The Historical Passivity of Retirement
The evolution of funding a retirement has been consistently passive. Decades ago, most people were indifferent about their retirement, believing that Social Security and Medicare would take care of them. With the arrival of the Baby-Boomer era, people began to realize that governmental programs would not be enough to support them, and thus came the need for an additional self-funded retirement vehicle.
For most people, the simple and common choice of a retirement vehicle was either a 401(k), or a simple IRA. The commonality between the two
was that they are both governmental sanctioned plans that allow individuals to 
contribute pre-taxed moneys into a controlled account which in turns
invests the money and creates greater wealth through compounding returns. (See the side graph which highlights the strength of compounding
interest over time.)
For most investors, both of these retirement vehicles seemingly provided a risk-free, worry-free, and otherwise effortless supplement to their retirement portfolio. As long as they were contributing to either plan, they could sleep better at night, not having to worry further about their financial future.
The choice between a 401(k) and an IRA was also a simple one. Although there are various differences between the two (see the below link for greater detail), the most common deciding factor was availability. A 401(K) is an employer-sponsored plan, whereas an IRA was individually set up by the investor. So, if a person worked for a company that provided for a 401(k) plan, then they typically used that plan for their retirement.
So based on the above criteria, the decision between a 401(k) and an IRA was not a hard thought-over decision. If a person qualified for a 401(k), then typically that is what they did. If not, then they looked towards IRAs as a means to bolster their retirement.
Become Active... Then See What Is Best.
The problem with the historical line of thinking is that it is far too passive. The effortless simplicity of these programs (typically automatic withdrawals from every paycheck) coupled with consistent growth over time, has created a complacency that lulled investors into believing the programs took care of themselves. Nothing should be farther from the truth. Although both of these investment vehicles can generate great wealth, and though they are the most abundantly used investments today, most investors inadvertently chose one or the other without fully analyzing which would actually be better for their situation. Quite often a combination of the two plans could be more profitable . . . or it may be better to choose Roth IRA’s or Roth 401(k) as opposed to the traditional “pre-taxed” investments.
Today, investors need to be more aware of their investment options and they need to focus more on maximizing their returns. The difference between a secure retirement and an extremely wealthy (early) retirement is very small. It simply requires a little more attention and knowledge. Investors need to better understand the benefits and limitations of all investment types, and they need to analyze such issues in light of their specific facts and circumstances. Investors should also look into the format of the Roth IRA and 401(k) as well as the benefits and freedom of having a “self-directed” retirement plan.
Although there may be multiple steps involved in broadening your retirement ventures, your first step is very simple; gain more knowledge. The links below will provide additional detail on the differences between 401(k)s and IRAs, and on the difference of the “Roth” investment structure as opposed to “Traditional” formats. But these links are only outlines of main topical criteria. To get a greater understanding of all the pertinent issues and options surrounding this field, and to get specific advice relative to your factual situation, we strongly suggest speaking with licensed professionals. The third link below will take you to our preferred affiliate’s page where you can view information on the companies that we use and recommend, for these services.
Note: Neither FDC Services, Inc. nor the FDC Services Group are US Securities Dealers or Brokers, nor are they Investment Advisers. The material printed in this website is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be taken as professional advice to any specific person or situation. FDC Services and the FDC Service Group strongly recommend that all investors consult licensed professionals in the legal, tax, and/or the securities field for direct advice.
Additional Information on Retirement Funds Investing
Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA |
Self-Directing Your Retirement Fund
Making more money and smarter choices is a lot easier
when you have the right tools.
For greater information on how self-directing your retirement monies can be leveraged with real estate, contact FDC Services Inc.
Self-Directed IRA and 401k
Partner Affiliations
In the spirit of our search to consistently associate with very high quality companies we have met with and interviewed the following companies. We of course advocate you doing your own diligence before you select a company. There are many good resources below which should help you in your decision and of course you may call or email an FDC representative at any time.
Guidant Financial Group
Information from Guidant Financial Group
- For information specific to Self-Directed IRA products that Guidant Financial offers to investors read more at their website.
- One of Guidant's investment vehicles - Auriga™ allows an investor the ability to purchase real estate with their retirement funds. Watch this video to learn about using Guidant's Auriga™.
- Guidant periodically hosts learning seminars online. Review the format, time and date information at this location.
For more information please contact:
Doug Miller
Senior Account Manager
13122 N.E. 20th. St. Ste. 100 | Bellevue, WA 98005
telephone: 888.472.4455 x3235