Mistake No. 1: Investing too little in your 401(k) and IRA - Contribute as much as you can afford to your 401(k) and try to fully fund your IRA each year.
Mistake No. 2: Investing too conservatively - To achieve the growth you’ll need to pay for retirement, you can’t afford to invest only in certificates of deposit and Treasury bills - you’ll also want to consider some stocks.
Mistake No. 3: Timing the market - It’s impossible to know when your investments are priced low enough to buy or high enough to sell. Buy quality investments and hold them for the long term.
Don’t make these scary investment moves - and have a Happy Halloween.
Match Financial Goals With The Right Investments
Over the course of your life, you’ll almost certainly have many different financial goals, and to help achieve them, you’ll need to use many different investments.
How might you target specific investments for specific goals? Here are a few suggestions:
To save for a home, you might want to use certificates of deposit (CDs) or short-term, investment-grade bonds.
To enjoy a long and comfortable retirement, you’ll want to accumulate savings in tax-advantaged vehicles, such as a 401(k) and IRA.
To save for college for your kids, you may want to consider a Coverdell Education Savings Account or a Section 529 savings plan, both of which offer a variety of investment options and tax advantages. Contributions are tax-deductible in certain states for residents who participate in their own states’ 529 plans.
These investments aren’t the only ones available to you. But they help point out the importance of identifying your various goals - and choosing the right investments to help meet them.
Contact Wendell at Edward Jones www.edwardjones.com.
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