What is your plan ? This question coming from someone with no clue .
Where do you put your life savings ?

MO

Outside of my 401k the only place I put retirement money is ETFs. Mainly I invest in small and mid cap ETFs because I have a ways to go before retirement.

mutual funds mostly for retirement
couple smaller saving accounts for things like the kids college

Just give your life savings to Z&D. Their motto is �we�re gonna be rich! As rich as nazis!� You can�t go wrong with them.

I have a guy that has handled our investments. He has done very well for us with a diversified portfolio. I'm an engineer, not a finance or accounting guy. But I am not a stupid man either. I have a general understanding of things. Being a few months from retirement, I can advise you that if you are working and making hay and don't have the time to fully devote to investment vehicles, then your best bet is to get a guy. Mine is with LPL. I can recommend him if you like. PM me.

If you have "no clue" and don't have the time/desire to closely follow stocks; don't invest in individual stocks.

I'd start simple.

Determine the year you plan on retiring and invest your money in a Vanguard target retirement date mutual fund.

As you get more experience, you can then fine tune your investment strategy. (Google "coffee house portfolio" for basic investment strategies using a small hedge based on predictable reversion to the mean)

Maybe something like this (copied and pasted from a thread last year)



If you swing for the fences with little experience, be prepared to strike out.

With what happend to GE , are there any real " blue Chips " these days ?

MO

Get a financial advisor and go with a diversified portfolio to spread the risk. Don't buy individual stocks if you don't know what you're doing. I have retirement going into TIAA/CREF and Prudential. My stock investments are play money and for fun.

Or invest in Derek/Natty blankets.

Penny Stocks. I'm a high roller.

Haha, GE is heading down bigly. For years I've gotten the same advice from friends, buy some GE stock. I never did. Stocks will raise your blood pressure, but you can get a discount on the meds.

If you get a "guy" look at the fees they are charging you and then look at them again. Someone is paying for his/her fancy car and nice office and it's you.

If you want to learn more read A Boglehead's Guide to Retirement Planning by Taylor Larimore. It's $13 bucks on Amazon for an actual book and it will save you thousands in fees from using a "guy". Investing is not hard and I spend less time on my investing accounts per year than on my taxes (maybe 6 hrs ayear).

Look if you have to have a "guy" to talk too, read the book and then go to Schwab or Fidelity who have some local offices in big cities. Just pick the low cost mutual funds/ETFs and you will be fine.

I am trying to ween my parents off of their local "guy" who is charging them multiple thousands of dollars in fees to go to Schwab or Fidelity but they do not have a local office. I keep telling them for the money they are staying they can drive to the big city, stay in a fancy hotel downtown for their annual meeting and still come out ahead.

If drugs did not expire , I would put all my money into inventory.

MO

"Guys" that are trained and educated in Finance are worth their fees. If they give me 5% return and actually get 6% and take 1%, I am good with that. It is incentive for them to work harder to make more. Remember, how every one had an Uncle Henry that had a video camera to shoot wedding videos and save money. You get what you pay for. It takes money to make money.

If, you are retired and have plenty of time to watch the financials daily, and have time to read books on investing, and learn the investment trade, then that is great. Again, if you are working on making a living and staying current on your working skillset, then get a good investment guy or company.

I am still working , running a business. I will turn 66 this year , but do not plan to sell buisness or fully retire for a few more years. Right now , all my liquid assets are in my checking account.. ( lazy money)

I just need to get this money working , without putting it at too much risk.

Thanks for the replies

MO

Scott Burns Couch Potato for newbies.