• Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        It was. Is there a good reason why I should be confident that the money will still be there IF I get to retire? Should I expect even to live that long? I feel it’s better invested in a house and land out near the middle of nowhere.

        • lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
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          1 month ago

          Tax-free growth, beating inflation, diversification to mitigate risk & lessen volatility (eg, not putting eggs all in 1 basket). Markets always have risk: if you’re really afraid of risk, you can shift to mostly low-risk types of investments (bonds, money market, cash equivalents, etc). Real estate is typically considered riskier.

          Retirement isn’t necessary: qualified distributions (no tax penalty) only require reaching a certain age or any of the many exceptions (including terminal illness). Early distribution with tax penalty is always possible.

          It’s all basic information a certified financial planner or advisor or some articles on the internet can tell you.