Smart401k Blog

Note: This post is our October 20, 2011 contribution to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series. To view more of our articles, click here.

Monday marks the 24-year anniversary of Black Monday, the 1987 stock market crash that nearly broke the system.

Investor panic was a culprit in the market nosedive that left major exchanges down more than 20 percent by the end of the month. The emotional reaction to Black Monday triggered investors to sell in a panicked state rather than follow a strategic plan.

What have we learned in the almost two-and-a-half decades since Black Monday? Some investors, it seems, have learned very little—recent events show investors still follow emotions rather than creating a plan based on goals. Here are some things to keep in mind:

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It’s not quite as scary as tax season, but open enrollment season can leave many employees confused and looking for answers.

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series CEO Scott Holsopple offers advice to make enrolling in your benefit options easier and more enjoyable in Preparing for Open Enrollment.

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There are many considerations to make before taking money out of your retirement plan, like outstanding loans, fees and available investment options.

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series CEO Scott Holsopple examines what you need to contemplate when taking qualified distributions in 6 Considerations When Taking Money Out Of Your Work Retirement Plan.

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Target-date funds are a popular option for 401(k) participants interested in a more hands-off approach to creating an investment strategy. But there can be a downside to target-date funds, if you don’t understand how they work.

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series CEO Scott Holsopple breaks down target-date funds in Where Is Your Target-Date Fund Taking You?.

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Death and finances are two subjects few people like discussing. Preparing your finances for death is a subject nearly no one wants to discuss, but it is necessary. And the more your finances are in order, the better off your family and loved ones will be when that time comes.

In his weekly submission to the U.S. News and World Report Smarter Investor blog series CEO Scott Holsopple discusses what steps should be taken to prepare your finances for your death.

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Basing your 401(k) decisions on what everyone else is doing may be the easiest and most convenient route to take, but is a good choice for your retirement plan?

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series, CEO Scott Holsopple explains why following the beaten path is a flawed practice when it comes to retirement investing and find out what steps should be taken to create a retirement plan that best suits you.

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401(k) plans can vary greatly from one employer to another and the available features can change the overall effectiveness of a 401(k) in a big way.

Recognizing the importance of these features, CEO Scott Holsopple discusses six features of a good 401(k) plan in his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report.

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Diversification is a term you hear thrown all around the retirement investing world. And because it is used so much, the definition and execution of diversification has become muddled and confusing— so much so that some investors occasionally harm their investment portfolio when they try diversifying.

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series, Smart 401k CEO Scott Holsopple attempts to clear up some of the confusion by examining diversification in retirement planning.

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When most people think about creating a nest egg for their retirement, one thing usually comes to mind, choosing investments. While very important, investing is not the only tool that should be used to build retirement income.

In his latest submission to the U.S. News & World Report Smarter Investor blog series, Smart 401k CEO Scott Holsopple discusses the other, equally important tool for building a retirement nest egg, saving.  Once the importance of saving for retirement is understood, you can then examine your retirement plan as a whole.

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With so much instability and headline-grabbing events in the market lately, it can be easy to act suddenly when it comes to your 401(k) investments.  While it may feel like you are gaining control, you could be hurting yourself in the long run.

In his weekly submission to the US New Smarter Investor blog series, Smart401k CEO Scott Holsopple offers readers a few questions to ask themselves to help gauge their risk tolerance before they commit to any changes in their retirement investments. He also offers advice on what action to take once you have

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