9 mistakes to avoid with your 401(k)

From never increasing your contribution to not accepting 'free money'

Keep your money in your account as long as possible.

You've gotten the message and finally invested in your workplace's 401(k) plan. The decision puts you in better shape than the staggering one-third of Americans who have no retirement savings — but it's not enough to simply enroll. You want to make smart choices.

"Don't think you have to become a professional money manager to get this right," certified financial planner Harriet J. Brackey told CNBC.com. "It's not rocket science, you can make a good informed decision if you just slow down." Here are nine mistakes to avoid.

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Alexis Boncy is special projects editor for The Week and TheWeek.com. Previously she was the managing editor for the alumni magazine Columbia College Today. She has an M.F.A. from Columbia University's School of the Arts and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.