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	<title>Comments on: How should I allocate my 401(k)?</title>
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		<title>By: El Guapo</title>
		<link>http://www.uicinvestors.org/venture-capital-trust/how-should-i-allocate-my-401k/comment-page-1#comment-4643</link>
		<dc:creator>El Guapo</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:44:59 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>First of all, you deserve kudos for making your 401(k) a priority at your age.  I can&#039;t tell you how many people wait until their 30&#039;s or 40&#039;s, then realize that it&#039;s too late - they&#039;ll never be able to retire comfortably.  Time is your best friend when it comes to investing - the sooner you begin, the more freedom you&#039;ll have later on.

Second, when it comes to individual funds, studies have shown that which specific investments you choose has MUCH less impact on your returns than overall asset allocation (stocks vs. bonds) and your investing habits (how much you invest on a regular basis).

That said, I like your current allocation, with maybe a couple of small tweaks.  First, you are young enough that you shouldn&#039;t have to have any money in bonds.  I&#039;m almost 40, and I just started allocating about 10-15% to bonds.  Unless the bonds help you sleep at night, you can afford to be more aggressive, and do 100% stocks until around your mid-30&#039;s.  The second tweak would be to switch the Europacific fund into the Vanguard Total International Index, for two reasons.  First, the expenses are way lower with Vanguard, and second, the Vanguard fund will give you exposure to emerging markets like China, Brazil, India, etc. that are not in the Europacific portfolio.

Finally, think about increasing your contribution amount.  The current 401(k) limit is $16,500 per year - that should be your ultimate goal.  Kick it up 1-2% now, then every time you get a pay increase, put half of that increase into your 401(k).  You&#039;ll be a millionaire before you know it.

I hope that helps.  Good luck!&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;References : &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Former stock broker, MBA in Finance, and 20+ years investing experience</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>First of all, you deserve kudos for making your 401(k) a priority at your age.  I can&#8217;t tell you how many people wait until their 30&#8242;s or 40&#8242;s, then realize that it&#8217;s too late &#8211; they&#8217;ll never be able to retire comfortably.  Time is your best friend when it comes to investing &#8211; the sooner you begin, the more freedom you&#8217;ll have later on.</p>
<p>Second, when it comes to individual funds, studies have shown that which specific investments you choose has MUCH less impact on your returns than overall asset allocation (stocks vs. bonds) and your investing habits (how much you invest on a regular basis).</p>
<p>That said, I like your current allocation, with maybe a couple of small tweaks.  First, you are young enough that you shouldn&#8217;t have to have any money in bonds.  I&#8217;m almost 40, and I just started allocating about 10-15% to bonds.  Unless the bonds help you sleep at night, you can afford to be more aggressive, and do 100% stocks until around your mid-30&#8242;s.  The second tweak would be to switch the Europacific fund into the Vanguard Total International Index, for two reasons.  First, the expenses are way lower with Vanguard, and second, the Vanguard fund will give you exposure to emerging markets like China, Brazil, India, etc. that are not in the Europacific portfolio.</p>
<p>Finally, think about increasing your contribution amount.  The current 401(k) limit is $16,500 per year &#8211; that should be your ultimate goal.  Kick it up 1-2% now, then every time you get a pay increase, put half of that increase into your 401(k).  You&#8217;ll be a millionaire before you know it.</p>
<p>I hope that helps.  Good luck!<br /><b>References : </b><br />Former stock broker, MBA in Finance, and 20+ years investing experience</p>
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		<title>By: exactduke</title>
		<link>http://www.uicinvestors.org/venture-capital-trust/how-should-i-allocate-my-401k/comment-page-1#comment-4642</link>
		<dc:creator>exactduke</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:06:59 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>Your portfolio is nearly 1/3 bonds, so that is a large part of why you are underperforming &amp; the s&amp;p500.  But looks like you could use some mid/small caps.  I would take 15% out of harbor &amp; put in the Extended Market Index.
You are 35% international now, which seems plenty to me.

There&#039;s nothing wrong with your 1st allocation, but just add some mid &amp; small caps to it.  Your aston small caps will get you the small&#039;s, but it largely ignores mid caps.  That&#039;s why I used the extended market fund.  That will get you mid caps, as well as small caps.  At least that&#039;s how I see it.

You certainly don&#039;t want to eliminate large caps.  Large caps are 66% of the market.  Wellington will get you that, as well as your harbor fund.  You just don&#039;t want 100% of your portfolio in large caps.  Be diversified:  Large caps, mid caps, small caps, international, bonds &amp; even money markets.&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;References : &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Your portfolio is nearly 1/3 bonds, so that is a large part of why you are underperforming &amp; the s&amp;p500.  But looks like you could use some mid/small caps.  I would take 15% out of harbor &amp; put in the Extended Market Index.<br />
You are 35% international now, which seems plenty to me.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing wrong with your 1st allocation, but just add some mid &amp; small caps to it.  Your aston small caps will get you the small&#8217;s, but it largely ignores mid caps.  That&#8217;s why I used the extended market fund.  That will get you mid caps, as well as small caps.  At least that&#8217;s how I see it.</p>
<p>You certainly don&#8217;t want to eliminate large caps.  Large caps are 66% of the market.  Wellington will get you that, as well as your harbor fund.  You just don&#8217;t want 100% of your portfolio in large caps.  Be diversified:  Large caps, mid caps, small caps, international, bonds &amp; even money markets.<br /><b>References : </b></p>
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		<title>By: Pablo</title>
		<link>http://www.uicinvestors.org/venture-capital-trust/how-should-i-allocate-my-401k/comment-page-1#comment-4641</link>
		<dc:creator>Pablo</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:18:59 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>allocate a small percentage into the bond fund allowing safety with diversification and the rest into International/small cap/mid cap accordingly. The way the market looks, it is on an up swing and the MF should produce good returns. 30/30/30/10&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;References : &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;Series 6/63 Business Banker</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>allocate a small percentage into the bond fund allowing safety with diversification and the rest into International/small cap/mid cap accordingly. The way the market looks, it is on an up swing and the MF should produce good returns. 30/30/30/10<br /><b>References : </b><br />Series 6/63 Business Banker</p>
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