Best retirement vehicles?? Suggestions??

[rsnoble-im-back]

I'm not talking bout biz ideas, etc im talkin 'bout a generally considered safe retirement fund like med or low yield in a roth.

What are some suggestions?

I need to get something started, I had a pension in my formeer job but may not be able to return it so thats axed, + if I did the future benefits were slashed do to the crash. It could recovery, but im think another recession in nthe near future. Plus you have to work to contribute to it and the workload has been taking a beating for several years.

I sures the hell don't trust the gov't and social security.

So what should I do?

 

[rsnoble-im-back]

Well I had meant to post this on Bran's board, have no idea how I ended up here. Must be getting nervous, leaving for KUMed shortly to get xrayed-I have several problem spots that won't heal where they suspect there are still meta staples under my skin and will have to fish them out. fuk!

 

[bran987]

I will copy this over to the EF Success and Wealth Board

I am also making a formal request for gonelifting to respond to your excellent question, I will PM him.

 

[mrplunkey]

I'm not talking bout biz ideas, etc im talkin 'bout a generally considered safe retirement fund like med or low yield in a roth.

What are some suggestions?

I need to get something started, I had a pension in my formeer job but may not be able to return it so thats axed, + if I did the future benefits were slashed do to the crash. It could recovery, but im think another recession in nthe near future. Plus you have to work to contribute to it and the workload has been taking a beating for several years.

I sures the hell don't trust the gov't and social security.

So what should I do?

I personally like bond ladders, but they are more of a wealth preservation scheme than a wealth generation vehicle. Basically take your money, break it into blocks and invest in a series of bonds. I only do AAA-insured municipal tax-free stuff. The rates are horribly low, but 1) The are exempt from federal taxes and 2) They are very safe. If you buy some bonds at say... 3 years out, some at 4, 5, 6, etc. etc, the blended rate of return is decent because the longer-term bonds pay a little better than the short term ones. As a bond matures, you take the cash and put it at the end of the ladder (for example, I go out 15 years now). Once the ladder is up and running, consider this: 5 years in, the bond you bought for year 6 is actually a 1-year bond but it will be paying a much better return (most likely, unless interest rates go crazy) than a normal 1-year bond.

Anyway... i like that because 1) I hate the stock market and 2) I hate taxes.