Deferred comp or privately invest???

[lvladder1]

Well, lets just say you had 100k (hypothetically) in deferred comp 6 months ago. Now you got 50k:eek:... WTF do you (I) do? Let it ride, double down? (buy LOW). Or pull it out & privately invest in something else? (believe me everybody wants your $money$)

Old timers or IVY leaguers, feel free to chime in.
I'm approaching the middle third of my career & starting to think more & MORE about retirement.

[firemedic301]

max out your contributions and let them ride. Right now you are getting a lot of bang for your buck down the road. when you have 3-5 years to go before retirement try to read the market and make a decision then. The only way you lose in this market is to pull it out NOW. the market will bounce back. The future of PERS is the scary situation for me.

However if you are smart and you can lessen your contributions slightly and purchase a Vacation/Rental home or an investment property while the housing market is down you will not regret it down the road.

[Berdoo Beau]

It kills me to say this but... Steve is right. AAAHHHHHH!!!!! Geez, that stung.

I'll say it again... Steve is right (ya know, it's like whiskey... the second time doesn't burn as much...). Anyway...

Leave the bucks alone! Back away from the phone! No touchy the moo-lah. If anything - add to it. Dollar Cost Averaging is the way to go. The Market WILL bounce back. End of story. Always has. Always will. If Warren Buffet is not worried - and he just dumped 100% of his liquid assets into the stock market - then I'm cool with that.

No worries. It'll get ugly and then it'll get better. Head down - eyes up, check your 6 o'clock, deep breath, move forward. Continue.

Cheers!
Bill

[TaylorMade]

If anyone gets out now they would be kicking themselves 3 years from now. I have seen ups and downs. During the lows, I bought low.

I was aggressively investing in my own account with a broker before they offered deferred comp.

Since I only have 4 years left, I went to cash last year. I virtually recovered all of my losses from the tech bubble and then got out.

Keep your own eye on your retirement account and dump the non performing funds after one or two years and move it into something else.

[desertmedic]

Beau, you forgot...
Move through the target.... MOVE THOUGH THE TARGET! ;)

[methodman]

Beau, you forgot...
Move through the target.... MOVE THOUGH THE TARGET! ;)

Hell, with all that I have lost in the market this month, I cannot even afford to shop at TARGET desertmedic!

[BCLepore]

I am down over 150K. I agree, it's hard to watch it slide. It was sure fun to watch it go up.....
I have not decreased my contributions. I believe in dollar cost averaging and will ride it out.
I look at deferred comp as "play money." I do worry about PERS though...

[Livin' in GOD's Country]

Hey the Chief is right, remember that deferred comp is or should be extra retirement / play money. You still have a pension to live on. Yes, I know that we are all worried about PERS but we have good people in there I am sure it will be fine in the long run. Just manage your funds now and watch the TOYS.