Investment plans at work

You have several options to choose from as you plan for life after work. Many companies offer savings and retirement plans. The retirement income you receive from such a plan depends on how much you (and your employer) have contributed during your working years and the earnings on those contributions.

• 401(k): Company retirement savings plan
• 403(b): A plan often available to employees of public schools and some religious, charitable, or educational tax-exempt organizations
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): available to people who work for the U.S. government either as civilians or as members of the uniformed services

The amount you regularly contribute to one of these plans is usually taken out before you receive your paycheck, so it isn't taxed. Many companies also will make a matching contribution. For example, a company might contribute 50 cents for each dollar you contribute. The money is typically invested in preselected mutual funds. However, you can choose from among the funds, as well as what percentage of your contribution you want invested.

Money put into a mutual fund is pooled with the money of many other investors. By investing in a mutual fund, you buy units of that fund. The value of your units can rise or fall based on the type and performance of the mutual fund.

If you leave a company, you can roll over—or move—your eligible retirement funds left to another qualifying retirement account with a new company or into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). You'll learn more about IRAs later in this lesson.

Types of IRAs

If you think an IRA may be an investment worth exploring, be aware of your options to decide which one is right for you. There are two basic kinds of IRAs:

• Traditional IRA: This type allows you to defer taxes on your earnings until you withdraw them. Certain contributions are tax deductible on your tax return depending on your income tax filing status. If you withdraw the funds after age 59½, you pay a regular income tax rate. However, If you withdraw it before age 59½, you will likely have to pay income tax and a 10 percent to 25 percent penalty on any earnings. If the funds are used to pay for education expenses or for one of nine exceptions, the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty does not apply. Distributions must begin by April 1 after the year you turn 70.
• Roth IRA: Contributions to this account are not tax deductible. It allows tax-free withdrawals after you reach age 59½, and before that time under certain conditions. Unlike a traditional IRA, which requires you to withdraw money by age 70½, a Roth IRA allows you to leave your account intact for as long as you wish. People who expect to be in a higher tax bracket when they retire may benefit more from these accounts than from traditional IRAs.

Withdrawals from either a Roth or traditional IRA if used for a first-time home purchase up to $10,000 are not subject to the 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal.

You can generally open an IRA at a financial institution or brokerage. Expect to pay an annual fee of between $10 and $45 for handling the account. Conduct some research to find banks and brokerages that charge low rates.

If you change jobs, you can move any money in an existing 401(k) account into a rollover IRA or into your new company's 401(k). Legislation passed in 2002 also allows 401(k) funds to be rolled over into a 403(b) plan and vice versa if the specific plan allows for such rollovers.

For more information on IRAs, visit this FAQ page on Individual Retirement Accounts from the IRS.

Avoid investment scams

While the Internet is a great place to conduct investment research, it also provides a fertile ground for investments scams. Online investment scams are similar to the frauds perpetrated over the phone or through the mail. Fraudsters can spread false information using numerous Internet tools, including bulletin boards, online newsletters, spam or junk email, and chat. They can even build great-looking websites.

Investment frauds usually fit one of the following categories:

• The pump-and-dump scam
  Messages posted online urge readers to buy a stock quickly or sell before the price goes down. Often, the writers claim they have inside information. Usually, however, they are paid promoters who actually gain by selling their shares after the stock price is pumped up by unsuspecting investors. Once these fraudsters sell their shares and stop hyping the stock, the price typically falls and investors lose their money.
• The pyramid scam
  Be wary of messages that read, "Make Big Money From Home Using Your Computer!" It will typically say you can make thousands of dollars in a very short time. This is an electronic version of the classic pyramid scheme in which participants attempt to make money by recruiting others into the program. If an investment opportunity suggests that most of your revenue will come from recruiting, avoid it.
• The risk-free fraud
  Watch out for investment offers that promise guaranteed returns or low-risk, high-return results. Remember that no investment is free of risk. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Off-shore frauds
  Be careful when considering any investment opportunity from another country. It is difficult for your country's law-enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute foreign frauds.

Before you respond to any online or offline investment opportunity, ask questions. Get detailed information about the company and product. Be wary of paying upfront fees or sharing any personal or financial information. To learn more about different kinds of investment scams, take a look at the Federal Trade Commission's information on Investments and Grants.