First look at portfolio since being newly married

Have a question about your personal investments? No matter how simple or complex, you can ask it here.
Post Reply
Topic Author
lilbunny01
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:10 am

First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by lilbunny01 »

*Hi! My husband and I have been married for nearly a year now and it has taken me this long to formulate this post. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you so much for taking the time to look!

Emergency funds: 1 month + ~$100,000 (saving for a house) located between Ally, Provident, ING Direct
Debt: Car loan = $15,000 @ 1.9%; Her school loan = $78,500 @ 5.5%
Tax Filing Status: Married filing jointly
Tax Rate: 28% federal, 9.3% state
Age: 29
Desired Asset Allocation: 80/20

Current portfolio:

Joint Taxable (Vanguard Traditional IRA):
9.22% Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv (VTSMX) (0.18%)

His 401K
13.31% Dodge & Cox Stock Fund DODGX (0.52%)
3.97% Harbor Capital Apprciation Fund Institutional Class HACAX (0.66%)
0.75% Morgan Stanley Int Small Company MSSGX (1.05%)
6.81% Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund Investor Shares ARTQX (1.20%)
6.19% American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund REREX (0.85%)
6.78% Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund DODBX (0.53%)
17.84% PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class PTTRX (0.46%)
0.74% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares VBTIX (0.07%)

Future Allocation:
25% Dodge & Cox Stock
5% American Funds Growth Fund of Amer
15% Artisan Mid Cap Value Investor
15% American Funds EuroPacific Gr R4
25% PIMCO Total Return Instl

Hers 403B
2.3% PIMCO Totl Rtrn PTRAX (0.71%)
2.05% Vanguard Totl Bd VBTIX (0.07%)
1.06% Mainstay ICAP Eqty ICSLX (0.96%)
10.36% Vanguard Stock Mkt VITSX (0.05%)
1.21% Boston Small Cap BOSOX (1.01%)
0.60% Mainstay ICAP Intl ICEUX (0.95%)
5.83% Vanguard Totl Intl VTSGX (0.18%)
11.03% Vanguard TR 2050 VFIFX (0.19%)

Future Allocation:
10% PIMCO Totl Rtrn
10% Vanguard Totl Bd
45% Vanguard Stock Mkt
5% Boston Small Cap
30% Vanguard Totl Intl

New Annual Contributions:
His 401K: $17,500 (no employer match)
Her 401K: $17,500 + 4% employer match + additional 5% from employer
Her HSA: $3,250
Taxable: $6,500

Funds available in His 401K
Large Company
Dodge & Cox Stock DODGX (0.52%)
American Funds Growth Fund of Amer RGAEX (0.68%)
Schwab S&P 500 Index SWPPX (0.09%)
Small/Mid Co.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Investor (ARTQX) 1.20%
Fidelity Spartan Extended Mkt Index (FSEMX) 0.10%
Morgan Stanley Inst Small Company G (MSSGX) 1.05%
Robeco Small Cap Value II (BPSIX) 1.30%
TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth Instl (TMDIX) 1.08%
Int/Global
American Funds Capital World G/I R4 (RWIEX) 0.80%
American Funds Euro Pacific Gr R4 (REREX) 0.85%
BlackRock EAFE Equity Index Collective T
Balanced
Dodge & Cox Balanced (DODBX) 0.53%
Bonds
PIMCO Total Return Instl (PTTRX) 0.46%
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index In (VBTIX) 0.07%

Funds available Her 403b
Short Bonds/Stable/MMkt
Western LiqdRsrvsnd 0.20
Interm./Long-Term Bonds
PIMCO Totl Rtrn 0.71
Vanguard Totl Bd 0.07
Large-Cap Stocks
Mainstay ICAP Eqty 0.90
Vanguard Stock 0.05
Small/Mid-Cap Stocks
Boston Small Cap 1.01
C&S GlbRealty 1.24
International Stocks
Mainstay ICAP Intl 0.95
Vanguard Totl Intl 0.18
Templeton ForeignSm 0.95
Aberdeen Emerg Mkt 1.03
Multi-Asset/Other
Vanguard Rtrmt Inc 0.17
Vanguard TR 2015 0.17
Vanguard TR 2020 0.17
Vanguard TR 2025 0.18
Vanguard TR 2030 0.18
Vanguard TR 2035 0.19
Vanguard TR 2040 0.19
Vanguard TR 2045 0.19
Vanguard TR 2050 0.19

Funds available in Her HSA
Dodge & Cox DODFX (0.64%)
T. Rowe Price PRFDX (0.68%)
Dreyfus DISSX (0.50%)
Harding Loevner HLEMX (1.49%)
Fidelity FDCAX (0.95%)
Fidelity FBCVX (0.76%)
Dreyfus DGAGX (0.97%)
Dodge & Cox DODIX (0.43%)
Laudus SWOIX (1.53%)
Baron BSCFX (1.31%)
Vanguard Large Cap Index Signal VLCSX (0.1%)

Questions:
1) Am I doing anything majorly wrong? (besides having school loans and a car loan) My excel spreadsheet says I am currently at 74% stocks and 26% bonds. The bond chunk is mostly from my husband's 401K.
2) Where should I put my HSA money as it accumulates?
3) If my husband and I were to each contribute to backdoor IRA, should I put the money in stocks? If so, increase my allocation to bonds in our 401K/403b?

Again, many thanks for comments. :)
bpman1192
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:41 am

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by bpman1192 »

I really would work towards allocating your retirement investing towards index funds and really focus on putting your investments towards the lowest cost options available. I would keep the investment allocation very simple with the following recommendations:
His 401k:
25% S&P 500 index
25% Fidelity Spartan Extended Mkt Index
25% Blackrock EAFE Equity Index Collective T
25% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

Her 401k:
30% Vanguard Total Bond Index
20% Vanguard Stock Lrg Cap
25% Vanguard Total Intl
25% Aberdeen Emerging Mkt

Keep it simple and keep your costs low. Good luck!
NYBoglehead
Posts: 1588
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 9:38 am

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by NYBoglehead »

My humble opinion:

1. I don't think you're doing anything majorly wrong, but I think that you should consider a few things. Not sure what you're gross income is, but I would suggest that if you can lower it to the 25% bracket through 401k contributions you should start paying off the student loans with any extra cashflow. 5.5% is pretty high in today's environment and saving yourself that interest expense is a far better return that you can safely achieve right now. The car loan at 1.9% isn't going to make much of an impact on your financial health but I'd try to avoid any consumer debt at all once that is paid off. You've got some high fees within those 401k plans. I'd stick to the lower cost funds. For his 401k I'd go with the Schwab 500 Index Fund and Vanguard Total Bond Market. For your 403b I'd go with Vanguard Total Bond, Total Stock, and International Index (the 3-fund portfolio, you are quite lucky to have these funds available).

2. Not sure about this one, I'd be tempted to keep it in the lowest cost fund available but that is a pure stock fund and I'm guessing you want to be more conservative with this money. If that's the case a fund with a higher ER but one that holds bonds might be better for you.

3. I think you and your husband should contribute to backdoor Roths when able. I think it probably makes more sense for you to hold off right now. I think the interest rate on the student loans merits knocking those out on an accelerated schedule. Not sure how much house you plan on buying, but keep in mind on top of the down payment there are closing costs, filing fees etc. that will require more cash to brought to the table upon closing. Not sure how much they are in CA but I know in NY they are between 3-5% of the purchase price. When you do start a backdoor Roth contribute to whatever fund/funds maintains your desired AA.
User avatar
ofcmetz
Posts: 2465
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:09 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by ofcmetz »

I would narrow the fund count to around 6 at the most. Right now you own 17 different funds. Keep in mind that once you determine your (his and hers combined) allocation you don't need duplicate funds in each account. Pick the best in each account.
Never underestimate the power of the force of low cost index funds.
User avatar
ofcmetz
Posts: 2465
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:09 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by ofcmetz »

Below shows you a simple and Boglehead type way you could set up your portfolio. This follows the three fund portfolio. It diversifies you with total US market and total international market index funds. It keeps the expenses rock bottom. FYI, it you combine the 500 index with the extended market index at an 80/20 ratio you get a replicated total stock market fund.

Taxable:
9.22% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (at $10,000 this can be converted to admiral shares)

His 401K:
20% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index
28.8% Schwab S&P 500 Index
7.2% Fidelity Spartin Extended Market Index

Her 401K:
34.4% Vanguard Total International Index
Never underestimate the power of the force of low cost index funds.
User avatar
retiredjg
Posts: 53989
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:56 am

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by retiredjg »

Welcome to the forum! My comments are similar to others' comments. You don't need that many funds, you have chosen some funds that are more costly than necessary, and your 5.5% loan should take precedence over the Roth IRAs for sure and maybe some of the 401k/403b investing.

What is the money in the taxable account for? If it is not for retirement, it should not be included in this calculation. For the time being, I'll leave it, but you might consider putting that money on the 5.5% loan. You definitely should not be putting more money into a taxable account for retirement until all the debt is paid.


Joint Taxable (Vanguard Traditional IRA):
9.22% Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv (VTSMX) (0.18%)

His 401K 56.4%
37% Schwab S&P 500 Index SWPPX (0.09%)
9.4% Fidelity Spartan Extended Mkt Index (FSEMX) 0.10%
10% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares VBTIX (0.07%)

Hers 403B 34.4%
.4% Vanguard Stock Mkt VITSX (0.05%)
24% Vanguard Totl Intl VTSGX (0.18%)
10% Vanguard Totl Bd VBTIX (0.07%)

This is a basic 3 fund portfolio (using 5 funds to achieve it :D ) set at 80% stock, 20% bonds with 30% of stock (24% of portfolio) in international. It is tax-efficient, low cost and covers all the necessary bases. You would exhange what you currently have into this allocation and then maintain it with your contributions.

Contributions = $40k (guess since we don't know what the 4% match and additional 5% are)

His 401K: $17,500 <---$14k to 500 Index, $3,500 to Extended Market
Her 401K: $22,500 (guess) <---$9.6% to international, $8k to bonds, 4.9% to Total Stock

Funds available in Her HSA
Dodge & Cox DODFX (0.64%)
T. Rowe Price PRFDX (0.68%)
Dreyfus DISSX (0.50%)
Harding Loevner HLEMX (1.49%)
Fidelity FDCAX (0.95%)
Fidelity FBCVX (0.76%)
Dreyfus DGAGX (0.97%)
Dodge & Cox DODIX (0.43%)
Laudus SWOIX (1.53%)
Baron BSCFX (1.31%)
Vanguard Large Cap Index Signal VLCSX (0.1%)
It seems like something might be left off this list, but I didn't look up the tickers on them all. Is there some kind of stable value fund or short term bond or something? If not I'd use a conservative blend of Dodge & Cox Income DODIX and Vanguard Large Cap since this money should not be aggressively invested - you want it to be there when you need it.

3) If my husband and I were to each contribute to backdoor IRA, should I put the money in stocks? If so, increase my allocation to bonds in our 401K/403b?
You should get some Roth IRA assets at some point, but not while you have this 5.5% debt looming in the background. You cannot guarantee a 5.5% return in any investment you put into the Roth. Therefore, paying the debt (a guaranteed 5.5% return) is the better choice.

In fact, you might want to decrease your 401k/403b savings from $40k to $20k (ish) until the debt is paid. Be sure to invest enough to get the employer match in Her plan.
User avatar
retiredjg
Posts: 53989
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:56 am

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by retiredjg »

Oh. I see OFCMetz posted something similar - I had missed that one. But you see our suggestions are pretty similar.
User avatar
ofcmetz
Posts: 2465
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:09 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by ofcmetz »

retiredjg wrote:Oh. I see OFCMetz posted something similar - I had missed that one. But you see our suggestions are pretty similar.

I actually like the one you proposed a little more as it sets up rebalances in the her 401K.
Never underestimate the power of the force of low cost index funds.
Topic Author
lilbunny01
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:10 am

Re: First look at portfolio since being newly married

Post by lilbunny01 »

Thank you so much for all your advice. Yes, I agree that I have too many funds on my 403b. A year ago, I didn't know about expense ratios or anything really, so I made kind of a mess.
retiredjg wrote:Welcome to the forum! My comments are similar to others' comments. You don't need that many funds, you have chosen some funds that are more costly than necessary, and your 5.5% loan should take precedence over the Roth IRAs for sure and maybe some of the 401k/403b investing.

What is the money in the taxable account for? If it is not for retirement, it should not be included in this calculation. For the time being, I'll leave it, but you might consider putting that money on the 5.5% loan. You definitely should not be putting more money into a taxable account for retirement until all the debt is paid. The money in the taxable account is for retirement. After I read the boglehead book and visited this forum, I went and opened a taxable account with Vanguard and set up a biweekly contribution as a way to prevent my husband and I from spending our money on clothes/going out/etc. At the time, I had been in school for so long that I felt like I was way behind the curve in terms of saving for retirement. After having visited this forum multiple times, I knew that I should be paying off my school loans. However, I just felt like it would take an eternity to pay off the loan. I think I have been trying to ignore the loan and was just making monthly payments (with plans of paying it off in 10 years) instead of facing it head on. To make a long story short, I will hold off on contributing to the taxable account and use that money to pay off more of my school loans.

Joint Taxable (Vanguard Traditional IRA):
9.22% Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv (VTSMX) (0.18%)

His 401K 56.4%
37% Schwab S&P 500 Index SWPPX (0.09%)
9.4% Fidelity Spartan Extended Mkt Index (FSEMX) 0.10%
10% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares VBTIX (0.07%)

Hers 403B 34.4%
.4% Vanguard Stock Mkt VITSX (0.05%)
24% Vanguard Totl Intl VTSGX (0.18%)
10% Vanguard Totl Bd VBTIX (0.07%)

This is a basic 3 fund portfolio (using 5 funds to achieve it :D ) set at 80% stock, 20% bonds with 30% of stock (24% of portfolio) in international. It is tax-efficient, low cost and covers all the necessary bases. You would exhange what you currently have into this allocation and then maintain it with your contributions.
Yes! Thank you so much for helping me consolidate. This looks so much more manageable. Thank you thank you!

Contributions = $40k (guess since we don't know what the 4% match and additional 5% are)

His 401K: $17,500 <---$14k to 500 Index, $3,500 to Extended Market
Her 401K: $22,500 (guess) <---$9.6% to international, $8k to bonds, 4.9% to Total Stock

Funds available in Her HSA
Dodge & Cox DODFX (0.64%)
T. Rowe Price PRFDX (0.68%)
Dreyfus DISSX (0.50%)
Harding Loevner HLEMX (1.49%)
Fidelity FDCAX (0.95%)
Fidelity FBCVX (0.76%)
Dreyfus DGAGX (0.97%)
Dodge & Cox DODIX (0.43%)
Laudus SWOIX (1.53%)
Baron BSCFX (1.31%)
Vanguard Large Cap Index Signal VLCSX (0.1%)
It seems like something might be left off this list, but I didn't look up the tickers on them all. Is there some kind of stable value fund or short term bond or something? If not I'd use a conservative blend of Dodge & Cox Income DODIX and Vanguard Large Cap since this money should not be aggressively invested - you want it to be there when you need it.

3) If my husband and I were to each contribute to backdoor IRA, should I put the money in stocks? If so, increase my allocation to bonds in our 401K/403b?
You should get some Roth IRA assets at some point, but not while you have this 5.5% debt looming in the background. You cannot guarantee a 5.5% return in any investment you put into the Roth. Therefore, paying the debt (a guaranteed 5.5% return) is the better choice. Yes, you're totally right. I will wait on the Roth IRA and concentrate on paying off the loans. It's so crazy, I read boglehead posts regularly. And when someone says "pay off your loans first", I'm like "duh". But I couldn't apply the same advice to myself until someone told me directly.

In fact, you might want to decrease your 401k/403b savings from $40k to $20k (ish) until the debt is paid. Be sure to invest enough to get the employer match in Her plan.
Post Reply