Beware of This Sneaky Employer Trick

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You probably have enough to worry about already. Is the market is really recovering, or just in a sucker's rally? Will home prices keep sinking? Will you have to muddle through a gruesome retirement? So forgive me for adding another worry to the pile: the possibility that your current 401(k) might get yanked out from under you.

Some employers are now changing their 401(k) plan offerings, shifting employee assets into new funds. Suppose you sign up for your company's 401(k) plan (good for you!) and decide to invest somewhat aggressively, mostly in stock funds. But a few years later, your employer changes 401(k) administrators, and the new plan offers a different lineup of funds. The employer automatically resets everyone's allocation to a conservative default distribution. Unless you're paying close attention, you might not notice that you're suddenly invested 60% in bonds!

Employers also have the right to change your allocation if they deem it insufficiently diversified. This one, you may not have to worry so much about; a Wall Street Journal article notes that few if any employers have acted on this.

Keep a firm hand on your 401(k)
Happily, you can avoid problems simply by keeping an eye on your account statements. And if you're worried about your retirement plan, it's not too late to salvage your retirement.

Proper asset allocation does make a difference. Typically, you'll want a healthy dose of large-cap stocks like Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). Add to that smaller stocks like Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY) and international companies such as Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) and BP (NYSE: BP), along with some bonds and other income-producing investments like REITs, and you'll have a well-diversified portfolio that should serve you well in the long run.

So be sure to keep an eye on your overall allocation, both inside and outside your 401(k). Keeping the right balance is the best way to make money while keeping your risk under control.

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