Getting started: The do’s and don’ts of retirement saving and investing – MarketWatch

Young Americans are constantly told that they need to contribute to a 401(k) plan, meet the employer match and if they dont have access to a 401(k), to start an individual retirement account and thats just the beginning.

In order to safeguard their future nest egg, savers must understand the very basics of investment, which includes picking the right stocks and bonds, knowing how to balance their fund options and remembering to monitor the plan every so often.

MarketWatch teamed up with Barrons Live to provide its readers and viewers with a three-part webinar series on retirement savings for people in their 20s through 40s. The series, called Getting ready for retirement: From Gen X to Gen Z, everything you need to know, includes conversations with guests well-versed in the personal finance landscape.

The first part of the series, held on April 21, went beyond the basics of retirement advice with Roger Ma, a certified financial planner and founder of advisory firm lifelaidout, and Jully-Alma Taveras, a personal finance blogger and coach at Investing Latina.

Americans know they need to open up a retirement account, or meet the employer match, but not everyone knows how to pick the right investments for their portfolios or move over an old retirement account if they tend to jump from job to job. Taveras and Ma answered questions, such as: What are the biggest mistakes Americans make in regards to their retirement savings? Should they be heavily invested in equities or bonds, and how does the current low-rate environment affect their retirement assets? When shouldnt someone set and forget their retirement portfolio? And how can they be sure the investment choices they made were sound choices?

The second part of the series, held on April 28, discussed alternative sources of income in retirement, such as annuities, home equity and Social Security. On May 5, the third and last session will discuss the future of retirement for younger generations and the meaning of and path to financial independence.

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Getting started: The do's and don'ts of retirement saving and investing - MarketWatch