“That gain cannot be made without some other person's loss” is an antiquated belief still held by many; if this were true, then one would need to point out those that lost WHILE we became surrounded by wealth, wealth that the world increases by the minute. We mostly create wealth, not filch it from others, as some tend to believe.

Counting one’s paper profits is like eating chicken while it is still flapping.

This means including in your portfolio different asset classes such as property, shares and fixed interest, different industries (to shield against economic impact in one category) and different countries (to take into account global cycles, economic dynamics and different exchange rates).

People often wrestle with the psychological decision to put money into tax-deferred savings plans like a 401(k), 403(b), or the Government's Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Sure, it's an investment in your future; it's tax-deductible, etc. But it's still money out of your pocket, so it's hard.
But it's also very important. If you're under 40, you can't count on traditional pensions or Social Security being there when you retire. So, here are three tips to make saving in a 401(k) a little less painful:
1. Start right away. The day that you get a new job immediately signs up for the 401(k). You don't have any idea what your net pay will be anyway, so getting the deductions going from Day One will reduce the mental impact of having a lower net pay.
2. Take all the free money. Companies may offer some sort of match, like donating 50 cents for every dollar you contribute up to 6% of your salary. Even if your investments don't do very well, getting that kind of match means you've already made a 50% return on your investment. Always contribute enough to get all of the matching funds.
3. Split your raises. When you get a raise, put half of it towards your 401(k) and keep the other half -- for example, if you get a 3% raise, increase your 401(k) contributions by 1.5% and let the rest show up in your net pay. You'll still see a raise in your net income but you'll also be putting aside money for your future.
The maximum amount you can contribute in 2006 is $15,000. You may not make that goal this year, but follow these three points and you eventually will maximize your 401(k). Start early enough and you're practically guaranteed to be a millionaire when you retire at age 65, whether Social Security exists or not.