sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Cash Equivalent







Northern Trust Short Term Investment

%







Fixed Income







Wells Fargo Stable Return

%







Northern Trust TIPS

%







Evergreen Core Bond

%







Northern Trust Long Government Bond

%







BlackRock High Yield

%







Balanced







Wells Fargo Growth Balanced

%







BlackRock Global Allocation

%







Large Cap







Oppenheimer Value Y

%







Calvert Large Cap Growth

%







Northern Trust S&P 500

%







Small Cap







Neuberger Berman Genesis

%







Northern Trust Small Company Index

%







Waddell & Reed Advisors Small Cap

%







International Stocks







Northern Trust Daily EAFE Index

%







MFS Research International

%







International Emerging







Lazard Emerging Markets

%







REITs







Alpine Realty Income & Growth

%







Total















The above listed is how my 401k plan is broken down. Those are the only choices. As of right now, I am losing money. Which one/s would you pick? Would I be better off putting everything into one or keeping it spread out. I know next to nothing about this stuff, so any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Cash Equivalent
Northern Trust Short Term Investment 100.00% 10.00%

Fixed Income
Wells Fargo Stable Return 100.00% 0.00%
Northern Trust TIPS 100.00% 0.00%
Evergreen Core Bond 100.00% 10.00%
Northern Trust Long Government Bond 100.00% 10.00%
BlackRock High Yield 100.00% 20.00%

Balanced
Wells Fargo Growth Balanced 100.00% 0.00%
BlackRock Global Allocation 100.00% 0.00%

Large Cap
Oppenheimer Value Y 100.00% 10.00%
Calvert Large Cap Growth 100.00% 0.00%
Northern Trust S&P 500 100.00% 0.00%

Small Cap
Neuberger Berman Genesis 100.00% 0.00%
Northern Trust Small Company Index 100.00% 0.00%
Waddell & Reed Advisors Small Cap 100.00% 0.00%

International Stocks
Northern Trust Daily EAFE Index 100.00% 20.00%
MFS Research International 100.00% 0.00%

International Emerging
Lazard Emerging Markets 100.00% 0.00%

REITs
Alpine Realty Income & Growth 100.00% 20.00%



The above listed is how my 401k plan is broken down. Those are the only choices. As of right now, I am losing money. Which one/s would you pick? Would I be better off putting everything into one or keeping it spread out. I know next to nothing about this stuff, so any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Sorry, My original post is crap and hard to read. MODS will you please replace it with this one. Thanks!

JediMindTricks

how much risk are you willing to take on?

would you be willing to take more risk and be in more equity? or are you conservative and be in more bonds/fixed income.

at 30, you're still very young. so many might say that you should be able to take on more risk.

i believe strongly in asset allocation so i am adament about spreading it out in different asset classes (large, mid, small, international, fixed income, etc) and styles (growth and value).

JediMindTricks

the second set of percentages...are those what you're currently invested in?

if so, i think 10% in cash and 40% in fixed income is a bit too much for someone in your age.

i would trim the cash to 0 because i don't see how you need cash positions for a 401k.

and i'd trim fixed income to 20-30% if you're a conservative type.

then i'd put more into large cap growth, small cap, and international and emerging markets.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

i am willing to take more risk. i would like to get a decent gain over the next 5-10 years and then tone down the risk. I don't know which of the options are the riskiest or anything. I have read each of the links for each option, but it's kinda like reading swahili and saying i understand it.

Here are my current picks:
CE
Northern Trust Short Term Investment: 10%
FI
Evergreen Core Bond: 10%
Northern Trust Long Government Bond: 10%
BlackRock High Yield: 20%
LC
Oppenheimer Value Y: 10%
IS
Northern Trust Daily EAFE Index: 20%
REITs
Alpine Realty Income & Growth: 20%

they are obviously bad choices, which seem like the better choice over these?

JediMindTricks

i'm not familiar with many of these funds/options so i can't really say what's good or bad. but like most 401ks, your options are limited.

i'd take out the cash positions.

typically international/emerging markets and small cap will be the riskiest.

but i'd try to hit each of the asset classes.

large cap growth
large cap value
small cap
(looks like you don't have a mid cap option)
international
emerging markets
fixed income (maybe 10-20%)

hornyleprechaun

^That is pretty much how my 401k is allocated. I chose 1 fund for each asset class. Just set it and forget it.. I got into the habit of checking every night and was getting nervous because I was losing money, but now that I check once a week I am plus $100 in my Roth IRA ($4000 contributed) & about plus $20 in my 401k ($670 invested).

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Ok, I try it like that. Thanks guys!!

JediMindTricks

diversifying between different asset classes are important.

but you can still underperform the market if you pick the wrong asset classes, fyi.

for example, i've overweighted in growth for large, mid, and small for the past year with 35% in international.

if i had balanced out in value, i'd probably be underperforming.