Author Topic: What should I invest in my solo 401k?  (Read 1156 times)

worldwideox

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What should I invest in my solo 401k?
« on: October 16, 2019, 07:43:38 AM »
Hi there - Been lurking for awhile now; first time posting. I’m relatively new to the FI game, but we're pretty gung-ho now, and my husband and I are both on board with getting our finances in order in pursuit of FI. I’m self-employed, and have had an asset-managed solo 401k for a couple years — but I’ve just moved it over to Vanguard now.

I’ve got about $70k in there, am 42, and love my job. My husband is newly self-employed as well, 41, and is about to open a solo 401k (he’s got a traditional IRA with about $20k, which he’s also moving to Vanguard). We’d love to be FI in about 15 years (we also have 3 kids, one of whom is a freshman in HS), but we don’t really have any desire to stop working when that happens (so, we're open to continuing to grow these accounts beyond this time). Feels like a steep climb, but I'm optimistic.

What would you invest in for my solo 401k if you were me, especially considering expense ratios? (We’re not too terribly risk-averse.)

1. Vanguard’s TR 2045 Fund (VTIVX) — nice and simple, or
2. The Three-Fund Portfolio a la Bogleheads, with Total Stock, Total International, and Total Bond (not sure yet what percentage to int’l), or
3. A straightforward 80% in VTSAX and 20% in VBTLX, more or less a la JL Collins' Stock Series?

I'm admittedly unsure the process of occasional portfolio rebalancing, but I'm reading a lot, am willing to learn, and it sounds like it doesn't have to be too complicated ...right?

We're also in the process of opening an HSA, and I may also open a Roth IRA soon. We also have a 529 for each of our kids, but we admittedly haven't done much with those ...yet.

Would love any of your $.02. Thanks in advance!

AdrianC

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Re: What should I invest in my solo 401k?
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2019, 09:45:02 AM »
We use the Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund:

https://investor.vanguard.com/mutual-funds/lifestrategy/#/

The TR 2045 Fund (VTIVX) is just as good, if you're happy with 90% stocks.

You can use the three funds in the same proportions and save a little bit. I decided to go with the single fund for simplicity and to discourage tinkering.

worldwideox

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Re: What should I invest in my solo 401k?
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2019, 10:09:46 AM »
Thanks! This is helpful.