The complete idiot's guide to protecting your 401(k) and IRA

by Jennifer Lane

No need to panic.Written by financial experts, this essential guide tells investors how to keep their investments safe in this difficult economy. Readers will discover how economic upswings and downturns affect investment plans—and what can be done to anticipate these trends; changes in investment rules and guidelines and their impact on 401(k)s and IRAs; and how to identify the proper investment decisions for their needs.On NPR’s March 7, 2008, broadcast of All Things Considered, discussion centered on new weaknesses in the economy, and quite a bit of time was devoted to a story on how to protect your 401(k)In 2000, 40 million 401(k) participants had an average account balance of about $50,000 and total assets of $2 trillion