I am thinking of pulling all my cash out of my 401K

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
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i can not believe how much money I have lost in my 401K. 6 years of earnings gone in 2 months... all my funds have dropped by over half and from what the talking heads are saying the market isnt going to get any better.

so what is one to do? sit back and watch my hard earned money just go away? or pull it out and put it in a fricken savings account that will earn 1.5% interest? that 1.5% is a lot better than what i am earning right now.

yes i know i will have to pay a tax but at the moment that tax will be cheaper than sitting on it and watching the market siphon my funds dry.

:(
 

manlymatt83

Lifer
Oct 14, 2005
10,051
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You should be able to liquidate your positions and put the remainder into savings without taking a hit.
 

Hoober

Diamond Member
Feb 9, 2001
4,401
45
91
You're a pretty young guy, right Citrix? If so, I'd just let it sit there. Historically, the market always comes back.

If you're 70, then you're just SOL.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
Stick it out man

I have stuck it out and its cost me a LOT of money. do i continue to stick it out and lose the rest of my money and have no retirement funds at all?
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: Hoober
You're a pretty young guy, right Citrix? If so, I'd just let it sit there. Historically, the market always comes back.

If you're 70, then you're just SOL.

I just turned 40
 

BrownTown

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
5,314
1
0
Thats got to be the dumbest idea ever man, you have lost any REAL money until you cash out. Just ride it out, its not like the stock market will never come back (and if it does our economies gonna be so fucked up NOTHING will be safe)
 

Noirish

Diamond Member
May 2, 2000
3,959
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try to put it in bond or guaranteed portfolio.

paying tax on the remaining is the worst thing you can do now.
it's instant loss.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Thats got to be the dumbest idea ever man, you have lost any REAL money until you cash out. Just ride it out, its not like the stock market will never come back (and if it does our economies gonna be so fucked up NOTHING will be safe)

no real money? the hell it isnt real money.
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
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You'll regret later to your knee jerk reaction. If you are not in desperate need of the money, just leave your 401k alone. You may want to look into if you have the option to put your 401k into a money market fund instead. That way you don't get penalized for withdrawing from your 401k and interest rate for money market funds > savings account.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: Noirish
try to put it in bond or guaranteed portfolio.

paying tax on the remaining is the worst thing you can do now.
it's instant loss.


if the pattern continues the tax will be less than what i will lose.

 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
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Oh my god this is the worst time ever to sell. You're 40, you aren't retiring for decades. Stick it out dude.
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
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Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
Stick it out man

I have stuck it out and its cost me a LOT of money. do i continue to stick it out and lose the rest of my money and have no retirement funds at all?

It hasn't cost you ANYTHING unless you DO pull it out.

If you're still 10+ years away from retiring don't even worry about it.
 

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
The time to pull the money out was about 3 months ago. Pull it out now and you're basically selling low.
 

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
4,484
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Originally posted by: rudeguy
Originally posted by: joesmoke
put it ALL in GM...

If I buy stock in GM, does that mean I will own part of the government soon?

If you buy stock in GM and then I buy stock in GM, does that mean I own part of you?
 

speg

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2000
3,681
3
76
www.speg.com
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Thats got to be the dumbest idea ever man, you have lost any REAL money until you cash out. Just ride it out, its not like the stock market will never come back (and if it does our economies gonna be so fucked up NOTHING will be safe)

no real money? the hell it isnt real money.

BrownTown is right. You spent that money years ago and got equities in exchange. You still have all those equities...

...they just aren't worth as much as they were they were six months ago...

... but they could be worth twice as much six months from now.

Three months ago, you could have considered moving into cash, but now you should be buying.