What kind of return do you get on your IRA/401k/investment/savings fund?

[2Xtreme21]

-0.3%

Granted, I've only been putting money in for about 18 months, and I started investing in a rocky time... but I don't like the idea that I could have made MORE money had I just stuffed the same amount of cash under my mattress for the last 1.5 years and not relied on the market. Then again, I wouldn't have gotten any employer matching, so I'm still technically ahead.

 

[PingSpike]

-0.3%

Granted, I've only been putting money in for about 18 months, and I started investing in a rocky time... but I don't like the idea that I could have made MORE money had I just stuffed the same amount of cash under my mattress for the last 1.5 years and not relied on the market. Then again, I wouldn't have gotten any employer matching, so I'm still technically ahead.

Couldn't you have just loaded it all into bonds in your 401K and still got the employer match?

 

[Kev]

not much

 

[Elbryn]

this is kinda an arbitrary question. go back to 2007 and everyone would be posting happy gains. go to 4/2009 and it's dumpsville. yes, the market has been relatively flat the last 10 years. but there have been spikes in between. in theory, if you rebalanced during the spikes, you captures some of those gains and the big drops hurt less. not a lot of difference between 40% loss and 50% loss but it helps.

while there havent been too many gains on the accounts, our total value is up, due to contributions.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

up 5% wooo!

 

[PhaZe]

Right now 2.5%, but was in the negative for a few weeks. I barely started my career so I do not have much, just contributing 8% since January.

Currently, my employer matches 4% but they always announce the match % after the FQ. Is this normal for most companies? I've only worked here. So if we have a crappy quarter, they'll say sorry no matches on what you contributed during the quarter.

 

[rcpratt]

Right now 2.5%, but was in the negative for a few weeks. I barely started my career so I do not have much, just contributing 8% since January.

Currently, my employer matches 4% but they always announce the match % after the FQ. Is this normal for most companies? I've only worked here. So if we have a crappy quarter, they'll say sorry no matches on what you contributed during the quarter.

Mine are simply matched (fully on first 4%, half on next 4%) as I contribute each paycheck. Big company, though. And the utility business has more consistent earnings.

 

[PingSpike]

Right now 2.5%, but was in the negative for a few weeks. I barely started my career so I do not have much, just contributing 8% since January.

Currently, my employer matches 4% but they always announce the match % after the FQ. Is this normal for most companies? I've only worked here. So if we have a crappy quarter, they'll say sorry no matches on what you contributed during the quarter.

I've never heard of that system, I guess its sort of like a bonus pool. Feels like gambling though...and if you already had plenty of retirement savings and didn't contribute you'd get screwed. By the same token, if you were playing catch up late in the game on retirement savings it'd be pretty sweet. I can't say I'd like it myself.

 

[tk149]

Right now 2.5%, but was in the negative for a few weeks. I barely started my career so I do not have much, just contributing 8% since January.

Currently, my employer matches 4% but they always announce the match % after the FQ. Is this normal for most companies? I've only worked here. So if we have a crappy quarter, they'll say sorry no matches on what you contributed during the quarter.

My last three companies matched each paycheck.

Your employer's system seems kind of crappy. Not only are you not guaranteed the match, but you lose out on potential earnings because they only match after the FQ.

 

[edro]

I have no idea. I can't sort out what are gains and what are contributions.

 

[SSUSeaWolf]

boom

 

[irishScott]

I have most of mine in a 1 year CD. Was 4.5% 4 years ago, 1.5% now Switching next renewal period.

 

[Chaotic42]

Looking quickly at my stock portfolio, I'm up 92% overall since like Nov 2008.

 

[boomhower]

My 401k is -7% on the year, freaking sucks.

 

[mb]

On my 401k:
I ended the year at +18.11%
Last year was +34.01% but 2008 was -34.53%

Hopefully 2011 will be positive.

 

[JS80]

My rollover IRA is up 50% in 2010 thanks to RIG and ATPG.

 

[rcpratt]

My 401k website still won't tell me, but according to Morningstar the annualized ROR was 13.75%.

I'm fairly certain that it doesn't count dividend returns in that though, and considering about 35% of my stock is company stock, which has a nearly 5% dividend yield, it's actually a bit higher.

 

[Ns1]

2010

Your Personal Rate of Return
This Period 3.3%

 

[shadow9d9]

I was thinking about putting money in with someone for mutual funds since the market is low now and I actually have money that I can put away. Still looking though to see where to put it.



That's from dividends?

Market is low now? It is near its high, doubling in the last 2 years...

 

[dullard]

Market is low now? It is near its high, doubling in the last 2 years...

I think you missed the fact that this is an old thread. When he posted that, the market was right at a 52-week low. And the market has risen ever since.

 

[shadow9d9]

I think you missed the fact that this is an old thread. When he posted that, the market was right at a 52-week low. And the market has risen ever since.

You are right.

Why resurrect old threads?

 

[mb]

Meh it's not that old and it's not like its more than 1 page so why bother making a new one. Plus it's interesting to see how peoples #s have changed if they replied earlier.

 

[Elbryn]

Meh it's not that old and it's not like its more than 1 page so why bother making a new one. Plus it's interesting to see how peoples #s have changed if they replied earlier.

i think it's safe to say anyone that stayed the course is now breaking even or exceeding due to contributions during the down period.

 

[bignateyk]

I started my 401K 4 years ago. The combination of my deposits and my employer match is $41K. The current value is only $49K. I'm not sure what that works out to as a return, but my guess is barely above inflation.

 

[rcpratt]

I started my 401K 4 years ago. The combination of my deposits and my employer match is $41K. The current value is only $49K. I'm not sure what that works out to as a return, but my guess is barely above inflation.

Something like 4.5% annualized, which is more than inflation for this period I believe. Not too bad really.