How to Save Wisely

This Element is an excerpt from America, Welcome to the Poorhouse: What You Must Do to Protect Your Financial Future and the Reform We Need (ISBN: 9780137020171) by Jane White.  Available in print and digital formats.

The simple investing rules that can still help you build and preserve a secure retirement.

To save for retirement, Keep It Simple. Obey some basic rules. Invest mostly in stocks, gradually shifting to money market funds as you approach retirement. Avoid brokerage accounts (in which you actively trade) because you can’t time the market. Don’t sell in a market downturn. And don’t cash out: Don’t tap into your 401(k) savings when changing jobs.