Bogleheads.org

okay okay!!!!
I get the point.
If you look at any of my other posts, you'll see I am truly dedicated to understanding and implementing long-term good asset allocation.

I want to be one of the smart people.

I understand.
That is why I have always been long and use almost all vanguard funds.
Just a general inquiry because I was curious.

So, of course, it is never smart to chase the market. But, hypothetically. If you have a few vanguard index funds, and the market is suspected to head again in to a recession, in theory, where would you move the assets of the index fund ira's and 401k's? Could you just move into bonds temporarily? I...

Understood
I guess got a little confused by the classification of extended market appearing as more of a mid-cap blend. It states that it includes small caps, but really it what percentage?

Okay.
So, in that case, you would suggest changing the small cap value to the small cap index if I am not going to bother with extended market right now?

Hello, You all have been very helpful. Yes, I was reviewing the extended market, I was wondering what extra benefit i would really get since I already have 15% in small cap value fund. Perhaps some extra mid-cap, but based on performance when breaking all these stocks down, I don't think it would re...

Wow. Very interesting. I will investigate it further. Of course, if I were to incorporate it, than I would imagine my 15% allocation to "small cap index" or "small cap value" should be decreased some?

Hello, Thank you all. I would hold a total stock market index, but have large limitations with my 401K. Not good options with many having expense ratios over 1.1-1.4% So, utilizing the dryden S&P500 within the 401k is primary since it has a expense ratio more like vanguard. You can see more abou...

Interesting suggestion. My planned allocation (still making some adjustments) is about 25% total international and 15% small cap value, 10% vanguard REIT index, 15% vanguard total bonds (some have suggested 20%, but I am leaning just a bit towards 15% for a few more years), rest is in a 401k dryden ...

I think I misinterpreted intent of the second fund.

In that case, and if preferring to keep funds within vanguard (for simplicity), would you simply stick with the small cap index and leave that asset class alone?
Or, any other suggestions, within vanguard, to complement small cap index?

Sorry, got a bit confused there.
Are you saying that the vanguard total international already has a good value tilt in it?
Or,
Are you saying that complementing it with the international value would be okay?

Hello, I am 36 years old. Currently have a aggressive allocation. goal for international exposure is 25%. I use vanguard total international exclusively (and I believe has enough emerging markets already in it) I was curious if there could be a slight advantage to maybe splitting this up to 15% tota...

Hello, This site is awesome. Excellent advice from many of you. It was recently pointed out to me, that I happened to have small cap value as part of my asset allocation, and that I should consider converting it to the small cap index. But, I also keep reading a lot about many investors choosing a b...

Understood. I believe 500,000 policy. Second to die Yes, my wife and her brother are co-owners of the policy, and she will be signing some paperwork to appoint me the second beneficiary if she were to die before them. The cash value, I think, is about 85,000. The request is that my wife would now pa...

Hello, My father-in-law has a second to die policy. For some type of tax reasons, he gifts my wife money and then she pays the premium. The beneficial for the seocnd to die is my wife and her brother. Curious how this tax benefit works? Also, the father-in-law is now getting divorced, but recommends...

I like combination #2. I am already carrying small caps in wife's fund so will simply continue to contribute to small caps and 500 to make up mid-cap. Your right, no need to pay the extra expense. In fact, with getting a company match of only about $760 (8% of the 9500 put in), those expenses just e...

Interesting. I didn't realize the small cap and S&P 500 had that much mid-cap in it. Good to know.
Yes, will change to continue dryden 500 contributions, but will allocate a bit more to core bond fund.

Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate the detailed breakdown. So far, although not quite as you outlined I was planning: 1. The Welleseley fund will be converted to Total International. 2. I will add $5000 to wife's tIRA in Total International 3. I will add a few thousand more in my sep-ira to t...

Interesting point about what the future can hold. Sorry, these funds don't have readily easily to find tickers if at all. I think they are designed for 401k programs for our company???? Either way, I will try to simply compare apples to apples. See what matches certain vanguard funds, see if perform...

The one last point I am still struggling with is how to make the allocation work with the 401k contributions. I'm trying to keep fund expenses down (under 0.4%), and therefore, as previously instructed can only really use dryden, the guaranteed income, the core bond fund. But, if I put $9500 into an...

Awesome. That last link above really summarized it concisely. Much appreciated.

Agreed.
So, I can contribute for my wife, but my tIRA is lost. I will need to do a sep-ira or solo 401k to complement my restricted employer's 401k

Yeah...
I am looking for phase out for deductible contributions if:
I am contributing to 401k as well. I believe I can contribute 100% to tIRA for wife since she has no employer plan at all, but I don't believe I can contribute to my own.

Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er): If your MAGI is $95,000 (up from $92,000) or less, you can take a full deduction. If more than $95,000, but less than $115,000 (up from $112,000) – you get a partial deduction. If over $115,000, no deduction. So, which is correct????? Is the phase out ...

As of 2011, if you file a joint return, the deduction for your IRA contribution will begin to phase out if your modified adjusted gross income is between $169,000 and $179,000, after which it drops to zero. I want to verify if the above is correct. So, if MAGI is under 169,000 and even if you contri...

Funny. No, limited to 9500. In fact, anyone who gets classified as a high earner, will automatically find this out, as the company will send you a check back for the difference and correct your pay stub to max contribution of $9500. However, A solo 401k or sep-ira against my second job income declar...

Hello, My company is limiting my 401K contribution to $9500. I have a side job getting regular income from the internet. Currently, I am just a sole propriotership. So, my question: I am considering setting up a solo 401k. Is the solo 401k also restricted, or can I than contribute the difference of ...

I will either fund the international fund that I have already or I will open a new traditional ira for my wife this year and simply have a second total international index fund. But! Now I have a problem. It just occurred to me. I am limited by my company to only contributing $9500 to my 401k. But, ...

Unless of course,
I decide to keep the Welleseley fund?
It's about 60% bonds + I get a little play out of dividend paying stocks. It's not quite as safe as straight bonds, but certainly gives me at least 20% between Welleseley and vanguard total bond?

Okay. Why is the Core Bond Enhanced offering in the 401K performing so bad even in comparison to the vanguard total bond index. It makes me reluctant to want to be shifting funds out of dryden just to pick up that Core Bond fund? Of course, I want that $700 in matching (not a lot but better than not...

15% Bonds 30% Dryden S&P 500 15% smal cap index 30% total international stock index (I believe has some % of small caps as well) 10% REIT Change to: 20% Bonds and reduce international to 25%? I can add more bonds through one of the low expense funds in 401K. But, 15% is considered to low for a 3...

How about: 15% Bonds 30% Dryden S&P 500 15% smal cap index 30% total international stock index (I believe has some % of small caps as well) 10% REIT 1. Small cap is weighted higher currently, but since i is a roth, it will continue to decline in % with no contributions. 2. Bonds would be quite g...

Just did over past few hours. That is what made it easier to see converting Welleseley to total international would give be better proprotion of international exposure..

Just added a additional statememt above.
Your right...I didn't even remember that it was small 'value' as opposed to small cap index. Not sure why or when I did that, but will likely change.

It's a bit tough though with the 401K. With the ability to add up to $9500. Right now, I am a bit heavy on large/small caps, but I really don't want to invest 9500 in just the core bond or guaranteed income funds? So, I guess that really leaves me with most of 401K funds still going to the Dryden 50...

Yes. If I convert the Welleseley to total international, that would give me about 18% for international funds between mine and wife's traditional ira's. Also, since they are traditional, it will enable to continue making contributions to them yearly as the asset allocation needs it. Any advantage to...

It looks like your portfolio should look like this: (Correct me if I misunderstood you) 20% Bonds 46% Total Stock (This can be split between large and small if desired) 24% Total International Stock(30% of 80%) 10% REIT Does that look right?[/quote] I would say bonds are a bit below if I remove the ...

Thanks. I guess final questions are: 1. If changing Welleseley to something else, what? 2. If only at 7% international and shooting now for 30%, should I a. increase holdings in the traditional ira international fund b. add a international fund to 401K and decrease Dryden contributions c. add a emer...

Oh..good to know...trying to keep thing so organized and didn't realize the duplicate funds would possibly happen anyway. Makes perfect sense as salary changes as well.

I edited a few more questions into previous post, if you have any other suggestions. Very helpful!

1. I plan to add at least $9500 to 401K each year. About $3200 to a HSA account. My wife is not employeed, so no other 401K available. Is this $9500 including the employer match? No, $9500 + the match of 8% of $9500. 2. I paln to try and add more to traditional IRA's. That's great. 3. Yes, emergenc...

I'm all messed up now because no idea what to do with the ROTH ira's, which right now can somewhat fit into a asset allocation, but if I am no longer contributing to them, what do I do with them?

Hello, 1. I plan to add at least $9500 to 401K each year. About $3200 to a HSA account. My wife is not employeed, so no other 401K available. 2. I paln to try and add more to traditional IRA's. The ROTH ira's have not received additional funds in years. They were from a few years ago, and now I am m...

Sorry. I meant that I get a 8% match of only what I put in. So, at the maximum, a match of about $760. Yes, I am interested in adding more international exposure. But, wondering if that should be done by "adding" to the international fund already owned, or if perhaps instead of contributin...

Emergency funds: About 1 month Debt: Indicate if you have any debt: Credit cards paid in full monthly, no car loans, no mortgage, school loans of about $33,000 consoliated at 2.7% Tax Filing Status: Married filing jointly with 1 dependent. Tax Rate: Federal 25% State: 9.3% State of Residence: CA Age...

Oh..
That's what you meant be overweight. I don't think I initially caught on to that point until just now.
Thanks for clarification and breakdown of Welleseley.

That should be mostly easy to do.
I can easily make it so it is my wife's tIRA that holds the total international so it can get some funding.

Relatively easy to add Core bond enhanced in 401K and/or add to the welleseley, which is 60% bonds.

Hello,
Wife is not covered by any employer.

I have two jobs. One is self-employed and for simplicity, earnings are put under Schedule C.

No SEP-ira currently, could be added in 2012 if I had extra money for it.

Hello,
Good to know.
Fortunately, I believe, I am also eligible for a SEP-IRA since about 30% of my entire income comes from a second job's earnings under schedule C.

So, I believe, if I got the dough, I could contribute to 401K, spousal tira, and a SEP-IRA?

Sorry. Never actually answered your question about new contributions: Well, right now the entire focus is that all new contributions go to 401K because I get a small match: Roughly 8% of whatever you put in. Now, that might get severely restricted due to high income earner rules in my corporation. S...