# My 401K--in the Trump Era--advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 12, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160 "2024-11-12T18:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/21 "2024-11-14T04:01:52Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I am retired, with a VERY meager pension. Within 6 months, I will reach the minimum age for Social Security. _Which Trump **may** kill._ trump aint gonna kill Social Security. It is the third rail, and if he proposes it to the House, it will go no-where. Mind you, the GOP has talked about investing some of the funds in mutual funds. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > We’re an importer of materials, basic parts, and components. Some materials- Google AI says- "_The United States exports a variety of raw materials, including:_ - **Petroleum** : Refined petroleum, crude petroleum, petroleum gas, and petroleum oils - **Natural gas** : Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other petroleum gases - **Minerals** : Gold, iron ore, molybdenum concentrates, industrial sand and gravel, selenium, soda ash, titanium dioxide pigment, wollastonite, and zeolites - **Other** : Monolithic integrated circuits, digital _The United States is the world’s second-largest exporter, with exports totaling $1.95 trillion in 2022. The top destinations for US exports are: Canada ($308B), Mexico ($294B), China ($151B), Japan ($79.5B), and United Kingdom ($75.4B)."_ > [@Loach](#): > > If we were allowed to bet I would bet my social security that Trump won’t kill it. Yep. But Social Security will need a bail out soon, and the most logical thing is to get rid of the cap on salaries. That would be a GOP no-no. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/22 "2024-11-14T13:51:05Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Are these online? > And, what am I looking for? request a Summary Plan Description (“SPD”) from your 401k administrator. they are required by law to provide it. It may even be available on your 401k website if you look around. You will be able to see what fees are being charged to the 401k participants as well as the fees for the individual funds. Once you get that, you can make some informed decisions on what to do with your savings. If the fees are excessive or the available funds poor, you can explore rolling your money out into an IRA, as Munch describes above. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/23 "2024-11-14T13:55:56Z")
Can you take money out of an IRA, shortly after rollover? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/24 "2024-11-14T14:30:00Z")
Yes you can. I just poked around on my plan. It was in the documents section, and called “Annual Notice - Fee Disclosure”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/25 "2024-11-14T14:37:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Some materials- Google AI says Can we stop relying on AI for answers? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/26 "2024-11-14T21:01:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Can we stop relying on AI for answers? Why? As has been said “Believe it or not”, and of course if you think that cite is bogus- please post a counter cite. AI, Wiki, etc- all decent cites, but of course other cites are better. In this case, the AI cite was not for the main issue, it was for a side issue, and there AI and Wiki are fine. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/27 "2024-11-19T19:45:25Z")
I have discovered that ALL large institutional 401ks in Tennessee are owned/run by a single company. _That smells like $#it to **me**._ Getting my stuff into a privately-run IRA, and soon! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/28 "2024-11-19T19:48:33Z")
You know; it’s okay to actually spell out the word shit here; we’re all adults. No need to obfuscate the word. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/29 "2024-11-19T20:14:09Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > ALL large institutional 401ks in Tennessee are owned/run by a single company This isn’t remotely plausible. And even if it were true, wouldn’t mean anything. Either way, a small amount of googling shows it to not be true. FedEx runs theirs through Vanguard. HCA Healthcare runs theirs through Retirement Clearinghouse. Bridgestone uses Fidelity. Dollar General uses Voya. If you meant governmental 401ks, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that they all use the same. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/30 "2024-11-19T21:01:50Z")
It’s interesting to me that the OP asked about trump-proofing a portfolio but the bulk of the thread has been Saving for Retirement 101. Which the OP seemed to badly need as a (very) early prereq to taking and passing Trump Proofing 400. I’ve been thinking about what trump-proofing really means. Hard problem. If I have any good thoughts I’ll start a linked thread. Unless somebody beats me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/31 "2024-11-19T21:03:56Z")
[Someone beat you to it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-proofing-my-nest-egg/1010320/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/32 "2024-11-19T21:05:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s interesting to me that the OP asked about trump-proofing a portfolio but the bulk of the thread has been Saving for Retirement 101. Which the OP seemed to badly need as a (very) early prereq to taking and passing Trump Proofing 400. The OP is _already_ retired, so it’s too late for “saving for retirement 101”. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/33 "2024-11-19T21:09:06Z")
Everything we’ve been talking about with the guy is rollovers and investment choices and expense ratios. All of which IMO are Saving 101. If he’s just now learning about this stuff that’s a darned shame. But for sure better late than never, and I’m happy to help where I can. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/34 "2024-11-19T22:36:31Z")
I did OK, & have a pension. But the Invasion of Ukraine cut very deep into my funds. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/35 "2024-11-19T22:53:34Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > But the Invasion of Ukraine cut very deep into my funds. I’m really curious as to how that happened. The invasion began in February of 2022. US stocks have certainly climbed since then, and interest rates have remained strong as well. Would you care to disclose in what were your funds invested? (It’s okay if you choose not to, but I am genuinely curious.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/36 "2024-11-19T23:32:11Z")
Ditto. Unless our OP has been sending money to Ukrainian relatives until it hurts. A lot. Which would be both noble and expensive. And personally risky financially. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/37 "2024-11-19T23:44:30Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Unless our OP has been sending money to Ukrainian relatives until it hurts. Or was invested in Russian companies, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/38 "2024-11-20T12:50:13Z")
I know I’m a little late, but I’ve also been wondering about appropriate strategies. I expect inflation to get out of control, and normally we’d see rates rise. But Trump has made quite clear that he thinks the President should have sway over rates, and he’s too stupid to know that sometimes rates need to rise. I see it in the MAGA folks I talk to. They’re all carrying credit card debt, they all stretch on car loans, and they talk about not being able to wait for Trump to push rates down. So that concerns me. Also, deportations could be no only inflationary, but if actually carried out in large numbers could be recessionary, as businesses can’t find workers. So if rates are going to rise, I’d probably shift a bit more into fixed income, which would be more appropriate for my age (51) anyway. On the other hand, lowering corporate taxes and cap gains rates will turbocharge equities. I think. I’m no expert. So I just don’t know where I should have my money. FWIW, I’m basically 70% S&P 500, 10% total bond index (5% yield) and 10% SPHY (High yield bond index, 7.75% yield). About 1/2 of my money is in an IRA and the other half in a regular brokerage account (both Fidelity). I don’t want to boast, but I’m doing OK and have 1 year of cash. I’m open to thoughts, since retirement for me is 5-9 years away and for my wife is 10-15 years away. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/39 "2024-11-20T13:40:54Z")
Various funds in my 401k. And I’ve made some needed withdraws, for medical, dental & badly-needed household renovations. And a condo assessment. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160/40 "2024-11-20T14:11:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If I have any good thoughts I’ll start a linked thread. Unless somebody beats me to it. Make that three, [Gold As A Hedge thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold-is-a-hedge-against-inflation-meaning/1010458/48) is active as well. Four: > [@The Value of Financial Advisors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-financial-advisors/1010506): > > I have retirement accounts (IRA, Roth) with an advisor we’ve had for about 20 years. It was a collection of loose ends, 401ks etc. my wife and I had at the time consolidated to one place. The portfolio is automatically balanced based on our age, so we don’t have to do much, we review our statements a couple times annually, and we meet with this person about once a year. I also have an inheritance portfolio for about the past dozen years. It’s not much, but it is with another firm my dad was usi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-401k-in-the-trump-era-advice/1010160.md?page=3)