It's dismaying, but a lot of folks know just about nothing about how to invest in financial assets.
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I came from a time when directing one's own pension was not done -- at least for those of us in the middle class or lower. And even when the practice did become more readily available, a lot of people were made to feel they couldn't do it. Particularly women. I can remember at a benefits meeting in one of my past jobs (mostly women attendees), this human resources guy said we women didn't have to worry about benefits because most of us were married and our husbands would take care of us. Huh?
To this day, there are a number of women I know who won't even try to manage their own pension or financial assets. As soon as I could, I directed my own pension and still do to this day. I made a few mistakes, but I think overall, I'm better off than if I had let my employer(s) do it for me. Just wish I could do this with all that money I paid into Social Security.
Dear fatnotlazy,
"To this day, there are a number of women I know who won't even try to manage their own pension or financial assets."
As an employer, I can promise you, there are just as many men as women who are stupid about investing.
As for Social Security, if I could have taken the money I've paid in till now and just bought index funds, combined with my other retirment savings, I could retire by now. I'm 46.
sitetest