Ask the Expert
MONEY's Walter Updegrave tackles your questions.
For 20-something's who are already getting the company's 401(k) match this move is the next best step you can take. More Prudent investors spread their money around with both U.S. and international shares. More An inverse fund, one that moves in the opposite direction of the market, is not designed for long-term 401(k) retirement investing. More By choosing low-fee mutual funds and ETFs, you can substantially reduce the danger of running through your retirement savings too soon. More When it comes to dollar-cost averaging, investing immediately for your selected asset allocation is more likely to generate a higher rate of return. More Many of us forget why we save and invest for retirement, it's to have a meaningful post-career retirement lifestyle. More 4 steps to increasing the chances of having the money you'll need for retirement. More A 65-year-old who doesn't want to see his nest egg scrambled should focus on the longer term. More Faced with uncertain economic times, young investors should be wary of letting their emotions dictate their financial decisions. More Common sense combined with toned-down investment theory will help you allocate assets, pick investments and build a diversified portfolio. More If you can spare the cash, saving a healthy chunk of your salary for retirement can create a nice savings cushion should you face financial difficulties later on. More How long your retirement nest egg will last depends on how you invest, how much you take out each year and your tolerance for uncertainty. More Even if you're a committed long-term stock investor with retirement decades away, bonds deserve a place in your portfolio. More Recovering from a major financial setback, like long-term unemployment in your 40s or 50s, isn't easy but it can be done. It just requires careful financial planning and dedicated savings. More Using a self-directed IRA to invest in alternative assets may seem like a smart idea. But investor beware: unusual investments can carry unusual risks, including fraud. More Thinking about putting your savings into stocks just because the market is on a tear? You're making a mistake. Here's what you need to consider before putting your money into the market. More There are plenty of mutual funds and ETFs that can help even the greenest investor grow their IRA like a pro. More Seeking higher yields by investing your emergency cash in Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS, isn't worth the risk of not having ready access to your money. More From target date funds to creating your own investment mix, here are the best ways to invest for retirement when it's several decades away. More It would seem as if saving $4 million should be enough to fund a comfy retirement 30 years from now. But don't automatically assume it will be sufficient. More Despite anticipated market swings in 2012, sticking with your investment strategy is the best way to grow your nest egg. Play An immediate annuity or a deferred income annuity may protect you against the risk of outliving your assets. Just be sure to take the time to understand them before buy. More A retirement savings plan that assumes you'll spend less in your later years doesn't take into account the potential for unexpected health care and other costs. More The SEC nailed the investment firm that manages our company's 401(k) for fraudulent practices not involving their 401 (k) group. Still I'd like to move my retirement account. More The younger you are, the less money you typically need to stash away for retirement. Money's Walter Updegrave provides a helpful online tool to help you calculate that elusive number. Play Investing in gold can't protect you from financial loss but it's a good strategy as part of a diversified portfolio. More It would be nice if there was some way to painlessly trick you into saving more money. But, let's be real. We all know saving boils down to one thing: Living on less than what you earn. More The security of a pension and Social Security may not eliminate the need for bonds to diversify your retirement portfolio. More Way behind on saving for your retirement? Some suggestions on how to save, invest and work longer to meet your retirement goals. More Building a well-balanced portfolio is trickier than investing in a handful of seemingly different mutual funds. More Having 90% of your long-term investments in stocks isn't reckless -- as long as you're comfortable taking risks and you're young enough to recover from potential setbacks. Here's how to find the right asset allocation for you. More If there's one thing we should have learned over the last year it's that investing on the basis of speculation, whim or fear is a loser's game that's incompatible with building wealth over the long term. More If a financial adviser suggests you invest in a variable annuity, be sure to ask these three questions first. More Adjusting your retirement savings as you age will help keep you on the right track for a comfortable and secure retirement. More Set up an emergency fund before you set aside money for supplemental retirement savings. More I have a substantial amount of cash I want to invest in stock and bond mutual funds I already own. My question is not what to invest in, but when. More When evaluating a mutual fund for your retirement plan, put more emphasis on the funds' expenses than its returns. More A single mom who just received a $10,000 windfall asks for advice on how to invest the money when she knows there will be some major expenses coming up in the next year. More His wife refuses to talk about money. Our expert advises one reader on a productive -- and peaceful -- way to have a conversation about the family finances. More Don't fear high-risk investments when you have youth on your side -- you'll lose out on substantial returns. More Just because dividend funds carry better yields than bond funds it doesn't mean they are a better investment for your retirement portfolio. More Even when bond yields are down, they are still a safer bet, especially if you are retired. Play When I retire next year, should I keep my 401(k) funds with the same firm that currently manages them or roll them into an IRA with a different firm? More If I hire a financial adviser to manage my retirement porftolio will it be worth the extra cost? More Waiting for interest rates to climb before buying an immediate annuity may seem like a solid strategy, but there are several reasons why it could backfire. More Borrowing against your home to buy stocks may seem like a good way to generate returns, but there are plenty of risks to consider. More Need strategies to maximize your retirement withdrawals so you can take more out while you're still active? Our expert has them. More Starting a college fund for your newborn may not be the best investment. Money's Walter Updegrave says get your own finances in order first. Play Money's Walter Updegrave says that investing on the whims of a volatile market is not wise. Base it on when you'll need the money you're stashing away. Play Even when bond yields are down, they are still a safer bet, especially if you are retired. Play My company doesn't offer a 401(k) and I maxed-out my Roth IRA, how can I save more for retirement? More Whether you should buy or rent is a question that plagues many homeowners. Here are four questions you should ask yourself before you make a move. More Worried about investment returns? Stop trying to beat the market and boost your savings rate instead. More The average 401(k) features almost 20 investment options. Here's how to find the right one for your money. More Money magazine's Walter Updegrave says that income, not assets, is the best way to track progress towards a secure retirement. Play Find out how to put yourself in a great financial position after you take your first job. Play A life insurance broker told me a variable universal life insurance policy would be a great investment that could grow by 10% a year. Is that possible? More Stashing as much cash as you can in tax-advantaged plans and utilizing catch up plans can keep you on track for retirement. Play Money Magazine's Walter Updegrave advises that gold can be a safe investment in volatile economic times, but it should be a small part of your overall portfolio. Play Diversifying your investments is a smart move -- within reason. If you aren't careful, though, you could end up with a hodgepodge of investments that are difficult to manage. More Money magazine's Walter Updegrave says adding up your assets is an easy and essential step to sound financial health. Play
Got a question about investing, saving or retirement?
Let MONEY’s Walter Updegrave tackle it for you.
About This Author
Walter Updegrave
Walter Updegrave, the financial expert behind "Ask the Expert," is a senior editor at MONEY. He’s won a number of journalism awards and appeared on radio and television, including "Oprah," NBC's "Today," ABC's "Nightline" and "CBS This Morning." His books include "We're Not in Kansas Anymore: How to Retire Rich in a Totally Changed World" and "Investing for the Financially Challenged." A Philadelphia native, he holds a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
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