in this fashion. The funds themselves weren’t poor choices — in fact, the funds they selected were solid: Each had competent managers, good historic performance, and reasonable fees. Here are some of the mistakes they made:
They completely neglected investing in their employers’ retirement savings plans. They missed out on making tax-deductible contributions. By investing in mutual funds outside of their employers’ plans, they received no tax breaks.
They were steered into funds that didn’t fit their goals. They ended up with bond funds, which were okay funds as far as bond funds go. But bond funds are designed to produce current income, not growth. Justine and Max, looking to a retirement decades away, were trying to save and grow their money, not produce more current income which they didn’t need because they were working and earning money.
To add tax insult to injury, the income generated by their bond funds was fully taxable because the funds were held outside of tax-sheltered retirement accounts. The last thing Justine and Max needed was more taxable income, not because they were rolling in money — neither Justine nor Max had a high salary — but because, as a two-income couple, they already paid significant taxes.
They didn’t adjust their spending habits to allow for their increased savings rate. In their enthusiasm to get serious about their savings, they made this error — probably the biggest one of all. Justine and Max thought they were saving more — 12 percent of their income was going into the funds versus the 5 percent they’d been saving in a bank account. However, as the months rolled by, their outstanding balances on credit cards grew. In fact, when they started to invest in funds, Justine and Max had $1,000 of revolving debt on a credit card at a 14 percent interest rate. Six months later, this debt had grown to $2,000.The extra money for investment had to come from somewhere — and in Justine and Max’s case, some of it was coming from building up their credit card debt. But, because their investments were highly unlikely to return 14 percent per year, Justine and Max were actually losing money in the process.
I tell the story of Justine and Max to caution you against buying funds in haste or out of fear before you have your own financial goals in mind.
Lining Up Your Ducks Before You Invest
Throughout this book, I emphasize that particular mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are specialized tools for specific jobs. I don’t want you to pick up a tool that you don’t know how to use. This section covers the most important financial steps for you to take before you invest so you get the most from your fund investments.
Pay off your consumer debts
Consumer debts include balances on credit cards and auto loans. If you carry these types of debts, please do not invest in funds until these consumer debts are paid off. I realize that investing money may make you feel like you’re making progress; paying off debt, on the other hand, just feels like you’re treading water. Shatter this illusion. Paying credit card interest at 14 or 18 percent while making an investment that generates only an 8 percent return isn’t even treading water; it’s sinking! In the world of investing, a 14 to 18 percent guaranteed return is absolutely fantastic so you should not only do that first but feel great about it!
I go a step further on this issue: Not only should you delay any investing until your consumer debts are paid off, but you should also seriously consider tapping in to any existing savings (presuming you’d still have adequate emergency funds at your disposal) to pay off your debts.
Review your insurance coverage
Saving and investing are psychologically rewarding and make many people feel more secure. But, ironically, even some good savers and investors are in precarious positions because they have major gaps in their insurance coverage. Consider the following questions:
Do you have adequate life insurance to provide for your dependents if you die?
Do you carry long-term disability insurance to replace your income in case a disability prevents you from working?
Do you have comprehensive health insurance coverage to pay for major medical expenses?
Have you purchased sufficient liability protection on your home and car to guard your assets and net worth against lawsuits?
In reviewing your insurance, you may also discover unnecessary policies or ways to spend less on insurance, freeing up more money to invest in funds. See the latest edition of my book Personal Finance For Dummies (Wiley) to discover the best ways to buy insurance and whip your finances into shape.
Figure out your financial goals
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are goal-specific tools (see the section “Reaching Your Goals with Funds,” later in this chapter), and humans are goal-driven animals, which is perhaps why the two can make such a good match. Most people find that saving money is easier when they save with a purpose or goal in mind — even if their goal is as undefined as a “rainy day.” Because funds tend to be pretty specific in what they’re designed to do, the more defined your goal, the more capable you are to make the most of your money invested in funds.
Granted, your goals and needs will change over time, so these determinations don’t have to be carved in stone. But unless you have a general idea of what you’re going to do with the savings down the road and in what time frame, you won’t really be able to thoughtfully choose suitable funds. Common financial goals include saving for retirement, a home purchase, an emergency reserve, and so on. In the second half of this chapter, I talk more about the goals funds can help you to accomplish.
Another benefit of pondering your goals is that you better understand how much risk you need to take to accomplish your goals. Seeing the amount you need to save to achieve your dreams may encourage you to invest in more growth-oriented funds. Conversely, if you find that your nest egg is substantial given what your aspirations are, you may scale back on the riskiness of your fund investments.
Determine how much you’re saving
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