I've been maxing out my 401k for a few years now, putting it all into the S&P 500 index fund. (Target retirment date is in 15 years or so.) Recently I figured it might be nice to diversify some, so I checked out the other funds. Turns out they all have significant loads. I can understand that managed funds have higher operating expenses, but what's with those loads? It sounds like I don't have any options besides those funds. Should I put some money in there anyway, or effectively save 5% more by sticking with the S&P 500? Here's my options (poorly formatted, but you get the idea):
Fund Load Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
AIM FINANCIAL SERVICES FD CL A
ALLIANZ OCC RENAISSANCE FUND A 5.50% 1.26%
CALVERT SOCIAL INVST FD EQUITY 4.75% 1.25%
DREYFUS PREMIER TECH GR CL A 5.75% 1.42%
EV WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES 5.75% 1.80%
FIDELITY ADV MID CAP FD CL T 3.50% 1.32%
HOTCHKIS&WILEY SM CP VAL A 5.25% 1.39%
ING INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP A 5.75% 1.75%
ING INTL VALUE FD CL A 5.75% 1.61%
ML EUROFUND CL A 5.25% 1.30%
ML GLOBAL SMALLCAP FUND CL A 5.25% 1.45%
ML S&P 500 INDEX FUND CL I 0.00% 0.36%
UBS U.S. SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND 4.50% 0.85%
VAN KAMPEN EMERG GR FD CL A 5.75% 1.08%
VAN KAMPEN GRWTH & INC FD CL A 5.75% 0.81%
FEDERATED INTL HIGH INC F CL A 4.50% 1.78%
PHOENIX DUFF & PHELPS RL EST A 5.75% 1.83%
DREYFUS PREM GNMA FD CL A 4.50% 1.09%
PIMCO REAL RETURN BD FD CL A 3.75% 1.50%
PIMCO TOTAL RETURN FUND CL A 3.75% 0.90%
ML RETIREMENT RESERVES
Fund Load Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
AIM FINANCIAL SERVICES FD CL A
ALLIANZ OCC RENAISSANCE FUND A 5.50% 1.26%
CALVERT SOCIAL INVST FD EQUITY 4.75% 1.25%
DREYFUS PREMIER TECH GR CL A 5.75% 1.42%
EV WORLDWIDE HEALTH SCIENCES 5.75% 1.80%
FIDELITY ADV MID CAP FD CL T 3.50% 1.32%
HOTCHKIS&WILEY SM CP VAL A 5.25% 1.39%
ING INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP A 5.75% 1.75%
ING INTL VALUE FD CL A 5.75% 1.61%
ML EUROFUND CL A 5.25% 1.30%
ML GLOBAL SMALLCAP FUND CL A 5.25% 1.45%
ML S&P 500 INDEX FUND CL I 0.00% 0.36%
UBS U.S. SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND 4.50% 0.85%
VAN KAMPEN EMERG GR FD CL A 5.75% 1.08%
VAN KAMPEN GRWTH & INC FD CL A 5.75% 0.81%
FEDERATED INTL HIGH INC F CL A 4.50% 1.78%
PHOENIX DUFF & PHELPS RL EST A 5.75% 1.83%
DREYFUS PREM GNMA FD CL A 4.50% 1.09%
PIMCO REAL RETURN BD FD CL A 3.75% 1.50%
PIMCO TOTAL RETURN FUND CL A 3.75% 0.90%
ML RETIREMENT RESERVES