The Step-By-Step Guide To Your 401k Plan from Udemy

This course will help you come up with a simple plan to reach retirement using your 401k plan.

Should you enroll?
How much should you save?
Which investments should you choose?
Pre-tax or Roth?
How do you get all the free money offered to you by your employer?

Getting these answers wrong could cost you 100,000's of dollars.

Enrolling in this course could be one of the best financial decisions you'll ever make.

We will walk you through the whole process of enrolling and maximizing your 401k using easy to understand white-board animation videos.

You will learn why you should care about your 401k, how much to save, which investments to choose, and how to get all the free money your employer is offering you.

What makes me qualified to teach you?

Before working at Glass Jacobson Financial Group, I assisted over 10,000 Millionaires with their investments while working in the High-Net Worth Department at one of the worlds largest financial services companies. Through those conversations with investors I refined my ability to simplify complicated investment topics into easy to understand steps.

Prior to that, I co-built a series of technology focused education sites that have generated over 5 Million users and 25 million page views.

Combining my background in web based education with my passion for investment education, I developed (along side a team at Glass Jacobson), a video based 401k education tool called 401kbuddy.

At Glass Jacobson Financial Group we use 401kbuddy with individual companies, but we also wanted to reach the students on Udemy by building a course to help them with their 401k plans (regardless of where they work).

Typical 401k Education

Boring powerpoint presentation
Complicated language and graphs
100 page booklet that makes you want to cry
Information that leaves you with more questions than answers

This Step-By-Step Course

Uses short whiteboard animation videos
Simplifies the entire 401k process
Is taught using simple terms (without the crazy graphs)
Answers the most important questions
Walks you step by step through enrolling
Helps you make sure you are on track to retire
Gives you a calculator to make sure you're not missing out on any free money
Addresses misconceptions about investing
Gives you the foundations you need for successful investing
We'll even help you find suitable investments.

PLUS. Bonus material to help you even further

Free access to a custom built 401kbuddy for Udemy site that walks you through choosing investments in your 401k
Unlimited use of our matching calculator to see how much free money you're missing out on from your employer (and how to get that free money)
Access to our Investor Questionnaire to help you see what type of investor you are, and some guidance on how to choose investments

Go ahead, click the "Take This Course" button. Why not? You’ve got nothing to lose (and potentially $100,000's of dollars to gain).

What's inside

Learning objectives

Have confidence about enrolling in your 401k
Receive all the "free money" provided by your employer
Avoid common mistakes made by employees
Have confidence your 401k is set up to suit your needs

Come up with a simple plan to reach your retirement goal
Decide between roth or traditional 401k contributions
Choose appropriate investments in your 401k

Have confidence about enrolling in your 401k
Receive all the "free money" provided by your employer
Avoid common mistakes made by employees
Have confidence your 401k is set up to suit your needs
Come up with a simple plan to reach your retirement goal
Decide between roth or traditional 401k contributions
Choose appropriate investments in your 401k

Syllabus

After section 1, you will have confidence about enrolling in your 401k. You'll know how much you need to contribute to take advantage of your companies match.

You'll learn a little bit more about your instructors, Austin Abell and Glass Jacobson Financial Group. I will also give you a quick overview of the 4 sections in this course.

What is a 401k and why should you enroll? I'll break it down for you in this white-board animation video.

If you weren't convinced by the last video to enroll in your companies 401k plan, I'll give you 7 more reasons... including free money, convenience, and tax-savings.

Check out our calculator that shows you how much free money you're missing out on in your 401k: udemy.401kbuddy.com/free-money

Does investing feel complicated, scary, and really risky? We'll break down these misconceptions for you and explain why you can feel comfortable about the investments in your 401k.

The questionnaire shown in this video will help match you with an investor type and potential asset allocation. Find the questionnaire at: udemy.401kbuddy.com/investor-questionnaire

Section 2 will help you come up with a simple plan to reach your retirement goals.

Understanding the different types of investments doesn't need to be complicated! Think of stocks as being a part owner of a company, bonds turn you into a little bank, and mutual funds as burritos.

Would you get on an elevator that was only being held up by one cable? I hope you wouldn't! The same principle applies to investing.

Research shows that the power of the market is incredibly powerful when it comes to choosing your investments. But what is the market, and why should you trust it? Find out in this video.

Think of your asset allocation like the speed dial on an elevator. Increasing the amount of stocks in your portfolio is like increasing the speed of your elevator... you might get there faster but you can expect a little motion sickness!

Learn how to turn $1,000 into $100,000! It's a proven strategy you won't want to miss.

The key to reaching your retirement goal is coming up with a plan, and sticking to it... no matter what! This video will give you a recap of what you've learned so far, and will explain how to avoid letting your head get in the way when it comes to investing.

You will be able to choose investments that are suitable for you based on your level of desired involvement and ability to handle uncertainty.

Now it's time to work on your investments in your 401k. This video will give you a quick overview of section 3.

Target date funds are the most simple option, as they get safer over-time and are chosen based on your retirement age.

Model portfolios (or Asset Allocation Models) or sometimes offered by employers. This video talks about some of the benefits of a model and how to decide which option is best for you.

Experts only! Building your own portfolio can be tricky, but rewarding for those experienced investors who want more control over the investments in their 401k. We'll give those investors a starting point on how they might build out their portfolio.

Roth or Traditional 401k?

You will take what you've learned and go enroll or make changes to your plan

Enroll/Make Changes (Email Templates)

Bonus Lecture: Other Resources + 401kbuddy At Your Company

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Tailored for beginners, this course presents 401k principles in a simplified manner

Offers a calculator to determine potential employer contributions learners are missing out on

Uses easy-to-understand video animations to convey concepts

Provides tools to identify suitable investments and avoid common mistakes

Explains different types of investments and their benefits, catering to varying risk tolerance levels

Focuses on retirement planning using 401k contributions

Reviews summary

Informative 401k guide

According to students, this course is an informative and helpful guide to understanding and planning for your 401k. Learners give positive marks to the course materials, which are described as informative and valuable.

Course materials are described as informative and valuable.

"The information presented has been very informative and valuable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Step-By-Step Guide To Your 401k Plan with these activities:

Review Basic Finance and Retirement Planning

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Brushing up on your knowledge of financial fundamentals will help you better understand the content of this course.

Browse courses on Finance

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Read a few articles or blog posts about basic finance and retirement planning.
Take an online quiz or assessment to test your understanding of these concepts.

Calculate Your Retirement Savings Goal

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This exercise will help you determine how much you need to save for retirement, which will inform your 401k investment decisions.

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Gather your financial information, including your income, expenses, and assets.
Use a retirement calculator to estimate how much you will need to save for retirement.
Adjust your savings goals based on your own circumstances and financial situation.

Watch Videos on 401k Investment Strategies

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Watching videos on 401k investment strategies will help you learn different ways to invest your 401k savings.

Browse courses on Investment Strategies

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Search for videos on 401k investment strategies on YouTube or other video sharing websites.
Watch several videos and take notes on the different strategies presented.
Consider which strategies are most appropriate for your own investment goals and risk tolerance.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Attend a 401k Workshop

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Attending a 401k workshop will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about 401k plans and how to make the most of them.

Browse courses on Retirement Planning

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Search for 401k workshops in your area.
Register for a workshop and attend.
Take notes and ask questions during the workshop.

Read the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

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This book contains the full text of the ERISA law, which governs 401k plans. Reading it will give you a deep understanding of the legal framework surrounding 401k plans.

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Purchase a copy of the ERISA law online or from a bookstore.
Read through the law, taking notes on any provisions that you find particularly relevant or confusing.
Consult with a financial advisor or other expert if you have any questions about the law.

Mentor a Colleague or Friend on 401k Planning

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Mentoring a colleague or friend on 401k planning will help you reinforce your own understanding of 401k plans and give back to your community.

Browse courses on Retirement Planning

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Identify a colleague or friend who is interested in learning more about 401k plans.
Meet with your mentee regularly to discuss 401k plans and answer their questions.
Provide your mentee with resources and support to help them make informed decisions about their 401k investments.

Write a Blog Post or Article About Your 401k Experience

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Writing a blog post or article about your 401k experience will help you solidify your understanding of 401k plans and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Retirement Planning

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Choose a topic for your blog post or article.
Research your topic and gather information from reliable sources.
Write your blog post or article.
Publish your blog post or article online.

Career center

Learners who complete The Step-By-Step Guide To Your 401k Plan will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors typically provide their clients with advice about how to invest and manage their assets. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial planning, which can be helpful for Financial Advisors who want to provide comprehensive advice to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor

Retirement Planner

Retirement Planners help individuals plan for their financial future, including retirement. They typically need to be familiar with retirement accounts, such as the 401(k), and investment strategies. This course will help students learn about the basics of retirement planning, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial planning, which can be helpful for Retirement Planners who want to provide comprehensive advice to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Retirement Planner

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts typically provide research and analysis of financial markets and investments. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Financial Analysts who want to provide insights to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts typically provide research and analysis of financial markets and investments. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Investment Analysts who want to provide insights to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

Financial Planner

Financial Planners typically provide comprehensive financial advice to individuals and families. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets, as well as retirement planning and estate planning. This course will help students learn about the basics of financial planning, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Financial Planners who want to provide comprehensive advice to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts typically analyze and manage budgets for organizations. They need to be familiar with financial planning and analysis. This course will help students learn about the basics of financial planning, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Budget Analysts who want to provide insights to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Personal Finance Manager

Personal Finance Managers typically help individuals and families manage their finances. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets, as well as retirement planning and estate planning. This course will help students learn about the basics of personal finance management, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial planning, which can be helpful for Personal Finance Managers who want to provide comprehensive advice to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Personal Finance Manager

Actuary

Actuaries typically use mathematical and statistical techniques to assess risk and uncertainty. They need to be familiar with financial markets and products. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Actuaries who want to provide insights to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Insurance Agent

Insurance Agents typically sell insurance policies to individuals and businesses. They need to be familiar with insurance products and markets. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial planning, which can be helpful for Insurance Agents who want to provide comprehensive advice to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Insurance Agent

Loan Officer

Loan Officers typically help individuals and businesses obtain loans. They need to be familiar with financial products and markets. This course will help students learn about the basics of investing, which will be essential to success in this career. Additionally, this course can help them to build a foundation in financial analysis, which can be helpful for Loan Officers who want to provide insights to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Loan Officer

Tax Preparer

Tax Preparers typically help individuals and businesses file their tax returns. They need to be familiar with tax laws and regulations. This course may be helpful for Tax Preparers who want to provide additional services to their clients, such as financial planning or investment advice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Preparer

Auditor

Auditors typically examine and evaluate financial records. They need to be familiar with accounting principles and auditing standards. This course may be helpful for Auditors who want to provide additional services to their clients, such as financial planning or investment advice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Accountant

Accountants typically prepare and maintain financial records. They need to be familiar with accounting principles and tax laws. This course may be helpful for Accountants who want to provide additional services to their clients, such as financial planning or investment advice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Economist

Economists typically study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. They need to be familiar with economic theory and econometric techniques. This course may be helpful for Economists who want to provide insights to their clients about the economy and its impact on financial markets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Statistician

Statisticians typically collect, analyze, and interpret data. They need to be familiar with statistical theory and methods. This course may be helpful for Statisticians who want to provide insights to their clients about the economy and its impact on financial markets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician