Managing own 401k work plan and would like opinions

[drwest]

This is the first time I have posted, but have read and lot of what is on this site and love it.  Everyone has inspired me to finally take the leap and manage my own 401k account instead of the TDF that I currently have through work (offered by fidelity).

My dilemma is the allocation of my funds (percentage) for each option and if there is a better selection. The available options are as follows:

   
Bond Investments   Stable Value   WF STABLE VALUE

Bond Investments   Income   FID US BOND IDX PR FSITX

Bond Investments   Income   WF CORE BOND INST

Stock Investments   Large Cap   DODGE & COX STOCK

Stock Investments   Large Cap   FID 500 INDEX PR

Stock Investments   Large Cap   FID BLUE CHIP GR

Stock Investments   Large Cap   JPM DISCPL EQ I

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   J H ENTERPRISE T

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   JH DSCPL VAL MDCP I

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   VANG MIDCAP IDX ADM VIMAX

Stock Investments   Small Cap   JPM SM CAP VALUE A

Stock Investments   Small Cap   TRP NEW HORIZONS

Stock Investments   Small Cap   VANG SM CAP IDX ADM VSMAX

Stock Investments   International   ARTISAN INTL INST

Stock Investments   International   FID INTL INDEX PR FSIVX


I currently feel as though VSMAX, VIMAX, FSITX, and FSIVX are my best options for performance, risk, and fees.  Being a beginner to this do it yourself approach, I know I could be wrong. I do realize that I may not even need all of these options.  I am fine with taking more risk as I do not plan to need the money in the next 5 or even 10 years.

Allocation I am currently debating is VSMAX 40%, VIMAX 40%, FSITX 10%, FSIVX 10% and the fees associated with each are .06, .06, .045, and .06

Currently my TDF has a fee of .77

Any opinions or constructive criticism is 100% welcomed.

Thanks for reading

D. West

[MDM]

Any opinions or constructive criticism is 100% welcomed.

Putting the symbol, description, and fee all on one line for each fund would be helpful.

[DavidAnnArbor]

I would definitely add a large cap index to your mix. FID 500 INDEX PR

[drwest]

MDM, here are all of the options available aside from the TDF with the info you specified.  Please let me know if I left anything out.

Bond Investments   Stable Value   WF STABLE VALUE .822%

Bond Investments   Income   FID US BOND IDX PR FSITX .045%

Bond Investments   Income   WF CORE BOND INST MBFIX .5%

Stock Investments   Large Cap   DODGE & COX STOCK DODGX .52%

Stock Investments   Large Cap   FID 500 INDEX PR FUSVX .035%

Stock Investments   Large Cap   FID BLUE CHIP GR FBGRX .82%

Stock Investments   Large Cap   JPM DISCPL EQ I JDESX .69%

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   J H ENTERPRISE T JAENX .93%

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   JH DSCPL VAL MDCP I JVMIX .86

Stock Investments   Mid-Cap   VANG MIDCAP IDX ADM VIMAX .06%

Stock Investments   Small Cap   JPM SM CAP VALUE A PSOAX 1.25%

Stock Investments   Small Cap   TRP NEW HORIZONS PRNHX .79%

Stock Investments   Small Cap   VANG SM CAP IDX ADM VSMAX .06%

Stock Investments   International   ARTISAN INTL INST APHIX .95%

Stock Investments   International   FID INTL INDEX PR FSIVX .06%


DavidAnnArbor,

I attached the wrong info earlier.  Should have been........
FUSVX 30% (large)
VIMAX 20% (mid)
VSMAX 20% (small)
FSIVX 20% (intl)
FSITX 10% (bond)

Thank you for pointing that out to me though. Now I will definitely double and triple check before submitting any changes on my 401K elections.

D. West

[MDM]

I attached the wrong info earlier.  Should have been........
FUSVX 30% (large)
VIMAX 20% (mid)
VSMAX 20% (small)
FSIVX 20% (intl)
FSITX 10% (bond)

If you want to approximate a total stock market fund, you could use
FUSVX 56.7% (large)
VIMAX 2.8% (mid)
VSMAX 10.5% (small)
for the US stock portion.

The percentages you propose would be tilting your holdings toward mid and small cap stocks.

There is no right or wrong in the percentages above - just making an observation.  No way to know now what would be better in the future.  In any case, you have made some good choices.