From 1991 - 2007, I increased my company 401K plan over 3000% in shares and mutual funds. ETFs are popular, but managed passive index vehicles mediocre gains most of their time and hard to choose, if you do not know what the industry is hot.
Believe me, not a fortune in the insurance industry in 1990 and early 2000. Religious workers of 6%. Also, I was in the service sector and my company is hot1200% increase in one case and 500% in other countries, when my division was separated. Of course, the possibility of me, but in 2000, a private buyout division has brought back my private equity firm. Mutual funds were the only game in town: between 2001-2007, I have my portfolio increased by 11.36% of years, only mutual funds in the rural and small-cap value.
The next 3-5 years look good for stocks, after passing the last hump recovery and the Fedslowly rising interest rates in a timely manner. Shares of the company to do well, and an allocation of 25% in a 401K Plan IRA is a wise investment decisions.
As for mutual funds, I have a mix of value-and small-cap ..... cast the two areas of the recession, after the new money in R & D for small firms and value stocks, the hottest thing around. Slow and steady does not harm investment and the average person, especially on 20 and 30 somethingswith time for the next recession.
But some of you might say something which 50 Guy smile after the financial crisis of 2008? I was at the bar since 2007! After the Dow Jones fell from 14,000 to level, he knew that I was off for a while '. One thing that all investors must be an end in the mind of an investment in each fund IRA or 401K money.
Take a look at your investments every month or better still two weeks and have a level of diving when on the moveincluding cash, even if in a position to fund living in happiness, his 401K plan that is good and not just the contributions from the company's stock, but also the contributions to the fund.
Become a student of the market! His hard work and now I know that the day on which trade, the time on my hands than you have.
Learning to grow and good luck!