Borrowing from an IRA is still prohibited. But one can consolidate his individual retirement accounts into a 401 k and borrow from 401k.

However, individual 401 k is more than just a good tool to borrow money. It also lets you contribute more towards your retirement. You can make tax-deductible contributions to this plan at levels more generous than other retirement plans such as SEP, SIMPLE, profit sharing and money purchase plans.

Every year millions of Americans start new businesses and take cash distributions from their retirement accounts to keep them solvent until business gets going. In process these entrepreneurs forfeit a large chunk of their retirement money to taxes and penalties. From now including a 401 k search will probably become routine whenever small business owners look to set up a retirement plan. With all of its features, individual 401(k) is bound to be a serious contender when it comes to choosing a small business retirement plan.

Imagine play-by-play if hunting truly was a sport: "Man is closing in. He's coming up from behind and rounding to south side. He's raising his rifle. Deer doesn't even appear to notice. Oh, I can't watch. This is going to be a massacre. Wait! Deer has just bucked up and twisted. He spins around a tree, and -- look! Deer has a rifle too. He aims. He shoots! He Kills!!! Man is down. What an upset, ladies and gentlemen."

In real life, Deer doesn't win very often. In fact, I estimate that Man is about 4.3 gazillion times more likely to be defeated by his own team mate than by opposition. We call this "friendly fire".

Contrast this to Itchy Trading Finger, who stands an equal chance of striking gold or of moving into a cardboard box on street corner. The stock market truly is sport, for those who choose to treat it that way. Which is why it is so important to put aside -- in safe, secure investments -- money you feel you need for your future. That way, when Itchy Trading Fingers retire, they can move out of cardboard box.

For rest of us, we are happier getting our sport watching monster trucks crush WWF actors. Oops! There I go again, mixing my sports and my metaphors, not to mention ignoring several federal safety standards. May your investments be safer than my WWF friends, and may you sleep well at night.