What if everything you were told about saving in your company retirement plan was bogus? What if the benefit of tax-deferred growth in your mutual fund based retirement plan was really a well-funded Wall Street marketing gimmick?
Ask people what they think about Facebook, and you're likely to hear everything from "It's a terrific way to connect with friends and family," to "It's a colossal drain on time and productivity." Soon, you could start getting a third response: It's a big investment opportunity.
Planning for retirement? Don't panic. Here's why you should ignore the market mayhem: You have complete control over the most important component of your retirement plan -- your contributions.
Portfolios made up entirely of exchange-traded funds have appeal. ETFs often have lower expenses than mutual funds, bring certain tax benefits, and trade throughout the day. But investors need to make sure they are properly diversified if they go they all-ETF route.
Our blogger creates a random stock index and ends up landing in the top 1% of mutual funds for 2009 -- further evidence that picking the right stocks is a game of luck.
