Keystone Financial Group

Maximize Your 401(k) Benefits at Work

How Are You Planning for Your Retirement?

Someday, we will all retire or at least slow down. The question is, how prepared will you before that day? In case you are among those who have not started saving for retirement or have only saved a token amount, there are three things to keep in mind about this retirement strategy.

  • First, it’s never too late to begin saving for retirement, and no amount is too small.
  • Second, if you have an employer-sponsored 401(k) available to you, you could be missing out on a lot of free money that comes in the form of employer contributions. Before you do anything, contact your plan administrator and determine if there is an employer match and how much it is.
  • Finally, I would recommend that you not save for retirement at the expense of your other financial needs goals. Instead, any retirement savings should be built into your budget. It will be deducted on a pre-tax basis and before you ever see it, so the “out of sight, out of mind”
    principle will help you save without you even realizing it.

How to Get the Most Out of a Qualified Plan

I often find that people under-participate in a qualified plan because they do not understand how it works, but I am a Section 3(21) qualified plan fiduciary.
As a retirement planner, I not only work with companies in the creation of qualified plans, but I also work with sponsors of existing plans and their employees to help educate them about the benefits and mechanics of those plans. The Department of Labor has many publications about the fiduciary responsibilities of a plan sponsor, and I often work with companies to help them meet those obligations to their employees.

My advice would be to ask your employer if such an educational partnership already exists or
to contact a 3(21) financial specialist to assist you in the enrollment and investing process. This
will be much better than doing nothing.

Not All 401(K) Plans Are Equal: Pay Attention to the Plan Details

Before you start investing in a 401(k), I recommend that you evaluate several parts of it. Pay attention, for example, to fees.

Fee disclosures are required to be provided to participants, and
over time, the internal expenses of funds and plan costs could be significant. I would also research the plan to determine rates of matching, the frequency of communication, if there are web-based access portals, the presence of retirement planning calculators or similar tools, and whether or not options exist for a self-directed portfolio.

Some qualified plans offer a “Roth” account, which can have significant tax advantages, and the option to directly transfer balances from the plans of previous employers. While I don’t recommend taking loans from the plan, it would also be a good idea to understand the limitations that would apply to requesting loans from the plan if the need arises.
Qualified plans aren’t all cast from the same mold, and yes, there are some good and not-so-good plans out there. At a high level, though, a 401(k) or another similar plan can be a fantastic tool to use for retirement planning. If you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late.

Don’t leave an employer’s match on the table: Just start! Build it into your budget, and work with a professional to help in the design of your portfolio. And as always, if you have any questions about financial planning, or need a financial planner in Alabama, we are always ready to help.


*David R. Guttery, RFC, RFS, CAM, is a financial advisor and has been in practice for 31 years. He is the president of Keystone Financial Group in Trussville, Ala. David offers products and services using the following business names:  Keystone Financial Group – insurance and financial services | Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC), Member FINRA / SIPC – securities and investments | Ameritas Advisory Services – investment advisory services.  AIC and AAS are not affiliated with Keystone Financial Group. Information provided here is gathered from sources believed to be reliable; however, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. This information should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

Video Content

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings.  These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.  

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors.  Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well.  Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings. These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors. Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well. Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

YouTube Video VVVkd3dBLXV6ZGNYTXZGVmoxNUlwOHp3LkNZTTZNR1dfQzVr
Keystone Financial Group 39

Things Arent Always As They Seem 2025 KFG 2

Keystone Financial Group May 17, 2025 2:46 pm

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings.  These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.  

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors.  Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well.  Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings. These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors. Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well. Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

YouTube Video VVVkd3dBLXV6ZGNYTXZGVmoxNUlwOHp3LmcyMkNlNjVUUWhV

Things Arent Always As They Seem 2025 IFA 1

Keystone Financial Group May 17, 2025 2:38 pm

Recent Posts

Archives

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Submit Your Application Below


Skip to content
Keystone Financial
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.