Why do you think the company cares one way or another how you feed yourself? It is a business for the benefit of the owners.

That is not a defense of anything one way or another but your well being is not their concern outside of the parameters of the CBA. That is quite clear in how this place has been run for years. They may well choose to sell after the agreement with US Airways ends at the end of the contract.

It's a business without room for warm fuzzies. Just the way it is and the sooner we all realize that the better we sleep.

Maximize your own benefits the same way. Follow the contract to your maximum benefit. Daily Open Time, Maximum contribution to your 401(k), etc. It's incredible how many people don't do these things.

ding ding winner... An FO the other day told me he didn't know anything about changing your 401k contribution.....

Just out of curiosity...what do most people contribute?

Most people I've talked to seem to do 9%, which gives the full company matching. I always recommend people contribute the most they possibly can. The benefits of compound interest are amazing, especially over the length of a career. Even 1% more can make a remarkable difference over a 30 year career.

Max that thing out if you can. It's $17,500 this year I think. I know that's not possible for many people but people should contribute the most they possibly can.

People (everybody, not just RJ pilots) need to educate themselves in the world of personal finance.

I figured 9% was what most people try for...no sense in walking away from free money.

Compound interest can also cripple your investment when it goes the other way.

Wait...are you trying to say we can lose money in our 401k? You mean the stock market isnt a sure thing!?

Most people don't realize that you lose a lot of money when the market is trending horizontally, like it has in the last decade. For example, assuming you have 10,000 invested (makes it easy), if the market goes down 50% today and goes back up 50% (extreme example), what will be your net profit or loss? Most people think they will be back at 10k, for a net loss of 0, but that isn't the case.

Buy low, sell high.

There is never a sure thing in anything. But if you don't save now it's pretty sure that you won't have much when you retire.

Also, the Dow is at all time highs right now. It's actually not a great time to invest but that's the way it is. Buying more when the market is down is best but we just put in our contributions and hope for the best.

And paying compound interest is how banks make their money. There's a reason they're so filthy rich. Everyone is up to their eyeballs in debt.

Debt based money system. The system will never satisfy its hunger. But, I do 11% for the 401K