Comments on: The Best 401(k) Plans http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/30/the-best-401k-plans/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:51:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: John http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/30/the-best-401k-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-130495 John Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:05:35 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3259#comment-130495 It would be nice if either BrightScope or BusinessWeek provided you a little bit of information on how any of the plans actually work. i.e. What is the employer contribution, what is the company match, how long to vest, and what are the fees and investment choices? I really don't care how big the total plan is, or how high the participation rate is, I want to know what the plan can do for me. Information like the average account balance, the net assets, and the number of members are pretty useless statistics if, for example, you wanted to compare job offers from two competing companies on the list. It would be nice if either BrightScope or BusinessWeek provided you a little bit of information on how any of the plans actually work.

i.e. What is the employer contribution, what is the company match, how long to vest, and what are the fees and investment choices? I really don’t care how big the total plan is, or how high the participation rate is, I want to know what the plan can do for me.

Information like the average account balance, the net assets, and the number of members are pretty useless statistics if, for example, you wanted to compare job offers from two competing companies on the list.

]]> By: SandwichArtist http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/30/the-best-401k-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-130492 SandwichArtist Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:31:39 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3259#comment-130492 Since energy is such a volatile market, many oil and gas producers hedge the majority of their production, so they aren't affected as much by the price volatility. If they've hedged enough, then they're doing as well now as they did before. Since energy is such a volatile market, many oil and gas producers hedge the majority of their production, so they aren’t affected as much by the price volatility. If they’ve hedged enough, then they’re doing as well now as they did before.

]]> By: Baker @ ManVsDebt http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/30/the-best-401k-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-130490 Baker @ ManVsDebt Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:12:03 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3259#comment-130490 I'm not surprised Southwest Airlines made this list. They are constantly in the news for being a great employer. I try to do as much business with them as I can when I travel! I’m not surprised Southwest Airlines made this list. They are constantly in the news for being a great employer. I try to do as much business with them as I can when I travel!

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/30/the-best-401k-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-130488 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:08:31 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3259#comment-130488 Funny that the best 401(k)'s are with companies that are the current high flyers-- like the oil companies. It will be interesting t o look at this list again when their fortunes turn and see if they are still as generous . . . Funny that the best 401(k)’s are with companies that are the current high flyers– like the oil companies. It will be interesting t o look at this list again when their fortunes turn and see if they are still as generous . . .

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