I just enrolled in a retirement plan....?

Question

I'm 23 yrs old and wondering how safe is investing in international funds.

Answer 1

Most financial advice I've seen would tell you to put a modest percentage of your overall plan savings into one or more international mutual funds. I've done well with one in my 401-K over the last few years. Depending on where you think the U.S. economy is headed, you might allocate 15%-20% to international funds. Maybe a bit more, if you think the U.S. economy is going to tank.

Answer 2

You have receive some good advice, especially from gregory_dittman.

There is considered to be more safety in more diversification and international funds offer a degree of diversification. But all investments have risk attached to them. All investments. There is just no safe investment.

The safest in the U S is considered to be T-bills because they are short term debt instruments issued by the U S government which in the past has been considered to be a safe place to invest ones money. But there is much risk even in those. The main risk is that the dollar will loose value against the other currencies of the world. Of course the dollar could also gain value against the other currencies of the world, too.

Consequently, one method to minimize ones risk is through diversification. If one class of assets does poorly, perhaps that will be offset by a different class that will do better. Lately, for example, investments in China and India have way outperformed investments in U S based assets. Also investments in Mexico and Brazil and even Russia. Even investments in Europe due to the rise in the value of the Euro. But just because those have outperformed U S based assets in the past is no guarantee that they will in the future.

Years ago Japan was a hot place to invest in. But then in the 90s all of a sudden the economy suffered a melt down and for the next 10 years or so, it was not such a great place for investments. The same can be said for the U S. During the 90's the U S was a great place to invest in, but then in 2000 it suffered a sever correction. In some cases such as Enron and World Com very sever.

Answer 3

All funds have risk. International fund have a different type of risk...which may be good or bad. As a general rule, international stocks (fund) diversify you from shocks to the American economy.

For example, if the US economy slows down...international companies still have opportunities to make money overseas. So...while your US positions are losing, your international positions may gain...it may not stop your overall portfolio from losing, but it may help it to lose less.

If you're in funds...you're not trying to get rich quick...you're trying to diversify your risk away until you have a few more zeros in your account to warrant having a portfolio of indivdual stocks.

Answer 4

only 10 - 20% in international funds

Answer 5

Here are some general rules. Five is the magic number touted as being diversified. Another rule is 20% should be foriegn diversified.

so here is the breakdown
1 (20%) foriegn stock ETF or index
1 (20% but increases as you get closer to retirement) bond fund
1 small cap fund/stock
1 large cap fund/stock
1 natural resource (oil, metals) fund/stock

Answer 6

Don't do it. If you are that young your money may well disappear before you retire. I was with a very reputable scheme and before I retired the money disappeared into the pockets of other people and this was totally legal. The small print is the trap. Don't forget you are handing your money to other people with absolutely no guarantees of any return, just promises and, human nature being what it is, they will make sure they profit even if you don't

Answer 7

you do not have a case against your business enterprise except you have a private settlement or union settlement asserting they could desire to grant a retirement income to you. administration can legally grant a income for one worker and not yet another. administration can legally create or end a income with out observe at any time. it appears that evidently your administration desperate to end your retirement income a protracted time in the past. I recommend you open a "Roth" IRA for retirement. place after tax income it, which skill you pay the taxes on the money now, yet once you retire, the interest is tax loose. The interest accumulative could be many circumstances the quantity you put in in case you make investments wisely. a typical IRA is in the previous tax money, yet you're able to desire to pay taxes on the two the contribution and interest once you withdraw from the IRA.

Answer 8

You should never invest in just one thing. You need to diversify your portfolio. I suggest you read before you invest, Suze Orman's books on investing, wealth and all that goes with it. A diversified portfolio is said to keep you safer because it is in different sectors of the market. So, if one goes down, you won't lose your investment.