The 411 on Your 401K

Are you saving for your future?

Everyone Deserves a Break - Get up and take a breather. Most of our greatest “A-ha!” moments arrive during downtime when we least expect it. So go ahead and do whatever it is you’ve been fantasizing about that’s been causing you to lose your attention. Then afterwards, bring your renewed focus from the future to what can be done right now. (Photo: Abel Mitja Varela/Getty Images)

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Everyone Deserves a Break - Get up and take a breather. Most of our greatest “A-ha!” moments arrive during downtime when we least expect it. So go ahead and do whatever it is you’ve been fantasizing about that’s been causing you to lose your attention. Then afterwards, bring your renewed focus from the future to what can be done right now. (Photo: Abel Mitja Varela/Getty Images)

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Save for Your Future

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The Basics

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How Much to Invest

Your Employer May Match You - This has become less popular as the economy has been slowly recovering, but sometimes your employer may match the money you put into your 401K. If so, invest as much as you can, because this is free money. (Photo: Don Bayley/Getty Images)

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Your Employer May Match You

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401K Money Is Tax-Free - There are plenty of tax breaks from investing in your 401K. The money you invest is tax deductible, meaning what you invest can be subtracted from your total income when doing your taxes, and you don’t have to pay any taxes on the money your 401K grows each year. (Photo: Aaron Horowitz/CORBIS)

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401K Money Is Tax-Free

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Know Who’s Managing Your Money

Photo By Photo: Oleg Prikhodko/Getty Images

Understand the Risks - Any time you play the stock market it can be risky. But the amount of risk you take is up to you. You have options: conservative, balanced, moderate and aggressive. It’s suggested that people in their 20s and 30s invest aggressively, taking more risks with their stocks because they are young and will be in the workplace for a much longer time. After 40, you reduce the risk of investments you make. (Photo: Tim Pannell/Corbis)

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Understand the Risks

Let Your Money Mature - You can access your money any time, but if you do so before you turn 59-and-a-half years old, there are stiff financial penalties to pay. So do not take any money out if you can help it. (Photo: Corbis)

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Let Your Money Mature

The Other 'B' Word - Ever dream of being CEO of a company or starting one of your own? These young women are doing just that, and all before the age of 30. Some used their celebrity status to build their empires, while others established their business before garnering fame. The end result, however, remains the same: these women are bosses! Read on to see why these ladies are our #SHEroes. By Jazmine A. Ortiz (Photo: Radius Images/Corbis)

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Live for the Future