55 years old average 401k balance $211k

Quote from denner:

The article only paints half the picture. It's the same trick that's been used for years. So, there is 211k in a 401(k), matched against how much mortgage and credit card debt. If you balance it out, what picture are we presented with.


No. People that have 211k in a 401k generally do not have debt or a mortgage. The people with credit cards and mortgages are these people

http://www.darwinsfinance.com/retirement-survey-savings/

The article says that 43% have less than $10k in savings. THOSE are the people with credit card and mortgage debt. Anyone who is cautious enough to save $200k+ knows that its smarter to pay off a $25k credit card at 29% than earn 3-4% per year on the same money.

There are two types of people in this world. Savers & spenders. Spenders dont save and savers dont spend.
 
Quote from turkeyneck:

How can you afford a reasonable retirement with only $200k or so?

You can't. There are only three ways to retire today:

1. Be the CEO and get a real pension.

2. Be a government employee and get a real pension at 75% of your maximum salary, and inflation adjusted.

3. Be very, very good at trading.

There is a reason companies moved their employees from defined benefit pensions to 401k plans. The benefits are less, so the costs are less.
 
Quote from KINGOFSHORTS:

LOL 211K

thats shit. The 401K has been the biggest scammed pulled on the sheep in quite some time.

401K was never meant to replace a pension. 401K was really only meant to be used as a tool to help the wealthy shelter some assets.

Somehow someone figured out how to scam the sheep in the process.

agreed!

expound on the scam though please
 
Quote from 1prometheus:

the idea that the vast majority of people can self fund a retirement via the stock market or other securities is a myth. In fact the entire notion of a "retirement" or "golden years" is for most people a myth. That only works for the top 20% or so.

Where's your evidence for these claims? Presumably you are aware that when you make controversial claims, you are supposed to actually back them up with facts, not just argue by assertion.
 
Quote from denner:



Another thing worth mentioning to put into stark contrast the world of difference between private/public sector retirement. $211k is not going to go too far in this day and age and that's the sum total. On the other hand, how many retired teacher's or courthouse clerks will take home roughly $50-$70k PER YEAR in fixed pension payouts multiplied over perhaps 25-30 years.

I am not so sure this is guaranteed. If society can't afford it, then either taxes will have to rise significantly, or the pensions will have to be cut significantly. The nice thing about private capital is that it is pretty much guaranteed, so long as you can manage your investments competently, whereas a public pension can be slashed overnight at the stroke of a pen, subject to the whims of politics.
 
This thread reminded me something I had read a while back from book "Zurich Axioms" :

All you can know about the future is that it will get here when it gets here. You cannot see its shape, but at least you can prepare yourself to react to its opportunities and hazards. There is no sense in just standing there and letting it roll over you.

Speculative Strategy The Twelfth and final Axiom warns about the futility and the dangers of planning for a future one cannot see. Do not get rooted in long-range plans or long-term investments. Instead, react to events as they unfold in the present. Put your money into ventures as they present themselves and withdraw it from hazards as they loom up. Value the freedom of movement that will allow you to do this. Don't ever sign that freedom away.

The Twelfth Axiom says there is only one long-range financial plan you need, and that
is the intention to get rich. The how is not knowable or plannable. All you need to know is that you will do it somehow.

Best,
Max
 
401ks are supplementary. Period. Only idiot brokers and their "Houses" believe 401ks are going to get you through retirement.

You need a lot more than a 401k and most people are 100% vested in a 401k. Hence...they are fucked.
 
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