Investing Your Retirement Account Money

You have an ownership interest in your retirement accounts. You will probably have investment choices with your thrift savings account, and you certainly have choices with your IRA account. Rely on your financial advisor to the extent that you are comfortable; but as the account owner, you will pay the price or benefit from whatever happens. Learn at least the basics:

• How much money must you save to meet your financial goals?
• How much time do you have to save for retirement?
• How much risk are you willing to take?

The investment terminology might be new to you, but the facts won't be. There are different kinds of investments you can buy with your retirement dollars. You will want to choose a certain mix of investments for your account that reflects the amount of risk that you are willing to take. Remember that as the rate of return you want to achieve goes up, so does the risk. You will want a balance that gets you to your goal with a risk factor that you can live (and sleep) with. The main categories of investment opportunities are:

• stocks
• bonds
• cash and cash equivalents

Retirement Investment Basics

The Basics of Investing in Mutual Funds Mutual funds are an excellent financial vehicle for investors seeking Diversification, Professional Management, Liquidity, Convenience, and Affordability. Many individuals, companies, pension funds and some governments have selected mutual funds as the way to invest in today's financial markets. Whether you are a small investor or a large institutional investor, whether you are a conservative government bond investor or a high risk one, there is a mutual fund available suited for just about every investor.

A mutual fund is a pool of stocks or bonds, sometimes both, owned on a proportionate basis by everyone who has invested in the fund. All investment gains as well as fund expenses are shared proportionately by the fund owners, called shareholders.

It is easy to invest in a mutual fund. Many mutual funds require a $1,000 initial investment to get started. The amount to be invested can be remitted by check or wire transfer, as a means of convenience.

Once a mutual fund account is established, each investor receives an account statement regularly, often quarterly. An investor can add additional investment sums at anytime, if he so desires. He can also withdraw his investment or a portion of it easily.

In general, it costs an investor less to invest in a mutual fund pool of stocks and bonds than if he tried to duplicate that same portfolio of stocks and bonds individually. All mutual funds, however, have asset management fees. Some mutual funds impose fees when you invest in them or redeem your shares. It is important to investigate mutual fund fees before investing. Read the mutual fund prospectus to find out about the fees and other provisions of a fund.

It is just as important to assess a fund's investment performance minus all such fees to determine if a fund has a good track record. An acceptable net investment performance record (investment return minus all fees) for a mutual fund should be your investment objective when selecting a fund. Keep in mind, however, that past performance is not a guarantee of a fund's future performance. Mutual Fund principal will fluctuate and be worth more or less than the original investment when redeemed.

Investing for Retirement

Should you invest in an IRA?
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are a popular choice for those who want to save for their retirement. Both Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs allow your contributions to grow tax-deferred until retirement. With both, you can choose from a wide range of investment options, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit (CDs).

Which kind of IRA might be right for you?

Traditional IRAs
Contributions to a Traditional IRA are tax-deductible, with certain restrictions. When you withdraw money in retirement, it is taxed as ordinary income. If you withdraw money before age 59 ½, you must generally pay tax on the withdrawal, plus a 10% penalty.

If you think your tax rate in retirement will be lower than it is now, and if you do not plan to withdraw your money before age 59 ½, a Traditional IRA may be the best choice for you.

Roth IRAs

Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible — but your withdrawals after age 59 ½ are not subject to federal tax. In addition, you may withdraw your contributions (but not your earnings) at any time without paying a penalty.

If you think your tax rate in retirement will be higher than it is now, or you might need your money before age 59 ½, a Roth IRA may be the best choice for you. In addition, if your income is too high to qualify for the Traditional IRA tax deduction, a Roth IRA may be a good alternative.