I am blessed to collaborate with great individual 401(k) advice clients. They are even-tempered, fact-driven people. Who can listen to reason. And are not afraid to admit they “don’t know what they don’t know.”
That has not always been true. With many of my 401(k) advice clients, I had to push, pull, and debate. In the single area of their financial life that they underperformed.
The investment management decisions made in their company 401(k) account.
They owned the wrong 401(k) mutual funds. They had no plan to preserve their recent investment gains. And their last few years of annual and company-matching contributions.
In short, they needed 401(k) advice. And an investment management strategy for their retirement savings.
My job is to bring to their attention the error of their past 401(k) investment management decisions. Bring to attention the harm they are doing to themselves. On the preservation and growth of their 401(k) account.
I wanted to stop the 401(k) harm. And stop impeding retirement plan account growth.
It started with a healthy debate. Me presenting an independent, third-party set of facts. Obvious to me. Completely new information to them.
Two people with completely different experiences. Most individual 401(k) investors have positive 401(k) investment management experiences. Until they don’t.
Years of 401(k) stock market investment gains. Lost in a few weeks. Along with personal and company-matching contributions.
Most 401(k) mutual funds “lag.” These funds don’t go up in value as the most popular stock market averages when the stock market rises.
In a down stock market, it is the opposite. Their mutual funds “underperform.” These funds fall in value more than the same popular stock market averages.
This is an easy condition to fix. If you have the right tools. And the person you are talking to is willing to listen. Especially to a new 401(k) investment management strategy.
Are you willing to listen to a new 401(k) investment advice strategy? A new way to pick your 401(k) mutual funds. A game plan for the preservation of your 401(k) investment gains. A strategy to preserve 401(k) principal when the stock market and interest rates move against you.
At some point in your life, you need to change your belief system. On work and career. On family and friends. Think about how many times you have changed in the past?
Does your 401(k) investment management strategy fall into that category?
How do you react when you are wrong? Confirmed by facts. Information you can’t continue to ignore. Ideas that cost you money not to use.
Don’t continue with uncertainty. Guessing at “what to buy?” in your 401(k).
Facts are more comfortable. So is a logical, organized, and disciplined investment management strategy. For up, down, and sideways stock markets. The same with interest rates.
Fill in the missing information for your future 401(k) investment management decisions. No question unanswered. Confidence in your 401(k) you may have never had before.
Ric Lager
Lager & Company, Inc.
I have spent the last several years trying to figure out the best way to share my 401(k) advice content. I have tried Twitter, Facebook, company web site, and LinkedIn Groups. I now realize nothing beats a well-crafted newsletter delivered to your inbox once a week.
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