Conference nyoss1::market_investing

    I thought this would be a better place (over Digital_Investing) for
    this note.  But if someone feels otherwise, just say the word and I'll
    move it over to Digital_Investing...
    
    /pedro

    I'd like a international fund and an emerging markets one,
    preferably both indexed and managed.
    
    	-John Bishop

>                  ... in regards to our 401-K (SAVE) plan?
    
>    -  Matching contributions?  Would you take these over ESOP?
      
      Would depend on the present value of the two benefits.  If it
      differs signficantly I'd want the greater benefit.  If ther're
      very nearly the same I'd prefer to see the money going into tax 
      deferred savings (SAVE) rather than current income (ESOP).
    
>    -  More options aside from SP 500 Index, Windsor, and Russell 2000
>       Index funds (plus GIC and Money Mkt Funds)?  e.g. an international
>       fund, small company fund?  Which funds?
      
      Personally, I use what SAVE offers and make diversifying
      investments elswhere.  If I had to put all my eggs in the SAVE
      basket, I'd want to see added...
          
          o multiple stock funds in addition to Windsor
          o bond funds
              - government
              - corporate -- investment grade
                          -- "junk"
          o Internatinal -- stocks
                         -- bonds
      
      Actually, it would be nice to have all the funds in the Schwab or
      similar mutual fund marketplace available.
    
>    -  Maybe a completely different set (family?) of funds? (i.e. not
>       Vanguard?)  Which family?
      
      I've never liked the idea of limiting myself to any one family of
      funds.  Hence my suggestion about "Schwab or similar mutual fund
      marketplace".  The question is would Schwam or whomever be willing
      and able to administer a 401K plan?  And would they be as
      beneficial in other aspects (adminstrative costs, etc.)  as our
      current plan?

    *Any* increase in benefits will probably have to wait until we run in
    the "black" for a year or so.
    
    Ken

    
    
    
    I'd like to see the pension plan dismantled in favor of matching
    401k contributions.  Give us what we've already got in the 
    pension plan (rolled over to an IRA) and match future 401k
    contributions. Give us a MUCH wider selection of mutual fund 
    offerings (both fund families and types of funds) with more 
    flexibility to move money between funds (4-5  switches per year,
    anytime of the year).
    
    
    doug
     

	I thought the survey was world-wide, therefore I wouldn't expect 
	something that is only specific to the US to be included in it.

	Heather    

    Re: .5
    
    This is what I'd like to see regarding our "investment" in the Social
    Security system.  Give me what I have put in so I can invest it the
    way I want to.  I'd be happy to fund those people who are already
    collecting.  But that is never going to happen. :)

>     I'd like to see the pension plan dismantled in favor of matching
>     401k contributions.  Give us what we've already got in the 
>     pension plan (rolled over to an IRA) and match future 401k
>     contributions. Give us a MUCH wider selection of mutual fund 
>     offerings (both fund families and types of funds) with more 
>     flexibility to move money between funds (4-5  switches per year,
>     anytime of the year).

I would be very cautious on this one. 

1.   Matching 401K is not defined. The range of matching varies
     all over the map among the Fortune 500 companies.

2.   There is a tremendous number of companies moving from
     defined benefits (pension) to defined contribution (401k)
     plans.  Are these companies moving to 401k because it's
     in the best interest of the employees or are there 
     financial benefits to companies?  


Gim

I would like a very simple set up like many of the not-for-profits have.  A 
choice of all the funds in a couple families.  My wife is currently in a 
plan with the Fidelity and Vanguard families, a few GICs and 2 money 
markets.  This gives just about everything you could want.  You are limited 
to the transfer rules of the fund family and all the fees in Fidelity are 
waived.  (No loads or transfer fees)  You are limited in some Fidelity 
funds to one exchange per month or quarter without a fee, but those are the 
special funds.

While matching would be nice, I doubt we will get it.  I would settle for a 
competent system for reporting and a wide selection of funds.

Matt

    The IRS allows up to 15% of wages into a 401K with a 1994 limit of
    $9,200.  We need to increase our % limits to allow employess to meet
    their maximum if desired.
    
    

	Re. .11

	> The IRS allows up to 15% of wages into a 401K with a 1994 limit of
    	> $9,200.

	But this is subject to the provision that the top 1/3 salaried 
	employees do not contribute more than 2/3 of the total contribution
	to 401(K) by all the employees of the company. For Digital, this 
	forces the cutoff point at about 8%. With more people being hired at
	the VP level and less at the lower level, I would guess that the
	cutoff point should actually go lower :-). 

	Re. .11

	> The IRS allows up to 15% of wages into a 401K with a 1994 limit of
    	> $9,200.
    
    i agree.  my husband now works for a company that allows employees to
    contribute 1-17% of their salary with a 6% cap for highly paid
    employees.  i think salary of 65K is considered high salary.  i easily
    fit below the cap.