A Commonsense Guide to Your 401(k) (Bloomberg Personal Bookshelf (Hardcover)) (Hardcover)

by Mary Rowland (Author) "THE OTHER DAY, a friend of mine was remembering his father, a hurried man who denied himself small pleasures to focus on the task at..." (more)
Key Phrases: recalculation method, benefits consultants, joint life expectancy, Social Security, New York, Internal Revenue Service (more...)

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: 265 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: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #206,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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

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

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 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.