-year-old who invests $2,000 a year every year until retirement — or roughly $38.50 a week — would end up with about $611,000 by age 67, if he or she earns about 7 percent a year on average on the investments. That's not a lot of money if spread out over a long retirement, especially considering inflation. It would provide about $24,440 a year to live on, plus annual inflation adjustments.
For $40,000 a year, roughly a $1 million nest egg is necessary. But that would mean investing about $3,300 a year.
If you feel you can't afford to save much, start small — even at 1 percent of your salary — and increase it with every raise or windfall.
If you save nothing by your early 30s, instead of saving $3,300 you will have to stash about $6,500 to get close to $1 million. If it's your early 40s, it will take about $14,500 a year. To maximize your savings, put them into a 401(k) at work. That's where many employers provide free matching money. Say you make $30,000 a year, and your employer will match the first 3 percent of pay that you put into the 401(k). That's $900 a year from your employer, and if it goes into the 401(k) yearly and earns 7 percent, that free money will give you about $275,000 by retirement on top of your own savings. Experiment at https://401k.fidelity.com/public/content/401k/Tools/ContributionCalc.
And whenever you save in a 401(k), you also cut your current taxes.
To make most of this opportunity, consider investing about 70 to 80 percent of your 401(k) money in a Standard & Poor's 500 index mutual fund, and the rest in a diversified bond fund. That index fund is a stock investment and might strike you as overly risky after the huge decline the market just encountered.
But people in their 20s should do well over time. By combining 70 percent in the stock market and 30 percent in government bonds, an investor would have averaged an 8.9 percent return a year over the last 83 years, according to Ibbotson Associates.
When should you bypass a 401(k)? If you have no emergency fund, and are worried about losing your job, you should save for the possibility of a job loss in addition to retirement in a Roth individual retirement account. Money you put into such an account can be removed at any time without penalty. But if you are thinking of the Roth IRA as an emergency fund, invest it safely — perhaps in certificates of deposit at a bank, not in stocks or stock mutual funds.
— How to make up for lost time
Saving adequately for retirement should take precedence over saving for a child's college education. As a rule of thumb, if you save 10 percent of pay starting with your first job, you will be fine in retirement. Find out how you stand at ChooseToSave.org. Do the "ballpark estimate."
To maximize savings and shield them from taxes, put up to $16,500 a year in your 401(k) and an additional $5,000 in a Roth IRA. At age 50, you can put up to $22,000 a year into the 401(k) and $6,000 into the Roth, assuming you fall within the Roth income limits. Up to age 40, advisers typically suggest investing about 70 percent of your retirement money in stock mutual funds. If the downturn subjected you to more loss than you can stand, cut back to 65 percent or 60 percent.
By 50, having only 60 percent in stocks is considered prudent, although not immune from losses. If you were shocked by the downturn, put 50 percent in stock funds and 50 percent in bond funds. Although investors have lost as much as 24 percent in this 50-50 combination in a single year, they have never lost money over a 10-year period with such a portfolio, according to Ibbotson.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Gail Marks Jarvis is a personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery." Comment by clicking here.
Previously:
06/10/09: Best stock buys passed quickly, even for pros
05/12/09: On Wall Street, signs plant a seed of hope
04/08/09: Analysts debate the future of the rally
03/19/09: Gold unlikely to pan out as cure-all
02/29/09: Housing credit could provide sizable boost
02/19/09: Rebalancing being put in different light
02/04/09: Diversification doesn't always offer insulation
01/27/09: Taking steps can help regain some control
01/20/09: How to save for college during a recession
01/12/09: Bonds still risky option to stocks
12/24/08: Some predict mid-2009 for return to investing joy
12/09/08: A small dose of short funds may be useful
11/11/08: Mutual funds can get caught in downward spiral
10/27/08: Investors can bounce back from even the worst of times
10/20/08: Want to sell? Look at 401(k), but don't leap
10/16/08: Want to be like Buffett? There are ways
09/29/08: Money protection only goes so far, so know the risks
08/26/08: Retail stocks may not be best fit for investors
08/20/08: Rear-view mirror investing can be dangerous to a portfolio
07/01/08: What do we do? My daughter didn't get a scholarship
02/25/08: Before abandoning your mutual fund
02/14/08: Dirty little secret of some funds may be haunting
01/29/08: Sorting out the stock market
01/03/08: One word for 2008 crystal-ball gazers: Caution
12/11/07: Buy and hold isn't necessarily tried and true
11/26/07: Translating the falling dollar's implications for investors
11/13/07: Gradual retirement may not be key to happiness
11/05/07: Rate cut won't offer immunity to investors
10/29/07: Employers set to help workers save in 401(k) accounts
10/22/07: Playing bounce may be costly to stock investors
10/10/07: Investors find boring often can be fruitful
10/01/07: Make up lost time with swift, smart action
09/24/07: Balance is key for investing by retirees
09/18/07: Homeowners who wait see options fade
09/04/07: Easy matter to rate fund's performance
08/27/07: Mortgage mess could be good for savers
08/17/07: Small stocks are coming with large caveats
© 2007, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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