contentrenter – I am not qualified to give inevestment advice. I know nothing about tax implications, and not enough about how to pick a financial advisor.

licketisplit – Your company matching 401(k) should have a cash option. If not, you can put it into the no-load fund, and move to an IRA in another family. Unless they hold your money hostage?

doofrat – Zeal newsletter gives specific stock advice, and I’ve followed some of it. Chris Johnston’s service is great for bond futures trading. As Rich said, you can make money in select companies, but not by being in a general mutual fund. By the way, my neighbor met with a financial advisor, and he charges 1.5% fee for managing her money. She didn’t like that he gets paid, regardless of whether she makes or loses money that year. An appropriate commission structure is for the advisor to get a % of the profits, and to pay you a % of your losses. Who will do that? Or do what Chris J does: charge a minimal fee for giving the information. No commission!

Rich – thanks for clarifying about the financial advisors.

I’ve been off the computer, as my teens have needed it for homework. (I believe in sharing resources, thus, the one family computer will do for us. And now I must get off again, as she finishes her Power Point presentation about the future of GM, and my son works on his gay marriage debate.)