1. A 401(k) Plan can be one of your best tools for creating a secure retirement. It provides you with an important advantage. All of the contributions and earnings to your 401(k)are tax deferred, which means you only pay taxes on contributions and earnings when the money is withdrawn. You can invest a portion of your earnings based on the amount you make BEFORE taxes. This is favorable to a regular savings plan, because it results in a higher take home pay at the end of the year and a lower current taxable income. This is a retirement savings plan you cannot afford to pass up.

2. You are likely to retire someday and will need funds other than Social Security to pay for living expenses. It's up to you as an individual investor to plan for your own future. The Social Security Administration estimated in 2000 that Social Security will provide only 38-40% of an average retiree's living expenses.

3. A long time horizon is your biggest advantage. The sooner you begin investing, the sooner you can achieve your investment goals due to the process of compounding.

4. If your company provides a matching program, it is extra compensation for you. Do you usually turn down a raise? A company's matching contribution may range between $0.25 and $1.00 for every dollar an employee contributes, usually based on the number of years of employment.

5. Automatic payroll deduction makes it simple to save and reduces the temptation to spend the money. You can relax while investing this way, because you know your money is growing without you actually seeing it!

6. You may have a need for an extra source of emergency cash before retirement. Generally, the IRS allows for hardship withdrawals to be used for unforeseen situations such as unexpected emergency expenses, prevention of eviction or foreclosure on your home, post-secondary education expenses, or purchase of a primary residence. There is a penalty associated with early withdrawal. Another way of withdrawing funds before retirement is to take a loan from your account with a commitment to pay it back with interest. There is no penalty if the loan is repaid on time.

7. New job? Take your 401(k) with you! The new 2002 law allows employees to roll eligible rollover assets into and out of other 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b) plans, on the condition that the new employer accepts and honors these rollovers.

8. You can gain access to Dimensional Funds Advisors' (DFA) funds, which are built upon a Nobel-Prize-winning investment theory. These efficient, passively managed, diversified index funds are available to you only through your 401(k) plan or a financial advisor.

9.ORRGROUP serves as your investment advisor, matching people to portfolios. ORRGROUP provides a Risk Capacity Survey to determine what asset allocation is best for each employee, and a 12-Step Investor Education Program that teaches how the stock market works and how risk, return, and time are related. The 12-Step Program to Index Funds provides a complete explanation of the most prudent and efficient way to invest your hard-earned money.

10. With 401kasp as the 401(K) Administrator, you can access your account and receive up-to-date information at any time. Rebalancing your portfolio is easy and convenient, requiring only a simple click of the mouse. Keeping track of your account is automatic and easy to understand.