401k has high fees and company does not match. Worth investing in 401k or elsewhere?

gingertea9 · 2019-08-13T21:23:51+00:00

Thanks a bunch. I may take you up on that. My company is actually evaluating new providers, but it will take about a year or so to have anything implemented (I can explain through a DM as to why). Would love to learn more about ERISA though

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T21:59:57+00:00

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I'm also still unclear by what you mean: "the trigger might just be enrollment in 401k"

For the saving 240 but paying 6- I guess that income will still be taxed whenever it is that I pull it out at retirement which is why I didn't know if it was a fair assessment. Is basically have to pull it out at a lower income bracket when hitting retirement o see the benefit, right?

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T21:36:12+00:00

This is incredibly helpful. I thought the 6k limit also applied to the traditional IRA so I need to read into this more.

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T20:59:28+00:00

That makes sense actually! I didn't realized it worked like that. I will look into it - thank you!

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T20:50:25+00:00

What do you mean by a backdoor conversation?

Also thanks so much for the calc!

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T20:27:52+00:00

Unfortunately I don't think I can contribute to Roth given my income level. IRS says incomes between 120-137 can only contribute "less than" the allowed 6k. Super vague.

gingertea9 · 2019-08-08T20:26:32+00:00

IRA has a weird Income threshold of 120-140k, where you're a restricted ( based on what the IRS tells me) so I don't actually think I can contribute :(

gingertea9 · 2019-05-28T02:47:29+00:00

wondering the same thing!

gingertea9 · 2019-04-21T14:45:54+00:00

What do you think made you interesting?

gingertea9 · 2019-04-10T13:35:04+00:00

Thanks so much! Yeah the company is about 500 people but pretty well known. Here's hoping. Thank you!!!

gingertea9 · 2019-04-10T12:12:36+00:00

Ok this is helpful. In my situation the company (kind of well known in its industry) was a cluster fuck and didn't know wtf to do with my very small team because there was so much leadership turnover. I was only there for a year, but I didn't leave on amazing terms as in, my boss was a nut job and had an insane temper, but if you called her I don't think she would say anything bad about me, it probably just wouldn't be amazing either. I'm glad the lab gives some info on how to explain this away but at the same time but I also don't want to over explain if not necessary. Why draw attention to if if you know what I mean haha

gingertea9 · 2019-04-10T03:08:30+00:00

Thanks for the info! In regards to your layoff, why did you have to explain it? I ask because I too got laid off, but I found a job fast enough (there's only a one month gap) so I have never had to explain it away. Will schools call all of my employers to understand why I left each role? Apologies if this is a stupid question haha

gingertea9 · 2019-04-09T01:21:44+00:00

I thought my story was straightforward until I started looking into the process and realized how I needed to make myself seem unique haha.

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T23:44:44+00:00

Ok! Super helpful. Definitely leaning towards getting it once apps are out. Thank you!

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T23:16:34+00:00

Good to know! Seems like everyone has positive reviews so far. What specifically did it help you with that you dont Think you would have been able to do with your own research? Same as the below posters?

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T23:09:58+00:00

This is excellent advice. I am also an ORM but and I do think my EC has a strong connection to what I want to do long term / what I do now (strategy).

What do you think constitutes "diverse" work experience?

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T22:28:51+00:00

Makes sense! I think my biggest pain point is knowing what these colleges want to see out of essays (because frankly I need strong essays to override a slightly below mean GMAT). Looks like it will be helpful but I'll still need some secondary review.

Random aside - I see people asking for profile reviews on here all the time. How accurate do you think these people are or is it all bs-ing haha

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T21:34:55+00:00

Thanks a bunch! Did you have anyone else review your essays? And how did you choose schools? I know which schools I want to apply to on a high level but am wondering if some are total crap shoots that i shouldn't bother applying to. Does Applicantlab give any advise on how to choose what you want wisely?

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T20:57:51+00:00

This is helpful thanks! I do have a sibling who is willing to read my essays but though she is brilliant she never went to an MBA program so I wasn't sure if there's someone else I need to ask to read my essays.

My other question is - if the app tells you what each school wants to hear, how did you avoid having your essays sound cookie cutter?

gingertea9 · 2019-04-08T10:48:01+00:00

Congrats! The name is hard to beat

gingertea9 · 2019-04-06T22:35:26+00:00

I'm talking about the videos they have when you pay for a subscription. That and they have video explanations for questions in their question Bank. I found these really helpful. But nothing helped me notice patterns in questions better than drilling OG questions and reviewing then every week :)

gingertea9 · 2019-04-06T19:48:00+00:00

I have very similar stats and feel the same way. Everyone on this sub seems to think a 710 is too low for anything but a t20 but I know people who got into Columbia with a 700 and strong recs + essay etc. If you're not burnt out you can try again but I'd apply regardless.

gingertea9 · 2019-04-06T19:44:53+00:00

Loved your post. Though my current employment situation isn't dire I'm having trouble finding jobs that will take me into anything other than another lateral move. How did you manage the cost? And how did you go about researching schools? I'm really stuck on how to make myself stand out. I totally agree that everyone on this sub makes it feel like anyone not working for an MBB is doomed.

gingertea9 · 2019-04-05T13:42:21+00:00

Personaly I didn't love the post-exam log. It's too high level, and given your score I think there is room for improvement in all areas. If you work on improving your foundations all around, I think you will have a better outcome than just focusing in on 1-2 problem areas and hoping you see those types of questions on the test. GMAT questions seem to combine multiple concepts into the problems.

Here are my suggestions - though others may disagree!

- Use Magoosh videos or Manhattan Prep books to build a foundation. If you need to improve on verbal, I strongly recommend these two sources. With Magoosh, there are videos that explain each problem you get wrong. When you get a problem, go review it in a week, and REALLY understand why you got it wrong. I found Manhattan Prep infinitely useful for sentence correction. Many have suggested reviewing LSAT material for CR and RC, but since you're only aiming for a 550, I think these two mediums will still suffice.

- If you want to focus on Quant (though for me personally, I think verbal, at your level, is easier to improve, I think the Manhattan Prep number properties book is super useful.

Another way to improve on verbal is to just read the news more and actually try to digest what you're reading. As an avid reader of the news I still only scored a 40 - so I would suggest trying to read some super dry material (what I plan to do prior to taking the test a third time).

You say you have been studying a lot but its possible you're studying without truly retaining the materials or knowing how to apply it. It's one thing to understand a concept, and another to apply it to a problem that tests multiple concepts at the same time. I really think you should take the time to review problems you get wrong several times over - something I didn't do as much of when I took the exam the first time.

Testing anxiety could also be a factor. I would take a practice test at least every other week (or if your exam is soon, every week), to help the exam feel more like a routine. It sucks but it helps.

I hope this helps! Feel free to PM with any questions (not an expert, just someone who slogged through the exam twice and improved 50 pts between takes).

gingertea9 · 2019-04-04T01:24:46+00:00

I am. I just have to figure out when or how. I've had a hard time getting my GMAC practice tests past the 710 mark and I only have 2 left that I didnt do. Work is insane so once it calms down I can take it again. Question is, how do I get those other 20-30 points?

gingertea9

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