读者文摘:文森特一家的退休财务计划(3)（在线收听）

Experts warn that obsessing over investments is often counter-productive because timing the stock market's highs and lows is impossible.

专家警告说，沉迷投资常常会产生相反效果，因为知晓股市的涨跌时间是不可能的。

That said, now that she's in her early 40s, Cherlyn realizes the value in having a clearer picture of what's ahead.

话虽如此，现在她刚40岁出头，切林意识到了对未来有一个清晰的认识的价值。

“I want to do better and be aware of what's going on with my finances,” she says.

她说，“我想做的更好，想了解我的财政状况。”

“I know I'm going to get Social Security benefits, but I'm not quite sure where that really puts me at each month.

“我知道我会得到社会保障福利，但是我不知道我每个月的具体状况。

It just seems so far away.” The planning often intimidates people.

那似乎还很遥远。”这种计划总是让人害怕。

Vincent and Pamela's youngest daughter, Emerald Martin, 24, goes to school and works part-time in Arizona.

文森特和帕梅拉24岁的小女儿艾米瑞达·马丁正在上学，而且在亚利桑那州做兼职。

Her employer offers a 401(k) plan, but she hasn't enrolled.

她的雇主建议了一个401（k）计划，但是她还没有加入。

To her, the program is confusing, and she prefers to save on her own, despite losing her company's matching funds.

对她来说，这个计划令人困惑，她更喜欢自己储存，尽管这样会失去公司的补贴资金。

“I wish people would explain it instead of just being like, ‘Here's a thousand documents on our website,

艾米瑞达说，“我希望人们会解释这个计划，而不是这个样子，‘我们的网站有一千个文件，

and you can determine whether or not you want to participate,'” Emerald says.

你可以决定你要不要参与。’”

“It would be more comprehensible if they explained each one in detail instead of just throwing a ton of information at me.”

“如果他们能详细解释每一项内容，而不是一下让我接触这么多的信息的话，我会更容易理解的。”

Petrenchak suggests that employees focus on the fact that benefits are a part of their compensation.

佩钦切克建议员工关注福利是他们薪酬的一部分这一事实。

If they don't use them, they aren't being paid what the job is worth.

如果他们不使用它们，他们的薪水将与工作价值不符。

Abigail Gunderson, a certified financial planner and wealth adviser at Tanglewood Total Wealth Management,

阿比盖尔·甘德森是唐格尔伍德财富管理公司的注册理财规划师和财富顾问，

recommends that Emerald think about smaller, more tangible goals for now, rather than the big, far-off picture.

他建议艾米瑞达现在考虑更小的更切实的目标，而不是大的、远大的目标。

“Taking baby steps can help people who are overwhelmed by the process,” Gunderson says.

冈德森表示，“循序渐进可以帮助那些在这个过程中不知所措的人。”

“And even if they see a financial planner or adviser for just an hour, or talk with their parents, it can help clear the confusion.”

即使他们只与理财规划师或顾问见了一个小时，或与父母交谈，这也能帮助他们消除困惑。”

In fact, kids whose families discuss retirement planning with them seem to be better prepared for the future.

实际上，有家长跟他们讨论退休计划的小孩似乎能更好地为未来做好准备。

A report by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and the CFA Institute

据美国金融业监管局投资者教育基金会和注册金融分析师协会的一份报告显示，

found that 50 percent of millennials with taxable investment accounts reported their parents had talked to them about investing before they were 18.

在拥有应税投资账户的千禧一代中，有50%的人表示，他们的父母在他们18岁之前就跟他们谈过投资。

So even if Vincent's advice hasn't yet fully resonated with Emerald, their open dialogue around the topic has the potential to benefit them all in the long term.

所以即使文森特的建议还没有完全引起艾米瑞达的共鸣，他们围绕这个话题展开的开放对话有可能使他们所有人长期受益。

So what's next? Emerald hopes retirement conversations with people her age will become simpler and more relatable.

接下来呢？艾米瑞达希望和同龄人进行的有关退休的对话会变得更加简单，更能引起共鸣。

Cherlyn plans on getting together with her father to go over her asset allocation.

切林计划和她的父亲一起检查她的资产配置。

And Vincent is doing his best not to let market fluctuations shake him.

文森特正尽最大努力不让市场波动影响到他。

“Everyone needs to be an active participant in his future,” Vincent says. “Read as much as possible and prepare as best you can.”

文森特表示，“每个人都需要成为他的未来的活跃参与者，尽可能地阅读，尽可能地做好准备。”