In Honor of Lancelot Link

Caught up as I was in the 40th anniversary of Woodstock last month, I almost forgot that this month marks the 39th anniversary of the debut of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp on ABC-TV.  To commemorate this important historical event which changed our perception of chimpanzees forever, this week's blog will feature---you guessed it---links!  How's that for a rationalization?

Actually, I was struck that many topics that I write about in Plan for Retirement could also apply to Budget, Save and Eliminate Debt, and I was concerned that loyal readers of the blogs in this circle may not be reading the Plan for Retirement blogs.  So this week I give you a set of links to entries in the Plan for Retirement circle that should also be of interest to anybody looking to Budget, Save and Eliminate Debt---or, perhaps more accurately, anybody looking to save.

In Why a 401(k)? I discussed why saving through a 401(k) plan can help one accumulate a lot more cash than one would have if he had saved that same amount in a taxable account.  This is true for two reasons: contributions to a 401(k) plan are tax-deductible while the plan earns income on a tax-deferred basis.  Read for yourself to see just how much of a difference these features can make.  Eventually I was compelled to compose Why a 401(k)? Too by Popular Demand.  That's right, Sam Popular, who owns a laundromat down the road from me, kept bugging me about it so I finally gave in and added some more thoughts, these from more of a political standpoint, about the importance of participating in a 401(k) plan.

Diving Into the Stock Market included some tips for beginners looking to get into the stock market for the first time.  No, sorry, this blog entry doesn't tell you where to find the next Google (GOOG), but I think you'll find this discussion of monetary factors to consider helpful.  Again, Popular Demand dictated that there be sequels. (No, it wasn't Sam this time, but his sister Mabel.)  In Diving Into the Stock Market Too, I discuss nonmonetary factors to look for when buying a stock, while in Diving Into the Stock Market III, I discuss the question of when to sell a stock for profit. 

Your Retirement Plan Can Improve Your Love Life.  Or not.  But this one has some advice that applies to all investments, not just retirement accounts.

The Exciting World of the Roth IRA is another relevant blog.  How exciting can it be, you ask?  Find out for yourself.  This will help anybody who is currently pondering the question of whether a Roth IRA is better for them than a deductible IRA.

I continued discussing the art of diving in Diving Into Mutual Funds.  Similar to the first installment of the Diving Into the Stock Market trilogy, this included some tips for novices getting into mutual funds for the first time.  Do you know the difference between a front-load and a back-load?  If the answer is no, or if you thought that the question was about washing machines, you should probably read this.

A Case for Long-Term Care Insurance makes, well, a case for long-term care insurance.  Why not keep all that you've struggled to save, rather than giving it all to a nursing home some day?  Family Caregiver Arrangements can help along these lines, too.

Yeah, I realize that this blog entry constantly drifts from past tense to present tense and back.  What can I say, I have a cold and I'm tired.  Meanwhile, have a banana in honor of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp.  I know I will.