The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k): Rebuilding Your Portfolio from the Bottom Up [Paperback]

Mary Rowland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2010

Since the credit crash, investors have been searching for answers as 401(k) accounts have suffered unprecedented declines. Not only have markets been tumultuous but new regulations and concerns regarding hidden fees have been introduced to an already opaque area of investing.

Despite the severe economic retreat in 2008-2009, one thing hasn't changed: 401(k) accounts—because of their tax benefits—are still the best way for most people to invest for retirement. Mary Rowland breaks down how they work, why they're still a smart investment, how to keep an eye out for hidden fees, and why now is the time to start reinvesting in your retirement.

As the former personal finance columnist for the Sunday New York Times and the author of three books on investing, Mary Rowland has extensive experience covering the issues that 401(k) investors face when they consider how to best prepare for retirement.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Despite the severe economic retreat in 2008-2009, 401(k) accounts—because of their tax benefits—are still the best way for most people to investment for retirement. And, almost without exception, the books in the marketplace are pre-credit crunch, diminishing their relevance to consumers. Mary Rowland, a former personal finance columnist for The New York Times, breaks down how they work, why they are still a smart investment, how to keep an eye out for hidden fees, and why now is the time for investors of all ages to start reinvesting in their retirement.

About the Author

Mary Rowland has been a journalist for thirty years, a half dozen of them as a weekly columnist for the Sunday New York Times. She also wrote a regular column for Bloomberg Wealth Manager, a magazine for financial advisers, for seven years. Her articles and essays have appeared in Fortune, Business Week, USA Today, Ladies' Home Journal, Family Circle, Woman's Day, and many other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bloomberg Press; 2 edition (January 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157660327X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576603277
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,747 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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More of a primer., June 7, 2010

By 

D. Cherry (Herndon, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k): Rebuilding Your Portfolio from the Bottom Up (Paperback)

A readable book that is more suitable as a primer or introduction to the subject of the 401K. Mary Rowland's journalistic style presents a book that introduces the need for retirement planning in the first third of the book before actually delving into the 401K itself. "The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k): Rebuilding Your Portfolio from the Bottom Up", may be unsuitable if you're after a `nuts and bolts' book. However for a person who has just entered the work force this book would be a good way to be introduced to the subject matter of retirement and the 401k. On a negative note there were several spelling mistakes, leading me to think it was not proof read properly.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a read to be ignored, April 17, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k): Rebuilding Your Portfolio from the Bottom Up (Paperback)

One's 401(k) is one's key to retirement. "The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k): Rebuilding Your Portfolio From the Bottom Up" is a guide to the 401(k) and its many changing details from Mary Rowland as she hopes to advise and encourage readers to keep their 401(k) safe and protected so it can do what it's there to do. With sound investment strategies and tax advice, "The New Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k)" is not a read to be ignored.