A Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k) (Bloomberg) [Hardcover]

Mary Rowland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bloomberg | Publication Date: February 1, 1999

In an accessible, step-by-step format, Mary Rowland explains how to get the most out of a 401(k) and use it as the basis of a lifetime of financial planning.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Presently, over 22 million Americans have 401(k) plans, worth an astounding $750 billion, and listeners lucky enough to participate in the plan owe it to themselves to follow the sound advice in this objective guide to this particular approach to retirement planning. Columnist and author Rowland (The New Commonsense Guide to Mutual Funds, Bloomberg, 1998) outlines how and why 401(k)s have become the most important retirement-planning vehicle for most Americans, and in a professional, prescriptive style, she narrates the steps to follow in using them to prepare retirement goals. Since research reveals that few enrolled in this perk are experts on the way the plan works, Rowland lays out in terms understandable by all how it helps to reduce taxes and how one can monitor hidden expenses, take loans, and make withdrawals. The idea here is to understand how to use 401(k)s to get where you want to be in the future. Highly recommended, along with the print version, for all public libraries.Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A wonderful primer that guides even novice investors toward becoming more confident 401(k) investors. Everyone with access to a 401(k) account should read this book. -- Don Phillips, President, Morningstar Mutual Funds

If you are ready to take control of your financial destiny, you would be well advised to read this book. -- Laura Tarbox, CFP, Tarbox Equity

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomberg Press; 1st edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157660019X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576600191
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Rowland has been a journalist for 30 years, a half dozen of them as weekly columnist for the Sunday New York Times. She wrote a column on practice management for the Bloomberg Wealth Manager, a magazine for financial advisors, for seven years. Her articles and essays have appeared in Fortune, Business Week, USA Today, Ladies' Home Journal, Family Circle, McCall's, Woman's Day, and many other publications. She received a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing from Vermont College in 2002 and studies theology at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. She is news editor for the web site advisorsforadvisors.com and is currently at work on a memoir. Rowland earned her B.A. and M.A. in Russian history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about 401(k)s is in this book., October 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k) (Bloomberg) (Hardcover)

More than 22 million Americans have 401(k) plans worth an astounding $750 billion. Chances are, most employees who sign up for this great perk do little more than read an occasional article on the subject. But big bucks -- and 22 million nest eggs -- are on the line. So if you're lucky enough to be eligible for a 401(k), you owe it to yourself to read this objective guide. In a series of easy- to-digest steps, personal finance writer Mary Rowland lays out -- including sample portfolios, reducing taxes, monitoring plan expenses, taking a loan, or making a withdrawal.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great help with financial planning whether you are 22 or 62, August 6, 2002

By 

Wendy Somerlot Bittel (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k) (Bloomberg) (Hardcover)

Ms. Rowland does a great job answering just about every question imaginable when it comes to dealing with your 401K plan. There is advice for getting started,switching jobs, planning beneficiaries, actually retiring, taking loans out against your 401k...everything. The book is written in a series of 2 page articles she lists as "steps" so if you want to skip around you can. While a little of the material is dated as a result of the recent tax changes, it is mostly in regards to amounts an individual is able to contribute. I felt I was fairly knowledgeable on this topic before I started reading but I found it pretty interesting and worth the time.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read if you are considering 401(k), July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k) (Bloomberg) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book about 401(k) plan. I found 99% of my questions answered in that book. The book is well-organized, and the author did a good job in presenting the pros and cons of 401(k)plan. The only thing I recommend to the author is elaborating more about the 401K status for non-residnts, and how can they get their money out of this plan in case they decided to leave the country.