12.12.19 Emerging jobs to consider; Avoiding fund mistakes when investing

LinkedIn has published a list of the top 10 emerging jobs. The trend is clear: STEM jobs are happening. 7 out of 10 are related to tech, computers and science. Don’t go STEM if you have no aptitude. But if so, the career paths are wide open.

Some for profit schools have taken advantage of students, recruiting them with false promises. The University of Phoenix has historically enjoyed a good reputation. Now the school must absorb a $50 M penalty and $141 in student loan debt from students who attended under false pretenses, having been told the school had corporate partners directly hiring graduates. The FTC found that was all made up. False advertising to this effect started in 2012. Students enrolling based on those false promises of corporate partnerships are eligible to apply for having their loans wiped out.

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A Financial Review study looks at how people choose the funds in a 401k. An employer will supply a list of fund choices. People are most likely to put money into the first 4 funds they see on the list. If you’re not into investing and your plan offers a target retirement funds, that’s the easiest, wisest choice to make. Pick the year closes to your projected retirement and the fund adjusts accordingly over time. For Roth investing, also do the target retirement fund. Keep it simple. If your company 401k offering doesn’t have target retirement funds, if you’re under age 45, put the money a total stock market index fund, or a 500 stock index fund. You could also put some of your money into a total international index fund. Conservative investors should consider putting 20% in a total bond index fund. 3 funds could get your money widely allocated to lower risk in times of decline. Choose target retirement funds when available.
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