Retirement Place Reviews - Where is the best place to invest money for retirement?

Where is the best place to invest money for retirement?

I currently have money in a 403 B that purchases Class B shares (American Funds). I'm 34 years old.

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Class B shares usually have pretty high fees. Unless they match that may not be such a good idea. An IRA might be better.
I'm 26 and just invested in a Roth IRA and few mutual funds. I think either of those if you're in it for the long run (sounds like you are!).
When I was in my 30's I bought 4 apartment houses with a total of 13 units in them. When I retire, all will be paid off and I will have a gross cash flow of around $6,000 per month, netting maybe $4,000 to $4,500. Plus I have around $500,000 in equity in them if I wanted to sell them off and cash out. When coupled with my IRA's and social security and a few other investments, that ought to provide for a very nice retirement. I personally like the real estate though because it gives a really good solid base to a retirement portfolio if you're willing to put in a little sweat equity. Just be smart though, buy the places right, make sure you have positive monthly cash flow, and you won't get burned like some of the people in the current housing crunch. Good luck and happy investing!
You want to go for a ROTH IRA, since you are fairly young, your mix of investments should be around 50% fixed securities and the other 50% in mutual funds and stocks.
You should see if A shares are available within your plan. Generally speaking on average The American Funds have a higher than average return and a lower than average expense ratio. With that said it depends on the funds you selected. Since you have a 403B I will assume that you are receiving some type of match form your employer. that alone makes the 403(b) better than an IRA you could get on your own. If you are asking this because you are not longer employed where you started the 403(b). You may be able to leave the money in the 403(b) or roll it into an IRA with the American Funds. Keep in mind the 403(b) is protected from creditors while IRA's are not. If still employed ask the plan representative to assist you in evaluating your portfolio. If not call an independent broker or financial planner who can assist you in evaluating your portfolio. If you have trusted insurance agent they may be able to help you with this. Be careful if they are quick to recommend moving your money without really looking at your plans performance, they may be after a commission.
Invest your money in index funds. Consider opening up at Roth or Traditional IRA, after funding your 403 B to capture the full employer match
I believe your on the right track by to have gottn the 403B.. Its good to see what else u can do if have any other resouses lelt.. Maybe u could open a new business :) mayb thats 2 far off. look at PALMEVE tho or u can ask a financial advisor 2.. Lots of options
Hopefully the 403b has a match. If so, it might be worth it to put enough in to get the match. American Funds have been good performers but their costs are usually pretty high. After making sure you get the maximum match you can put investments outside of the 403b. These seem to be the priorities for saving for retirement 1. The amount of money you invest. You should try to put at least 10% of you salary away. That may be hard when you start out but if you increase the % each year you get a raise you will get there. 2. How you allocate your investement between large, small and international stocks and bond. Since you have a long time until retirement you should probably have at least 60% in stocks. You need to treat all your investments as if they are in one portfolio. e.g. if you invest in a Roth or Regualar IRA in addition to the 403b then you should look at both as if they were one. i.e. if you 403b has a very high cost small cap fund then put you allocaction to small cap in your IRA. 3. Low cost - try to invest in mutual funds that are low in cost e.g index funds if possible. A good index fund that invests in the S&P 500 (500 of the largest US stocks) might have an expense ratio of 1/5 of one percent - some large cap funds charge a full percent or more. Over time these expenses can really hurt the size of your nest egg. 4. Minumize taxes - 403b allows you to shelter your nest egg from taxes until you withdraw the money. If you invest in a non retirement account you want funds that don't give off a lot of income (dividends or capital gains). Consider Vanguard for investments outside your 403b. They have good low cost index funds. So decide how you want to allocate your investements. Then see what the best funds are in your 403b or outside it and allocated to those funds. I have included a good user friendly book and web site Good Luck
J said "American Funds have been good performers but their costs are usually pretty high" I know for a fact American funds have higher than average returns and lower than average expenses. Many people are fooled thinking a loaded fund cost more than a no load fund and they are mistaken. Example American Funds Investment Company of America Fund lifetime average annual return 12.88% 84% of the time this fund outpaced lipper averages over 10 year periods operating expense .54% industry average 1.24%