Thanks NP!
I am still a beginner, so I am heavily influenced by the last thing I read:) I decided that I wanted about 30% international and 60% domestic and 10% bonds. I also wanted low expense ratios. Originally I was looking at "Total Stock Market Index Admiral Shares" for my domestic needs, but decided I wanted more control of my domestic risk.
1. I copied my mid-cap wrong and actually hold "Mid-Cap Index Admiral Shares"(VIMAX). I think I am leaning towards going 20% small-cap and then 10% mid-cap while I am young. Since the last book I read is "A Random Walk Down Wall Street", and as a result am influenced by it, I was trying to avoid any funds that are trying to accomplish to pick portfolios based on "growth" or "value" and instead choose the general index funds. I am very curious about the "value for small" concept and will need to expand my knowledge on this issue. Based on my current knowledge, really influence, I do not currently believe in value investing. Conceptually it is easier for me to get behind "growth" stocks since it is easier to analyze whether a company "intends" to hold on to their money with the intention to grow, since this information is out there in the board minutes, company mission statements, and based on CEO's comments.
2. Picking my international funds is where my current biases came in. While my overall portfolio is not asian pacific heavy I am invested in China and India through "Emerging Markets Stock Index Admiral Shares". I would of invested in "Pacific Stock Index Admiral Shares" and held 3 international funds at 10%, if the general VPADX marketing gave more information about the countries its invested in. They have the following statement in the VPADX:
"invests solely in stocks of countries located in the Pacific region, particularly Japan"
The VPADX doesn't sound as diverse as I would like, but I may add it to my portfolio if I ever delve in to these funds in more detail. Generally I am concerned with scandals and accounting practices of the non Japan pacific region smaller countries, and on the flip side don't want to much investment in Japan. The two international funds I choose seem to be more diversified than VPADX as far as the number of economies I would be dealing with. Of course I do recognize that some people might consider the European union one economy.
3. I think one reason I didn't look at VFSVX is due to the expense ratio, but another reason is I am mainly investing out of the country for diversification. Being a beginner, I feel more comfortable adjusting my risk domestically than internationally. For example I might go 20% small-cap/10% mid-cap domestically if I want more risk. Investing small-cap internationally sounds rewarding, but to risky for me at this point.
4. My tilts are somewhat deliberate. The main reason I have this portfolio is that it allows me to know where my money is more so than dropping all my money into the target retirement funds or a VTSAX/VTIAX combo. I also want the opportunity to tilt things deliberately as I become more knowledgeable and as my job income changes. I am diversified similar to the VTSAX/VTIAX combo, but I also feel like I am using intelligence in my choices(which is more fun). The target retirement funds or VTSAX/VTIAX are great because they keep people from playing around with your portfolio,but they are just not exciting enough for me.