Recommendations on Vanguard Fund for ROTH transfer

[SingleMomDreamer]

I have an old Roth account from a previous job sitting in a TIAA-CREF account. I haven't been pleased with its performance there and I rolled out my 403(b) accounts several years ago. The Roth account is at $3000--the minimum required by Vanguard to open an account. Which Vanguard Fund would you recommend? I don't plan on touching it for 16 to 21 years...

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Achiever51]

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (VTTVX) is one suggestion. YTD return is 9.51%; yield is 2.34% and expense ratio is 0.21% -- holds about 80% stocks and 20% bonds. Simple way to diversify without worrying about reallocating -- it's done automatically.

This is just one of many choices. I'm sure many voices will soon chime in!

Good luck!

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

When you touch it, what exactly do you want to do with it? Take income from it? Cash it out? Have it continue earning money aggressively or have become more conservative over time? Will you look at it every day and be worried about daily ups and downs or look at it once a year or two? Will you be adding money to it over time?

 

[SingleMomDreamer]

Good questions. I don't know when/if I'll touch it again so I'm leaning toward a higher-risk global fund. My 403(b) has exceeded expectations and I continue my contributions there because it's a great tax-break. I plan to add on to the Roth to help take care of the tax problem at the other end, plus there are fewer restrictions when it's time to withdraw or pass it on to kin. So aggressive with long-term perspective sounds about right to me.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Vanguard doesnt have a lot of global equity funds except for Vanguard Global Equity, so if you're up for an aggressive global fund, thats about it. A little 'expensive' at a ~.7 expense ratio, but thats probably cheap as global funds go.

The target retirement series focuses primarily on US equities, although some of the later versions have a smattering of european and far east stocks. They become less aggressive as they 'age'.

Lifestrategy funds have about the same mostly US centric focus, but remain at the same risk level as time passes.

 

[LOL!]

i'm confused. In one post you state you rolled out of your 403(b). In another post you state you continue to contribute to your 403(b).

The reason I bring this up is that TIAA-CREF has a unique TIAA Real Estate Account which is not the same as the TIAA-CREF real estate mutual fund. Many folks like the RE account because it owns actual physical commercial real estate. If this fund is available to you now and would not be available if you rolled out of your 403b, then I recommend you reconsider and see if the TIAA real estate account is something you want to diversify into. Full disclosure: I own some shares of it.

 

[Darryl]

Aggressive? Global? Just funded my wifes Roth in June wuth VEIEX. Wouldn't put all my money there but as part of the AA it's fun to watch it go up. Hopefully it keeps going the right direction.

 

[SingleMomDreamer]

Thanks all. I went with the Global Equity Fund. Hopefully, it will be a good long-term ride.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Great!

That'll be two dollars, please.