It's considered common knowledge that everyone would benefit from contributing to a retirement plan invested in a well-diversified portfolio of mutual funds. This article explores 3 reasons why you may want to consider alternate investments which may provide an improved quality of life.
1. 401k and IRA returns can plummet when you need them most
As this video from the CBS television show 60 minutes highlights, millions of people near retirement lost 30-50% of their savings in 2009. The massive loss in savings caused some to delay retirement. Several American workers foresee working the rest of their lives to sustain a living.
401k Fallout
2. Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster
Paying off your mortgage or eliminating monthly housing costs will provide a 34.1% reduction in monthly expenses based on a recent US World and News survey. [1]
Making extra payments towards principle can provide significant cost savings. For example, with a 30 yr mortgate and 5% interest rate, an extra $50 a month towards principal will allow you to pay off the mortgage nearly 3 years earlier resulting in $20,000 of interest savings assuming a $150,000 loan.
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3. Invest in your health
Health care costs are increasing much faster than wages. Over the last 50 years health costs have grown over 818% while wages are relatively constant and the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a metric for a country's standard of living, only increased 168%. [2]
As health care costs rise, investing spare cash into preventative measures to improve health and reduce the need for health care expenses another key investment for retirement which should be prioritized over 401k contributions. Examples include investing in higher quality source of food, supplements exercise, in addition to minimizing stress and enabling sufficient sleep.
Personally, our family has prioritized purchasing the highest quality food sources we can afford. We buy as much of our food locally and organic as possible. Physical activity and sleep are high priorities as well.
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Disclaimer: I'm not a financial professional. My advice is based on personal experience and research. Any investment carries an inherent risk. Please educate yourself before following anyone's financial advice.
