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Executive Summary
SIGNIFICANCE OF AUTO-ENROLLMENT: Automatic enrollment of participants in 401(k) plans, which was encouraged by provisions in the Pension Protect Act of 2006, is designed to overcome the drawbacks of voluntary enrollment by getting more workers to save in their work place retirement plan. Auto-enrollment for 401(k) plans has been demonstrated by previous EBRI research to have substantial potential benefits for some employees.
Showing posts with label Bet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bet. Show all posts
The Impact of Automatic Enrollment in 401(k)
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Americans struggle to regain their shrunken wealth
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Though the S&P 500 remains 28 percent below its October 2007 peak, employees who have stayed invested in 401(k) plans and continued to contribute have fared better. About 78 percent of them now have more money in those accounts than before the market top three years ago, according to estimates by Jack VanDerhei of the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
How To Compare Mortgage Loans
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These questions when comparing home loan can save you money and find the mortgage that best meets your needs.
Comparing mortgage loan is one of the most important things you do when you can buy a house. The decisions you make will determine the size of your monthly payments, how much you pay in advance how much interest you pay over the term of the loan.
You may find it easier to compare loans, if you any lender with a series of questions, including questions:
- What is the loan’s interest rate?
- Will I be charged points?
- What are the closing costs and all other fees?
- What is the annual percentage rate, or APR – the rate you’ll pay per year for all the costs associated with the loan?
- Is there a pre-payment penalty?
- How is the loan amortized, meaning how quickly is the principal paid off?
Find out the answers to these questions no matter what type of loan you’re considering. Each can affect the overall cost of your loan.
If you are considering an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, you can compare loans by asking:
- When does the rate adjust?
- How often does the rate adjust?
- Is there a cap limiting the amount by which the rate can adjust? What would my monthly payments be if my interest rate hit that cap?
- What is the index and margin that will determine my rate? How has the index changed over time?
ARMs are inherently more risky than fixed-rate mortgages because you’re gambling on whether interest rates will go up or go down before your rate adjusts. Understanding the best- and worst-case scenarios can help you weigh the pros and cons as you compare loans.
But there’s one other big question to consider before you get an ARM:
- How does the discount introductory rate compare with rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans?
If there’s not much difference when you compare the two, the fixed-rate loan might be a safer bet. You won’t save much in the short-term, and could save a lot over the long term. Plus, you reduce your risk if interest rates shoot up and you can’t refinance before the rate adjustment.
Finally, to truly compare loans, you have to ask yourself some questions:
- How long do I expect to stay in my home?
- Are my job and income secure over the long term?
- Will I be able to afford higher payments in the future?
- How comfortable am I with risk?
In the end, the best loan is the one that works for your needs.
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