Articles from Michael Becker

Managed 401(k) Plans

The 401(k) has become the main retirement planning vehicle for most Americans. But truth be told, most people really don’t know that much about picking among the myriad of funds offered by a typical plan. And in today’s volatile market, this can lead to costly mistakes.

Pension experts have for years worried that the typical 401(k) emphasizes investing over actual retirement planning — setting a goal and working backwards to find suitable investments. Enter managed 401(k) plans, where instead of a menu of funds, participants are asked questions about their age, current savings and retirement income goals. The plan then develops a customized portfolio for each participant’s specific situation.

Managed 401(k)s, which attempt to take some of the guesswork out of retirement planning, are offered by more and more employers. Ask yours whether they plan to offer one, or better, already do.

Recent Articles

Celebrities Mediate, Too!

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s relationship, dating back to the early 2000’s has been one of the most public love stories in Hollywood. And when they recently got divorced, they chose a more private and pragmatic approach: mediation. No doubt, they could have afforded to hire armies of attorneys to fight it out for years…

The 5 Steps in a Troubled Marriage

In her upcoming book, I (Think) I Want Out, couples’ therapist Becky Whitestone lays out the five milestones in a failing marriage. She hopes couples who identify these stages early on can save their marriage before it’s too late.

Spending Limits Help Couples?

Couples that agree on spending limits have less conflict about money.

Legal Documents for College

Critical legal documents parents should have in place for college students.