Should I invest in 401(k) right now?

The market is volatile and my current portfolio is down not by much, but to the level of being unpleasant considering this is my savings. I haven't been in the firm for a year yet, so no matching either. 

Should I stop the contribution right now until the matching kicks in? (hold as cash, bonds etc.), or keep contributing for the tax benefit? 

13 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Honestly I would keep investing, u get the tax benefit and imo (take this with a grain of salt) you would be in a good spot by getting some stocks for 10-15% off (assuming market doesn't crash). Worst case scenario you gotta wait it out, keep buying and wait for the market to recover so you have gains as well as your tax break. No point on holding on to cash when inflation is running rampant, with that ideology your portfolio could be down 7% and you'd still be better off buying the stocks and bonds.

Unless you know you are about to make a big purchase and need cash (don’t know why you’d buy a house or car right now anyways).

 

Never try to time the market, if the best hedge funds in the world can’t time the market accurately, you will never be able to.

Try to remember you won’t touch this money for 40 years, so who cares what it does for the next decade or so.

I understand how sickening it is to keep contributing, my 401k is down like 250k this year, but just try not to look at it.

 

Dolorem saepe deserunt vitae eos ut doloribus et quos. Rerum dignissimos velit totam voluptatem labore. Voluptas asperiores aut doloribus.

Neque eligendi id officiis et deserunt adipisci. Rerum consequatur hic vero blanditiis dolore. Ut maiores occaecati nihil hic culpa sit magnam. Mollitia dolorem molestiae voluptatem.

Rerum sit omnis debitis impedit non. Illum minus qui qui dolores voluptatem modi facere et. Architecto aut aut blanditiis praesentium quo. Recusandae aut enim possimus quia doloribus qui. Numquam rem natus eligendi non qui et dolore.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”