Back to Basics - An Introduction to Your 401k Plan

Many a football coach is fond of the saying, "it's all about the basics." Sometimes, it really is best to focus on the fundamentals, no matter how far along you get in your respective field. That's why I thought this four-part Introduction to Your 401k Plan might help you understand what a 401k is, how you can use it to provide for your (and your family's) financial future, and how you might be able to take advantage of some of the benefits offered to you by your employer.

Do yourself a favor and take a minute out of your day to hone your skills and sharpen your professional wit. After all, you are responsible for making your own dreams come true in a world of shrinking pensions, lower health benefits, and an uncertain future for social security. (For information on those problems, see Surviving and Thriving in the New American Retirement System. It's not just a nest egg. It's the safety net that can support you when you're no longer able, or willing, to work.

Getty Images, Photograph by Don Farrall