401(k) - Financial IQ by Susie Q

A type of Defined Contribution PlanA form of retirement plan under which you and possibly your employer contribute to an account. You are able to withdraw money from the account after you attain a certain age. The name “defined contr... More available in the US. There are three types of contributions that can be made to 401(k)s.

Pre-tax – No taxes are paid on the contributions or any changes in the market value of the investments in the account until the money is withdrawn. That is, contributions are deducted from your salary in the year they are made.
After-tax – Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but the changes in the market value of the investments purchased with that money are taxed when they are withdrawn.
Roth – Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but no taxes are paid on any changes in the market value of the investments in the account or when money is withdrawn from the account (as long as certain conditions are met).

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How to Raise Financially Smart Kids January 21, 2020

I recently wrote a guest post for Grokking Money about how to raise financially smart kids. Here is the start of it, to read the entire post, click here. Instilling your children with good financial habits will increase their likelihood of success, just as is the case with many other types of habits. In this […]

Susie Q

Do I Really Need to Budget January 21, 2020

I recently wrote a guest post for The Smart Investor about deciding if you need a budget. Here is the start of it, to read the entire post, click here. Budgeting is critical to your financial health, especially when you are just getting started handling your own money. A budget will help you figure out […]

Susie Q

Good Debt vs Bad Debt: Key Characteristics January 8, 2020

Not all debt is bad! The specific definitions of good debt vs bad debt will vary from person to person. For people who plan to retire very early and live on a limited income or for people who know that they have a hard time paying their bills either for lack of money or organization […]

Susie Q

Picking Stocks December 17, 2019

Many investors create their own portfolios by picking stocks in individual companies. As discussed in my post on the basics of stocks, picking stocks in individual companies is one of several strategies for creating an investment portfolio. Alternatives to picking stocks in individual companies include buying mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. I’ll talk about those […]

Susie Q

Investing for Dividends December 3, 2019

Investing for dividends is one of many strategies investors use to identify stocks for their portfolios. Among the strategies I identified in my post on what you need to know about stocks, this is not one that I have ever used. So I reached out to one of my Twitter followers who uses it to get […]

Susie Q