attn: ilyaz and other people with financial wisdom

[Ephemeral]

I recommend none of them, people simply don't read the details of their companies 401k plans and understand how a company can screw them over. For example, ever company 401k has a company 'administrator' assigned. This person is the one who interfaces with the investment company who is managing the actual investments. So say for whatever reason you leave the company. The company 401k administrator can freeze your 401k funds for up to 60 days before giving it to you, but you have no control over your money during that time. So if the bottom drops out of the market during that time period, you are forced to sit there and watch it happen. You can't say, move it to bonds or some other less risky position. I has this very thing happen to me about 12 years ago, I sat helpless and unable to do anything as my 401k lost enough money to buy a house. While the SEC was informed (they are actually the 'police' for this kind of thing) I had a chance to talk with one investigator who related to me his 10 month backlog of cases where companies had simply stolen the employees 401 monies.

Looking for a good investment right now? The more unstable the world is the more gold prices go up. Even better, take advantage of dumbasses in Washington right now and the huge market dip that is coming over next 3-4 days. Buy stable, ‘old school’ stocks, a good example would be a company like Eaton (ETN). It is currently sitting around $49.30. If this goes down to the $40 area, buy buy buy.
eph

[cash.MONay]

I am impressed by your knowledge ilya. You are now real internet celebrity in my eyes.

[kthx]

Here is my idea:

Buy stocks in

Nestle/Remington/Green Giant

Water/Ammo and Guns/Food.

Sell right before the 2012 thing fails

Profit???

[vaped]

It doesn't matter because that money will be seized by Chinese debt collectors in 5 days.

And the we could stop buying stuff from them at some point (worst case scenario) ..... wouldn't really benefit anyone in either place short-term. Actually, it probably could benefit the US in the long run because we wouldn't be so dependent on Foreign Imports. Possibly the US manufacturing industry that has almost disappeared would rise from its ashes. China would be hard pressed to make up for the sudden loss of a big customer like the US.

Then we all had damn well better stock up on water and ammunition.

[vaped]

Eph -- your 401k situation ... that SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a dick to hold your money like that .... was the guy holding a grudge or was that just company policy or something stupid like that? I have little experience with those....

And Eaton (ETN), is that the company that makes virtually every underground and above ground fuel storage tank?

EDIT: nvm ... reading company description on Scottrade now :x

[Ephemeral]

Eph -- your 401k situation ... that SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a dick to hold your money like that .... was the guy holding a grudge or was that just company policy or something stupid like that? I have little experience with those....

And Eaton (ETN), is that the company that makes virtually every underground and above ground fuel storage tank?

EDIT: nvm ... reading company description on Scottrade now :x

Eaton is a huge company with notably market impact in all industrial/motor controls. Here is the kicker, they are evolving to be the single company who supplies the hybrid/electric auto charging stations. They have have huge market share now and I see nothing that will hold them back.

Yes, the company in which I was a partner in experienced a hostile takeover. I ended up in a position where I was being told to lie to the people who reported to me. I quit rather than do that, and that was their way of 'paying me back'.
eph

[vaped]

Here is the kicker, they are evolving to be the single company who supplies the hybrid/electric auto charging stations. They have have huge market share now and I see nothing that will hold them back.

Ahh nice ... I invested in GE because of the potential of them having charging stations -- I should do the same with this company it looks like... I never really looked into more companies that do that. Same industry -- but these guys are more specialized in these areas whereas GE is across many industries and won't concentrate on a few things like they should and get their price back up. . I'll add it to my watch list.

I just do some minor trading here and there whenever i have some extra cash. Sharebuilder is a good site for that -- throwing in $50 here and there -- but I'm really glad i decided to drop some cash on Ford stock when it was down around $4.

[Fit of Rage]

It's never as good as it sounds. The 10% figure I was quoted is actually that they calculate 10% of my taxable salary and automatically vest that into a 401k. Likewise, bonuses and overtime are the same thing (calculate 10% of taxable and add to 401k). The long story short is, its a few k less than what I was expecting, so Ill do some negotiating and see what happens. Thanks for the tips eph. My 401k is 100% vested to me immediately. It's managed by Fidelity but I always have final say on how its invested.

[Ephemeral]

np, just ask for and read all the fine print, mine was promoted to me as always having final say. Keep in mind that your company has someone designated as the administrator, obviously the company keeps control in this way since they are kicking in so much. Fidelity will be kissing the company's ass, not yours. Your company get courted by groups like Fidelity and don't think for a minute that they will make decisions with the company's best interest in mind instead of yours.
eph

[DoTheFandango]

Once we stop supplying their economy via foreign imports/exports is when they start asking to replenish the funds we owe. We will go to war with China by century's end.

[Squeezer]

No. We. Wont.

It is in the better interests of both China and the US to continue loaning us money. The US is reliable and will eventually pay it back, in full with interest.

The world's club of superwealthies are making too much money together to let their nations go to war and disrupt a good thing (the growth of globalism).

[vaped]

Squeez --

Is exactly how I feel too..

My other post (if you read that) was just a big "what if" kinda thing.

[Ilya]

get a gun.

and rob a bank.

i havent checked any of my investments since march and my standard of living has improved because of it

[Summa]

No. We. Wont.

It is in the better interests of both China and the US to continue loaning us money. The US is reliable and will eventually pay it back, in full with interest.

The world's club of superwealthies are making too much money together to let their nations go to war and disrupt a good thing (the growth of globalism).

This is all irrelevant, the world will end with the dawning of 2012, the prophet T0NE has spoken.

[Crescent Seal]

y squeezer and summa disappear and appear 2gether