General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie lost me with the Robin Hood Tax [View all]A HERETIC I AM
(24,876 posts)OK....1ST OF ALL...Joe...calm down, OK? This will NOT affect your 401(k) or 529 plans IN THE LEAST, alright?
YOU will not be affected by this tax because...ready? it is a tax on TRADES and trades do not occur with Mutual Funds, in spite of what the many market mavens and internet financial professionals above have told you. THEY'RE WRONG, full stop.
And I'll bet a days pay that what you have in your 401(k) is Mutual Funds, including any Money Market funds because they are also - READY? Mutual Funds.
Mutual Funds DO NOT TRADE ON AN EXCHANGE, therefore this tax will not apply to your rebalancing. It will not apply to any new purchases or any redemptions.
Notice I did not use the word "sales" because in fact, you do not "sell" MUTUAL FUNDS. They are redeemed by the issuing Mutual Fund Company. There is no trade. You do indeed "buy" them, but you can only buy a specific Mutual Fund share from its specific issuer and each new share of a Mutual Fund is in effect and brand new security. That is why you get a Prospectus each time you buy. You know what those are. Those are the little booklets most people never read with the name of the fund company on it and the word "Prospectus" that you either throw out or put in a drawer somewhere to throw out when you move. (Sorry for the tone there. Got carried away!)
Don't sweat it, pal. You'll be fine.
For more information on Mutual Funds, you can look at this thread I put up in the Personal Finance and Investing Group a while back;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1121392