One day my old company’s stock price dropped from a high of about $68 to close one day around $10. That day a lot of people learned the wisdom of considering 401K investments outside of company stock.
My wife’s brother-in-law received a lot in stock options to supplement low pay at his telecom company, that he couldn’t cash in until being there so many years. At one point worth almost $400,000. Then the value of the company plummeted and the stock was worthless. Worked his butt off for nothing. Now working elsewhere. Tough to be in your fifties and start over trying to save money, but he’s happy. New job is in Hawaii, and no snow or cold weather.
Recent events in Cyprus disabuse us of the idea that our 401k accounts are anything but future revenue for the gov't.