Vanguard investment stock choice

[YoungStache]

Which Vanguard fund would you guys invest in now given current prices? I am a bit hesitant to invest in VTSAX due to it having grown so much in such a short amount of time.

VTSAX?

VTIAX?

or another Vanguard fund?

[the_gastropod]

You're probably thinking too short term here. In 30 years, they will both be up significantly. Choose an asset allocation—not based on current prices or recent performance—and stick to it. Rebalance about once per year. Simplicity reigns supreme.

[Radagast]

In the short term, you cannot predict. In the long term, some combination of both is likely best. In the intermediate term it is hard to say but VSIAX is possibly better, or maybe not. Solution: 50:50.

[YoungStache]

I'm 100% stocks asset allocation. About 50/50 vtsax and vtiax. Any other vanguard funds you guys recommend? Like something undervalued?

[Mr Mark]

I'm 100% stocks asset allocation. About 50/50 vtsax and vtiax. Any other vanguard funds you guys recommend? Like something undervalued?

define 'undervalued'? With thousands of full time stock analysts and professional money managers out there, all highly focused on finding unidentified value, with analytical resources we can't even imagine, how do you rate our chances?

If you're 50/50 on those 2 funds that's IMHO a very heavy international ratio, as VTIAX excludes the US and has been v poor performing since 2013 relative to US.

Also, you come across as pretty nervous about current stock valuations for someone committed to a 100% stock allocation. ;-) Will you keep to that if we get a 40% correction this year?

[MustacheAndaHalf]

The world is roughly 50% US and 50% international, so your allocation is fine.  For most people 50% international is too high because they haven't held their allocation very long.  So make sure you're confident in keeping this allocation when the U.S. beats international.  Most investors have a home country bias that keeps them from matching the world weights like you're doing.

[Indexer]

Like everyone else has said, both are good. Combined they represent over 9,000 stocks. Yes, some might be expensive today. Where will it be in 20 years?  Likely up, and likely up a lot.

For allocation:  The world is roughly 50/50.

I am 60% domestic, 40% international. There are several good research papers that show this split lowers the volatility of your portfolio more than other allocations. If you are 100% stocks then a 70/30 split accomplishes about the same thing.


source:https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/icriecr.pdf

[seanmerron]

You have to understand your desired asset allocation and just rebalance from time to time and ignore the noise.

What's your desired percentage split between US, International, Stocks and Bonds? Don't try to time the market.

[I'm a red panda]

My vanguard account is 60/40 domestic/international, but my actual portfolio is closer to 80/20, since I only hold international stocks in taxable accounts.

[YoungStache]

So now that the US is beating international so much, am I supposed to buy more international since US prices are so high? And since I'm already 100% stocks, there's nothing to rebalance right?

[I'm a red panda]

So now that the US is beating international so much, am I supposed to buy more international since US prices are so high? And since I'm already 100% stocks, there's nothing to rebalance right?

What does your asset allocation say about US vs. international?  Follow that.

[seanmerron]

So now that the US is beating international so much, am I supposed to buy more international since US prices are so high? And since I'm already 100% stocks, there's nothing to rebalance right?

No. You need to know what % of your portfolio you want as international and what % as US to help diversify and stay within those percentages.