With current market conditions, it can be difficult to know what step to take and which direction is the correct one for an employee. While every participant’s situation is different, USA Today recently published an article that contained some helpful dos and don’ts in this market:

While the stock market started the week in a less-than-promising state, by Thursday things were on a slightly more optimistic note. Experts quoted in a recent USA Today article believe that a “bottoming out” process has taken place and that the market is poised to go up.

With the current state of the economy, what’s a person to do when it comes to retirement? Five of the most common concerns and/or questions on this very topic are discussed by Walter Updegrave, a senior editor for “Money Magazine”, in a question-and-answer session recently posted on CNN Money.com.

The current economic crisis could mean more employers may have to refund the 401(k) contributions of their higher wage earners (a.k.a “highly compensated employees”), according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

After a long and historic presidential campaign, Americans today finally have the chance to elect their next president. With the economy struggling and people concerned about saving enough for retirement, it is more important than ever that everyone, no matter which candidate or party they support, go out and vote.

 If you would like to learn more about NADART’s retirement plans and features, please contact a NADART representative at (800) 462-3278, ext. 7161 or e-mail nadart401k@nada.org.

The federal government is considering whether or not to grant financial aid to the nation’s automobile manufacturers, according to a recent article posted on CNN Money.com. While the recently passed $700 billion federal bailout package was initially designed to get banks and securities firms to start loaning money to businesses and consumers, automakers such General Motors, Ford and Chrysler could also be eligible for this aid through their finance arms (GMAC, etc.).

There is no denying that October has not been a good month when it comes to the economy and for stocks in particular. As of Monday, October 27, the S&P 500 Index had dropped 27.2 percent and is the second-worst performance since the Index began (the worst being 29.94 percent in 1931). A recent article on CNN Money.com points out that October has traditionally been a bad month when it comes to financial downturns. However, they do point out that things could have been worse.

Now is the time of year that most employees must choose their health insurance and other benefits at work. This is typically called “Open Enrollment”. While an article on CNNMoney.com, has some good tips on selecting benefits, it also points out that it is a good time of year for employees to think about their retirement savings, even though eligible employees can sign up at anytime of year. Since you already have them thinking about their benefits, it’s easier to call their attention to their 401(k) plans. Eligible participants should think about how much they want to contribute, how they can contribute more and whether their portfolio needs rebalancing.