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Pingo - I couldn't thank you enough! I am going with the target fund strategy.
I have learnt a lot going through this exercise. Thanks again!!

Idea #3 (Hybrid -ish ) Desired Asset Allocation: 80% Stocks / 20% Bonds Desired International: 30% of equities 401k (80% or $60,000) 80% Target Fund ER 0.25 <-- $21,500/yr. Roth (07% or $5,500) 07% Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth (VASGX) ER 0.17 or Target Retirement 2030 (VTHRX) ER 0.17 <-- $5,500/yr....

Thanks for taking the trouble!
Just want to make sure I dint miss your posts. I don't see 3 posts. I am guessing you haven't posted already which is fine. Just checking to make sure I dint miss it somehow.

"You mentioned that $60k is in a 401k target fund, but I don't know if that is your whole 401k or if there are other funds, too."

Yes, total 401k amount is 60k. Thanks!

Target Annual Contribution 401k - 60% Roth - 20% After Tax - 20% Current Allocation: 401k - 100% I do not have a Roth or after tax account I do have around 10k to invest immediately apart from the monthly contributions "...it appears that this is not an Alliance Bernstein fund, rather a custom ...

^ Thanks for the update. I actually made 3 different posts this morning (my 3 year old would only allow piecemeal commentary) and you've responded to the 3rd. I'll await your response to the first 2, which begin here . 1. My Tax Bracket is 25% 2. Plan definitely allows after tax contributions. Not ...

^ Thanks for the update. I actually made 3 different posts this morning (my 3 year old would only allow piecemeal commentary) and you've responded to the 3rd. I'll await your response to the first 2, which begin here . 1. My Tax Bracket is 25% 2. Plan definitely allows after tax contributions. Not ...

Got it. Thanks!

5. What is the amount of your employer match in dollars ($) . We know your personal contributions because you're maxing out the IRA and 401k + $1000 more. However, 6% match of an undisclosed salary = $x,xxx and we should know how much $x,xxx is because this influences where new contributions will b...

pkcrafter "It also means you would basically be getting out of the market and starting all over again" Did you mean moving funds from the 2045 to the new funds is like getting out of the market and starting over? Also was I right in understanding that this wouldn't be a good idea. Little c...

I have around 60k tied up in the target 2045 fund. Investments in the fund were made over last 4 years. So, I am guessing I benefited from dollar cost averaging. Now I want to stop investing in the 2045 fund and invest in individual index funds (see below - New Allocation). Would it make more sense ...

Just go with the 80:20 for the ROTH. Later, when you have sufficient amounts ($3k minimum/fund), you can sell and convert to a three-fund portfolio with 30% bonds. For taxable, TSM is fine until you can afford a three-fund portfolio. Okay Thanks! I have 60k currently in a 2045 target fund. I am thi...

Consider 42:7:21:30, S&P500:R2000:EAFE:agg bonds. This is 70:30, US/Int'l, and 6:1, US large:US small (I checked the Wiki). So you have US total market approximation and int'l large market. I don't overweight small blend anymore as the risk premium is in doubt. This is a solid index fund portfo...

You could just use the four index funds. The 21:19 is a heavy small tilt, but you may like that. Also, you could simulate the total US stock market using about a 6:1 ratio of 500/R2000 (check BH Wiki for recommended ratio). The Target 2045 is intended to be used by itself. It's large growth, low cr...

Age 32 Target Allocation - 70% stock & 30% bond (Doesn't need to be exactly 70/30. I am okay with close to 80% stock) 1 Years savings in cash Proposed Selections: 401k Selections based on funds offered (Intend to contribute IRS max each year. Company matches 6%): SSGA R2000 INDX - (Stock Small c...

To provide a good recommendation, we need the context of your complete portfolio including your 401(k). It doesn't make sense to pick a single fund in a single account in isolation. Check out the posting format in the "asking portfolio questions" thread at the top of this forum. You can e...

General Info: 401k maxed Roth 2012 & 2013 maxed - Life Strategy moderate growth fund (VSMGX 60% stock | 40% bond) I want to invest ~$1000 / month (after tax) Time Period - 7-10 years (Can keep it longer if the market performs poorly) Risk Appetite: Moderate Which would you pick? - Vanguard 500 I...

Any thoughts on this portion of my post: Question: For any additional saving say around $1k / month; How do I invest that? My thought is to open a vanguard savings account and invest in the vanguard life strategy moderate growth fund (basically repeat what I am doing for the roth IRA) OR buy single ...

Based on the advice here I intend to do the following: Max out my 401k contributions - $17.5k (2013) each year Open a roth IRA account and invest in the vanguard life strategy moderate growth fund (VSMGX) - $6k for 2012 & $6k fo 2013 Question: For any additional saving say around $1k / month; Ho...

First thing I would do - redirect some of your 12-month e-fund to a Roth IRA and max out 2012 contribution. I think 12 months in cash is more than you need since you're not a homeowner and don't appear to have a family. And you can always access it later if you truly need it. After that, I would pr...

I like the 3 fund idea (Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund) My 401k is with fidelity. Any benefits of finding a similar fund from fidelity? Fidelity has the Four in One Fund . Is that offered in your Plan? I am planning to buy into these funds outside of my 401k so I have access to any fund...

Thanks Jim and John for taking the time to respond. I like the 3 fund idea (Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund) My 401k is with fidelity. Any benefits of finding a similar fund from fidelity? The one benefit I can think of is simplicity. I see all my investments in one place (login to fideli...

Age 32 Risk appetite: Moderate Salary: $75-$85k Money available to invest: $1k per month & 3k initial investment to open an account with vanguard / fidelity Current Assets: 401k - 60k (Fidelity Target retirement fund 2045) 12 months savings in high interest checking account (rate 1.5%) 401k cont...

Thanks nisiprius and CAbob. I also want to thank everyone else who contributed.
You guys should really give yourselves credit for helping people out. I couldn't thank this forum and the contributors enough!

Additional Question to add to the ones above: Is there a benefit in buying 3 index funds with a total initial investment of $9K vs going with the retirement fund option? The retirement fund as you mentioned could be used to work around the minimum $3K requirement. I may be able to buy the funds sepa...

Thanks again! Few follow-up questions: 1. Is there a benefit with buying the index funds from vanguard vs fidelity given that vanguard has these frustrating minimums? I can live with the minimums if there is a benefit with going with Vanguard 2. The retirement funds that you refer to are a combinati...

Thoughts gentlemen?

Thanks! Can you provide recommendations for specific mutual as well as index funds? Would it be sensible to invest in both types? I could invest say $700 each month in index funds and a similar amount in mutual? Could you please recommend a few index as well as mutual funds. There are too many choic...

You guys are truly fantastic. You are absolutely right in understanding that I am an amateur investor. Some of my friends made so much money on Apple that I thought it would make sense for me to buy a few stocks on a monthly basis. I checked the consensus recommendation on Apple and even at the curr...

I only plan to buy a few stocks every month. My main investments are through mutual funds.
Planning to buy a few google & apple stocks to get started. I may buy more as I start to feel more confident.
A friend of mine recommended Scottrade. He is no financial expert though.

Thoughts?

1. The rate on I Bonds changes every 6 months and is made up of a fixed rate (currently 0.00%) and an earnings rate (currently 2.20%). The former is fixed for the life of the bond, the latter changes every 6 months. 2. You can automate purchases with TreasuryDirect. 3. Sell the same way as you buy, ...

Thanks! I bonds sounds like a good option. Couple of clarifications around I-Bonds: 1. Is the current composite interest rate 3.06%? Does composite interest rate mean effective interest rate that I will get? This is better than the 2% I am currently getting. That is if I am understanding this corre...

I'll throw in some different advice. First, do you have to precisely buy your home in 4 years or could you wait another year or two if need be? When I have a short term savings window, I generally invest in something with a low stock to bond ratio, IE 20% stocks and 80% bonds - this allocation may ...

Thanks! I bonds sounds like a good option. Couple of clarifications around I-Bonds: 1. Is the current composite interest rate 3.06%? Does composite interest rate mean effective interest rate that I will get? This is better than the 2% I am currently getting. That is if I am understanding this correc...

First of all, this is an absolutely amazing forum with some very knowledgeable contributors - Thanks! Sounds like just keeping my money parked in the bank @2% in what the bank calls a smart checking account is not such a bad idea. Would you guys agree that that is not such a bad option given the sce...

Thanks!
I am a newbie. Which firm do you recommend I use to purchase CD's or short term bonds?
Typically what interest rates can I expect from these instruments?

What advice would you give to a 30yr old individual who has $1000 to spare a month. The goal of this investment is to get a better return than the 2% some high interest savings/checking accounts give. The money will most likely be withdrawn in about 4years to pay toward a down payment for a house. S...

darth, Let me try to explain. First, you ask why I recommend only 2% in the 401k then the rest in a roth. You wrote: My company contributes 3% of my salary and matches dollar to dollar up to 2%. So I have elected to deduct 5% of my salary from my paychecks. The idea being that I get a total of 10% ...

The only thing I feel is that I may be missing out on the Vanguard 500 signal fund which is offered in my 401k, and everybody seems to think its a great fund. Darth, you would not be missing the S&P 500 (Vanguard 500) - it is in the total stock market fund which is in the life strategy fund. La...

Darth, The key to long term investing success is a plan. You are in the process of building one and would like to start with an asset allocation of 70/30. This is great. Step one done. Next, you need to pick the funds that will allow you to implement your plan and pick the best place to hold those ...

If I was 28 again this is what I would do... 1. Pick a target fund for my 401k This is a perfect idea except the OP does not list a target fund in the 401(k) choices. Darn. How about this: 401(k) Vanguard 500 40% Vanguard Explorer 30% Intermediate Invest GR Bond 30% Roth: Vanguard Target Retirement...

Hi Darth, welcome to the forum! Since you are new to investing, you need to make a plan. Right now, you are just trying to "pick good funds", but that is backwards. Make a plan. Then pick the funds. Below is a link to an investment planning page. It also contains a list of several books. ...

Hi Darth, welcome to the forum! Since you are new to investing, you need to make a plan. Right now, you are just trying to "pick good funds", but that is backwards. Make a plan. Then pick the funds. Below is a link to an investment planning page. It also contains a list of several books. ...

Here's what I'd do. Vanguard 500 40% Vanguard Explorer 30% Intermediate Invest GR Bond 30% Any more funds? I also suggest saving more if you can and it doesn't hurt much. -Max your 2008 Roth -Max your 2009 Roth -Max your 401k if you can.... :D -Make sure you have some liquidity... aka emergency fun...

My company contributes 3% of my salary and matches dollar to dollar up to 2%. So I have elected to deduct 5% of my salary from my paychecks. The idea being that I get a total of 10% annual saving's for my 401K (3%-comp;2%-Me;2%-comp match;3%-me). My advice is to follow this rule of thumb: 1) 401k t...

Hi All, I recently got a job with a major pharma company. I want help chosing my 401K funds. I am a total newbie to investing! My company contributes 3% of my salary and matches dollar to dollar up to 2%. So I have elected to deduct 5% of my salary from my paychecks. The idea being that I get a tota...