My 401K choices, help me "retire early" !

[xtradoe]

Hello,
Here are my 401K choices, anybody want to pitch there opinion for 2008? anyone, anyone?

I had $210K,I mean $200K, well it is now down to about $190K! (ouch!)
I have about 20 years to retirement but would like to retire earlier! I am maxing out my contributions.

Dodge & Cox Balanced DODBX
American Funds Fundamental Investors RFNFX
Vanguard Institutional Index VINIX
American Funds Growth Fund of AmericaRGAFX
Vanguard Strat Eq VSEQX
Artisan ARTQX
Columbia Acorn Z ACRNX
American Beacon Small Cap Value AVFIX
Vanguard Small Cap Index VSCIX
Royce Value Plus Institutional RVPIX
American Funds New Perspective RNPFX
Fidelity Diversified International FDIVX

Thank you.

[bbbamI]

I tried pulling up a couple of these funds from your post, but I was not allowed to view any info. I'm not familiar with these funds, but there may be other folks on the forum that do have experience.

So, what I would say to anyone that wants to invest is to understand their risk tolerance, watch the expense ratio, have funds or a fund that is diversified with stocks and bonds. The thought is, the farther away you are from retirement, the more stocks you should have.

You probably know all of the above, but this is all I've got right now.

[Dawg52]

I'm not familiar with all but I would go as follows:

50% Dodge Cox Balanced
25% VG Small Cap
25% Fidelity Int'l

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtradoe Hello, Here are my 401K choices, anybody want to pitch there opinion for 2008? anyone, anyone? I had $210K,I mean $200K, well it is now down to about $190K! (ouch!) I have about 20 years to retirement but would like to retire earlier! I am maxing out my contributions. Dodge & Cox Balanced DODBX American Funds Fundamental Investors RFNFX Vanguard Institutional Index VINIX American Funds Growth Fund of AmericaRGAFX Vanguard Strat Eq VSEQX Artisan ARTQX Columbia Acorn Z ACRNX American Beacon Small Cap Value AVFIX Vanguard Small Cap Index VSCIX Royce Value Plus Institutional RVPIX American Funds New Perspective RNPFX Fidelity Diversified International FDIVX Thank you.

I know all these funds fairly well. Give me risk tolerance and I'll give you some input.

[jIMOh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtradoe Hello, Here are my 401K choices, anybody want to pitch there opinion for 2008? anyone, anyone? I had $210K,I mean $200K, well it is now down to about $190K! (ouch!) I have about 20 years to retirement but would like to retire earlier! I am maxing out my contributions. Dodge & Cox Balanced DODBX American Funds Fundamental Investors RFNFX Vanguard Institutional Index VINIX American Funds Growth Fund of AmericaRGAFX Vanguard Strat Eq VSEQX Artisan ARTQX Columbia Acorn Z ACRNX American Beacon Small Cap Value AVFIX Vanguard Small Cap Index VSCIX Royce Value Plus Institutional RVPIX American Funds New Perspective RNPFX Fidelity Diversified International FDIVX Thank you.

Depending on risk tolerance, I will give you 3 choices.

Aggressive return (10-12% type returns). High could be a 30% return, low could be a -30% return.

100% equities
45% RFNFX
10% ARTQX
5% ACRNX
15% AVFIX
25% FDIVX

Moderate return (8% type return). High could be 8-15%. Low could be -5-10%.

80% stock, 20% bonds

Dodge and Cox Balanced fits the bill pretty good all by itself. DODBX (fund is 75-25). This is a solid fund.

if this is not good enough, consider this 80-20 allocation (Please note, no pure bond fund mentioned, this allocation cannot be easily achieved):
15% RFNFX
5% ARTQX
5% ACRNX
5% AVFIX
25% FDIVX
45% DODBX

Conservative return (6-8% type). High could be 10-11%. Low could be -5%.

60% stock, 40% bonds. Please note, no pure bond fund mentioned, this allocation cannot be easily achieved.
5% RFNFX
5% ARTQX
5% ACRNX
5% AVFIX
25% FDIVX
50% DODBX