Smartmoney.com: Put Your Savings on Autopilot

A reader reminded me last week that the newsletter used to have more stories that everyone could use and not just about academic finance, so I sort of went looking for a few stories that fit the bill. And this one is an excellent one from SmartMoney.

This is a no brainer. I really think everyone should do it. I do not care if in stocks, bonds, both, or in derivatives and treasuries. Saving more regularly is good advice and we are all too busy to do it unless it is done more or less automatically (either by habit, or by an automatic investment plan).

Smartmoney.com: Put Your Savings on Autopilot:

"Whatever the reason, poor savings habits are hardly a recipe for financial security. So why not start off the New Year with a resolution to buck the trend? The easiest way to do that is to sign up for an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) with your favorite mutual fund company. With these plans, you arrange to have automatic withdrawals taken from your checking or savings account and invested into your mutual fund or funds of choice.

Many fund families will even sweeten the pot by lowering their traditional minimum investment requirements, making this a great way for young investors to get started"

I could not agree more. Automatic plans are the way to go. You do not think about it, and if you do not think about it, you will not miss it! And while it is boring, boring is often good when it comes to investments.

So put aside as much as you can now, and then aim to raise it every year and whenever you get a raise.