How do I maximize my 401k contribution if any changes to the plan take a long time to take effect?
Some employers are quicker than others to implement changes. What is likely occurring is that Vanguard is sending your change request to your employer’s payroll dept. and they need to allot time for a person to go into the payroll system and manually update your deduction amount. They may be allowing for two payroll periods, just in case they are unable to get it onto your next paycheck. I would suggest asking your HR or payroll person about it — it is possible that it could be implemented earlier but they are just covering themselves.Another possible cause for delay would be the provisions of the plan itself. The adoption agreement that governs the plan indicates how frequently participants can modify their deferral elections (note, participants are always able to go to 0% at any time). Some plans allow this change to occur every pay period, some plans allow it monthly, quarterly or semiannually. It is possible your plan allows for monthly changes so you need to wait for the first paycheck of next month to see the change. Your summary plan description will have this information (contact your HR department if you need another copy).If you are concerned about exceeding the annual contribution limit, ask your employer if the payroll system will automatically cap your deductions (not all can or do). If you see that you do end up going over the limit, let your employer know immediately and they will work on getting your excess refunded to you and taxed appropriately. It is important that this be refunded to you before April 15, otherwise you will be taxed twice on the excess. Do not assume your employer is already aware of the overfunded amount; it will eventually get detected but the onus is on the participant to rectify the situation, hence the double taxation penalty.Because of the array of delays that can impact your account, you can see why it is important to plan ahead.
Would the higher compensation at Amazon and Google be worth leaving my current position? I make $105K in Kansas City. My employer matches 1-for-1 first 6% of 401K and an additional 1%. They contribute to my pension a cash value of my salary.
I’ve worked at both Google and Amazon. From my experience…Google pays better than Amazon.Google has a better 401k plan than what you currently have (50% matching up to 18k, so you get an extra 9k if you max out your contributions). Amazon’s is worse (matched at 50% but capped at 2% of base IIRC).Neither company has a pension plan. Yours sounds pretty good, assuming the contributions compound over time.Your base salary is on par with an entry-level position at Amazon and an entry-level position at Google. If you have more experience you can expect a higher base salary.Google has cash bonuses of 10% or more (performance-based). Amazon doesn’t.It doesn’t sound like you get equity at your current job. That can be a significant component of compensation at both companies. Google does better here, too. An extra $75k for a senior position is common. Also, consider that both companies have shown strong growth, so the equity typically ends up being more by the time the stock vests.If you’re going to relocate for the job you should take into consideration cost-of-living adjustments. Seattle isn’t bad but might be more expensive than Kansas City. Silicon Valley is quite expensive.Both companies would probably try to be competitive with your current comp if they decide to make you an offer. Your current comp, plus cost-of-living, plus 30% wouldn’t be an unreasonable request. (You might want to wait for them to make the first offer, though. It could end up being even better than what you ask for.)Both companies have great opportunities for working with large-scale systems. They also look good on a resume.If the compensation sounds like it might be better for you then by all means interview. That’s the only way to know for sure.
Post-dated check for state of Ohio?
My January's rent check never made it to my LL. (how, I don't know...I've never had an issue in the past with losing mail.) So he contacts me informing me that he needs January's rent. He acknowledged I am always on time with my rent and he wanted to give me a heads-up he hadn't received it...and that he still needed payment. He informed me that I could give the new check to the maintenance guy because he would be meeting him in the near future. Since the first check hadn't been cashed, I had the $$ for January. To insure there was no delay in February's rent, I enclosed a post-dated check for February 1st as well. Well, he ended up cashing both checks and I got hit with an overdraft charge. In the state of Ohio, is it legal to cash a post-dated check? Am I entitled to receive reimbursement for the overdraft from my bank?
Will Vanguard take back my employer match on my 401k plan?
In February, I left my previous employer. I had a 401k plan with Vanguard with them. There was employer matching, but it was stated that it would be mine only if I stayed for 3 years. It hasn't been taken away yet, and I've since sold the match (company stock) in my account and converted it to another fund. Will Vanguard eventually take that money back somehow -- and if so, how? Will they take back the earnings on that money in the other form, or will they only take back the value initially given to me in stock? Would I be able to avoid this by rolling over to another company (e.g. Fidelity) before they do this? Would that be illegal if they eventually told me they wanted the money back and I, having my money elsewhere, refused?
Battle of gettysburg?
1) Union Victory (North) 2) Lee (South) and Meade (North) 3) Union - 23,055 (3,155 killed, 14,531 wounded, 5,369 captured/missing) Conferacy - 23,231 (4,708 killed, 12,693 wounded, 5,830 captured/missing) 4) It was the bloodiest battle of the war and Lincoln wanted to redefine the purpose of the war. 5) To remind everyone that despite the war, we were still one nation. 6) It took a long time to bury the dead - many were buried quickly, horse carcasses were burned. The cemetery was not dedicated until 4 months later. 7) The battlefield is much as it was back then, but now covered with more growth (trees) and monuments to regiments and individuals where they fell.