Retirement investments -- should I change them?

[Deleted]

Thanks to the other thread I'm looking at my account balances and

The ones that I haven't contributed to this year -- my Roth IRA and my Traditional IRA -- appear to be up 0.96% and .99%, respectively. They make up 2/3 of my retirement money. The rest is in my 401(k) which is up 6%.

[IMPORTANT EDIT: This is since January 31. They did well in January. So maybe things aren't so dire... but still, should they have grown since then?]

So none of this is good. How/when do I decide that enough is enough and I should change how it is invested? Under what circumstances should I just stay the course?

Also, this should be proof to my husband that we should be using a financial planner, right?

Thanks!

[SJ]

I would really like more details. Feel free to pm or talk off board- I'd be happy to review your holdings.

[Deleted]

Oh wait, I have an important edit -- I was looking at 1/31 - present rather than 12/31 through present, and there was significant growth in January that makes me happy.

Still, would be interested in your thoughts, because they haven't moved since then. SJ, would you mind if I PM you?

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2012 16:49:49 GMT -5 letsgetweird said:

Can you post your asset allocation? I'm not going to give you investment advice but it's better to have a solid asset allocation plan than to chase performance.

Okay, here it is:

Traditional IRA (44% of porfolio):
15% VFIFX
25% VO
35% VV
21% VXUS

Roth IRA(24% of portfolio):
29% VO
44% VV
26% VXUS

401(k) (32% of portfolio; fewer investment choices obviously):
52% 0829 ING US Stock Index Portfolio US
48% 0496 American Funds EuroPacific R3

[SJ]

Traditional IRA (44% of porfolio):
15% VFIFX +14.11% YTD
25% VO +14.33% YTD
35% VV +16.24% YTD
21% VXUS +9.95% YTD

Roth IRA(24% of portfolio):
29% VO +14.33% YTD
44% VV +16.24% YTD
26% VXUS +9.95% YTD


OK I added the performance numbers for the funds in your two IRA's. There is NO WAY your traditional IRA is only up .99% for the year and the Roth up 0.96%. Look at the funds in it- not a one is up LESS than 9%.

I'm sure these accounts are in the double digits. I see no reason to sell/change.

Where are we crossing wires here?

ETA: And yes, of course you can PM me any time!!

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2012 17:57:43 GMT -5 SJ said:

Traditional IRA (44% of porfolio):
15% VFIFX +14.11% YTD
25% VO +14.33% YTD
35% VV +16.24% YTD
21% VXUS +9.95% YTD

Roth IRA(24% of portfolio):
29% VO +14.33% YTD
44% VV +16.24% YTD
26% VXUS +9.95% YTD


OK I added the performance numbers for the funds in your two IRA's. There is NO WAY your traditional IRA is only up .99% for the year and the Roth up 0.96%. Look at the funds in it- not a one is up LESS than 9%.

I'm sure these accounts are in the double digits. I see no reason to sell/change.

Where are we crossing wires here?

ETA: And yes, of course you can PM me any time!!

I think it is because I was looking at January 31 onwards rather than December 31 onwards, and there was big growth for these in January? So I think my own stupidity is to blame here

Regardless, I really think it is time for us to look seriously into a financial planner.

[Deleted]

So what is your YTD return v? When was the last time you changed allocations? Are you planning on redirecting new money or are you trying to sell out of some current funds in order to invest in different ones?

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 7:29:25 GMT -5 @choco said:

So what is your YTD return v? When was the last time you changed allocations? Are you planning on redirecting new money or are you trying to sell out of some current funds in order to invest in different ones?

Most of this money is in accounts that don't get new funds (my rollover IRAs) so I'd be looking to sell out of current funds if that would be wise. They're up for the year in the amounts that SJ posted, but it looks like pretty much all of that growth was in January? Last time I changed allocations was May of 11 for my IRAs, and January 11 for my 401(k).

[Deleted]

I just looked at those funds and like them. I wouldn't reallocate, but I am lazy.

[ReenaP]

V, something is wrong with your 0.99% number. Looking at the S&P 500 returns by month, January was a nice increase but definitely not the bulk of the year's increase. So your "1/31 onward" theory doesn't seem correct. Granted, you can't use S&P500 returns as a benchmark for all of your funds, but it's a rough estimate.

ycharts.com/indicators/sp_500_monthly_return

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 9:29:28 GMT -5 ReenaP said:

V, something is wrong with your 0.99% number. Looking at the S&P 500 returns by month, January was a nice increase but definitely not the bulk of the year's increase. So your "1/31 onward" theory doesn't seem correct. Granted, you can't use S&P500 returns as a benchmark for all of your funds, but it's a rough estimate.

ycharts.com/indicators/sp_500_monthly_return

I reran the numbers and you may be right -- this may be a huge math fail. I think, for example, from 1/31 onward my Roth gained 4%. Does that seem more reasonable to you?