We get to put 6,000 into IRA's at the start of the year so I guess this was timed well at least? Straining for any upside :-)

It looks like we have a really good shot to finish as the 2nd worst December in history. 1930 was down 7.x%. We're currently down 12.x% so we'd need quite a recovery in the last few days. 1931 was down 14.x% so it's actually within reach.

Pulling out a single month is a bit arbitrary but I think it's sort of amazing we're on pace to finish sandwiched between two years of the great depression.
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Hamas, I’m no expert on this by any means but I was in a similar spot with loans and such.

I would recommend paying as much as you can towards the debt repayment as you can. Don’t forget about retirement obviously, but getting out from under that will help alot
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Well then :-)

How about a list of 5 stocks to invest in this January.
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I don’t trade stocks - sorry. :-)
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Agreed.
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Yeah, do what you need to do to get the company match, but beyond that, debt reduction is your main priority for the near term.
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I hate debt; It feels like a huge weight youre under and stresses me a bit. From a strict numbers perspective it probably depends on the rates on your loans.

Either way, congrats. It's a lot of money to pay back but seems to have provided you with a great career.
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Those fed loans are a real pain in the ass at 7.2 percent.

I went them a private bank and re did them once I had my office paid for and got the rate a lot lower.
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Congrats Hamas by the way.

And this is basically it. Don't pass up any free money so do the minimum contribution to get all the free money, so 5%.

After that, tackle debt. If you have any credit card debt, I'd start there. After that, work on the student loans and possibly refinancing them to a lower rate if you're able (not sure what you're paying).

I had $60k debt after my schooling so I only contributed 4-6% to my 401k (to get the entire free match) until I paid off my student loans last year. Now I do 12% to my 401k and it's barely noticeable out of my take-home with the loans now gone, even leaving money left over to contribute to a ROTH IRA each month.

Hopefully your employer offers cost effective index funds for your retirement plan. I am invested in only Index funds alone in my 401k (Large, small and foreign). Many companies finally offer low cost index funds, but there are still some hold-overs of employers who offer expensive and less than ideal retirement funds. Let us know your choices when you get that info.
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Ugh. Definitely a Bear market.

I feel bad for the folks who are about to be retiring. Thank god my father retired just in time.
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I wish every day could be like today.

If we had 26 straight days like today, I could retire at my current quality of life. If we has 40 straight days like today, I'd live a life of leisure and semi-luxury. If we had a year of days like this, I'd buy the Chiefs and make fun of Bill Gates' cheap wardrobe.
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This.

I just checked my Roth IRA account, and it's the biggest single day increase I've ever had!

Makes me feel better after getting hosed the past couple weeks.
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Wouldn't that be great! and I could buy a bigger boat.
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You enjoy this and give pretty solid advice. Ever think of taking CPA classes and hanging up a shingle on the weekends as a CFP? :-)
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Hey not a bad thought!

For now if I want to make extra money, I'm doing the hourly therapy gig at a different building if they need help. Since it's PRN work, the pay is very good and I just tell them how many hours I can help on that day. Like tomorrow I'll go down the road to a different facility for about 90 minutes of work after my normal job. For me right now, time is money, so if I am going to do something outside of work, I want it to pay well.

But I do understand the thought of doing something totally unrelated for a second job and how that can be rewarding as well. You never know what the future may bring!
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