401(k)S for Dummies(r) (For Dummies)

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

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

Brenda Watson Newmann is Managing Editor at mPower.com, which provides investment advice for retirement and wealth management.

Part I: Getting Started.

Chapter 1: Benefiting from Your 401(k).

Chapter 2: Understanding the Important Features of Your 401(k).

Chapter 3: Signing Up for Your 401(k).

Part II: Finding an Investment Strategy That Lets You Sleep at Night.

Chapter 4: Developing a Savings Plan.

Chapter 5: Building Wealth by Taking Reasonable Risks.

Chapter 6: Selecting Investments.

Part III: Getting Your Hands on Your Money.

Chapter 7: Putting Your Hand in the 401(k)ookie Jar.

Chapter 8: Weighing Your Options When You Leave Your Employer.

Chapter 9: Living Beyond the Gold Watch.

Part IV: Floor Plans of the Other Types of "4" Plans.

Chapter 10: Making Sense of the Bizarre 403(b)azaar.

Chapter 11: The Wonderful World of 457 Plans.

Part V: From the Employer's Perspective: Finding the Right Plan.

Chapter 12: Meeting the Small Employer's Challenge.

Chapter 13: Walking in an Employer's Shoes.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 14: Ten Questions Participants Frequently Ask.

Chapter 15: Ten Questions Employers Frequently Ask.

Chapter 16: Ten (or So) 401(k) Mistakes to Avoid.

Chapter 17: Ten Bad Excuses People Give for Not Participating (And Why They're Bad).

Index.