How to tell if your 401(k) is doing OK

Plus, a CSPAN smackdown No Images? Click here   CSPAN's been riveting TV this month thanks in part to Rep. Katie Porter, a freshman Democrat from California who sits on the Financial Services Committee. In one meeting, Porter asked Kathy Kraninger — the new director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who had no prior experience in banking, finance or consumer protection — what an APR is. Kraninger couldn't or wouldn't calculate a simple example Porter asked her to consider, prompting Porter to explain in a subsequent Twitter video how to calculate APR (it includes fees). Her explanation's been viewed over 117,000 times, and it's just the lesson you need to know if you're comparing financial offers or deciding whether to take on a short-term loan. Check it out.  Over here at HuffPost, we're sharing how you can also evaluate your 401(k) performance, avoid a common résumé pitfall, know what constitutes "good" debt and stop your brain from rationalizing you into overspending. You may never be exposed on CSPAN, but your finances are just as important.  Janie    Take back your life President Trump declared your 401(k) is beautiful now, and, in fact, its value has risen beyond your wildest expectations! Except maybe that doesn’t ring true for you. Your 401(k) might have even lost money over the last year as the market wobbled and dropped. Should you be concerned? How should you even be evaluating performance? Here’s how to tell if your 401(k) is on track despite less-than-impressive growth — and what to do if it’s not. What to do if your 401(k) isn't killing it     Deal with it Sometimes I visit an outlet mall about two hours from where I live. And inevitably, if I don't find what I'm looking for, I start to feel antsy about buying something — anything — to justify the trip. "I can't drive all this way and leave with nothing!" my brain tells me. "That would be a waste!" This is the sunk cost fallacy, and it's one of the psychological tricks our minds play that make it hard to curb our spending. Money reporter Casey Bond explains how 5 of these common traps work against us. Once you know how to recognize them, they become easier to defeat.  5 psychological reasons you can't stop spending Pro Tip: Deciding what to keep and what to leave off a résumé is hard, especially considering an applicant has seven seconds to capture a hiring manager’s attention. It can be even harder for those who don’t have the educational background desired for a job and are stumped on what to put in the “education” section. Work/Life reporter Monica Torres talked to experts who said that even if you didn't complete school, you should still list it on your résumé. Not only do courses count as education, but so do self-studies. Here's how — and where — to list whatever schooling you do have.  What to put on your résumé if you didn't finish school Want more practical magic? This is when women start being underpaid and how they can break free  Here's the real difference between good debt and bad debt These 7 women on Instagram will inspire you to be better with money    .     HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. No moon dust. No B.S. Just a completely essential daily guide to achieving the good life. Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Can't get enough? You'll also love HuffPost's Entertainment newsletter. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe      . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe