JR Chappell - Totus Wealth Management

The "Too Many Funds" Problem

More choices doesn’t always mean better choices; some 401(k) plans offer 50+ investment options! In fact, a number of large employers have even been sued under ERISA law for offering too many investment options in their 401k fund lineup.

Research shows employees often struggle when there are too many choices; a well-designed plan usually focuses on a smaller, curated lineup that makes investing simpler. Sometimes less really is more. Contact me and let's review your company's 401k investment lineup and ensure it's appropriate for the employees' benefit.

The “Set It and Forget It” Trap

A 401(k) plan is not a crockpot; you can’t just set it and forget it for 10 years. Plans should be reviewed regularly for investment performance, fees, compliance, & employee participation.

Most companies are surprised how many improvements can be made with a simple annual checkup. When was the last time you looked at yours? Contact me now, I can help.

The 401k Participation Problem

If your employees aren’t using the 401(k)… something is wrong. Many companies offer a plan but only see 30–40% participation; that’s a red flag.

Usually it comes down to one thing: employees simply don’t understand how the plan works; a little education can dramatically improve participation. When employees feel financially secure, they tend to stay longer. That's good for the business, because it reduces turnover and new hire onboarding costs.

How often does your plan advisor do onsite education and meet with your staff? Let's talk about it!

The Hidden Fee Problem: Avoid this ONE common 401(k) mistake.

Many employers assume their plan fees are “normal.” But in reality, some plans pay more than necessary. Over time, those fees quietly eat away at employees’ retirement savings. A simple benchmark review can reveal whether your plan is competitive - most employers are surprised by what they find.

When was the last time you checked your plan's recordkeeping charges?

Time in the Market vs Timing the Market

If you're wondering when is the "best" time to buy or sell a stock, you are probably trying to time the market; none of us are very good at that - even highly paid Wall Street pros don't do it consistently over time.

The better bet is owning broad, low-cost index funds and keep contributing to your account on a regular basis. Trying to pick the winning horse is a fool's errand; own a little piece of everything and your chances for success are a lot higher!

Call me and let's review your account together.

3 Investing Habits That Will Improve Your Life (Part 3)

Maintain investment discipline through good times and bad; the most successful long-term investors are the ones who keep contributing to their retirement accounts even when the market declines.

What investing habits do YOU have, good or bad?

Educational content only. Not individualized investment advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

3 Investing Habits That Will Improve Your Life (Part 2)

Stop checking your account every day! None of us have any control over what the market does from one day to the next, so there's no reason to give yourself anxiety watching it all the time. Make sure your investments match your risk tolerance and time horizon, kick your feet up, and relax.

Tell me in the comments how often you check your account... does it raise or lower your stress level to watch the market gyrations?

Educational content only. Not individualized investment advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

3 Investing Habits That Will Improve Your Life (Part 1)

Use broad index funds instead of trading single stocks; very few people, even the fancy Wall Street pros, consistently pick the winning horse. In fact, over 90% of actively-managed mutual funds and ETFs underperform their passive low-cost index over time. Owning a little piece of everything provides the greatest probability of long-term investing success.

I'd love to know what you are currently invested in, let's talk about it!

Educational content only. Not individualized investment advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The “We Haven’t Touched It” Plan

A phrase I hear more often than expected as a 401k adviser: “We haven’t really made changes to the plan in years.”

From an audit perspective, that raises questions:

• Who is monitoring this plan?
• When was the last time fees were reviewed?
• Were providers reviewed?

Inactivity can be just as risky as poor decision-making. I'd love to talk about it and bring some fresh eyes to your plan.

This Too Shall Pass

The US stock market can be one of the simplest ways to build wealth over the long-term. The chart below shows Total Return (price changes + reinvested dividends) over the last 100 years; this includes wars, natural disasters, political turmoil, and any other number of negative events; despite all of that, a disciplined and patient investor still saw their money grow significantly over time.

What fears do you have about investing? Write it out in the comments and let's start a conversation!