Thursday, March 19, 2009

401(k) Watch

This is the hypothetical 401(k) account balance for an individual who was 56 at the end of 2008.
The result assumes the individual made maximum deferrals, including catch-up contributions, starting in 1987 - the year the 401(k) became institutionalized in American corporations and began the demise of the traditional pension benefit.

The modeled results assumes the individuals contributions were invested in the S&P 500 Index and the individual stayed fully invested since 1987, and will continue making maximum contributions until age 65 in 2017. No dividend re investments were assumed.

The far right of the chart shows the amount of assets an individual needs to provide today's income, inflation adjusted to 2017, and the average rate of return required over the next 9 years to reach these asset levels from the 12/31/12008 balance.

This chart will be updated weekly using the previous weeks returns through Friday.

Happy tracking,

Tom

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