View Full Version : Roth IRA Portfolios - Your Votes?


TPM
I am 43 years old now and don't own any index funds in my account. I need to allocate 10k (contribution for both 2008 & 2009) in Roth IRA. 2 Options I am looking at:

Option 1: Index Funds only
70% Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTSMX)
30% Vanguard Total World Stock (VTWSX)

Option 2: Kiplinger suggested portfolio
Fund name
(symbol) % of portfolio
Vanguard Primecap Core (VPCCX)
15%
Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX)
15%
Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX)
15%
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth (RPMGX)
5%
T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value (PRSVX)
10%
Dodge & Cox International Stock (DODFX)
20%
Loomis Sayles Bond (LSBRX)
10%
Vanguard Infl-Protected Secs (VIPSX)
5%
PIMCO CommodityRealRet (PCRDX)
5%

What's your pick? I'd like to do the transaction ASAP.

Thanks for your input!

TPM

domingo3
Where do you hold your funds right now? Given the two options, I kind of like option 2, but it may be infeasible for a couple of reasons. First, can you conveniently buy all those funds without paying a transaction fee. Second, if you're just looking at a one time purchase of $10k, and not re-allocating your current holdings, you're not going to meet minimums. ie 5% of $10k is only $500.

pochax
The 2 strategies in the two options seem a bit off:
Option 1 is clearly more simple and based on passive-indexing but has 100% allocation to equities.
Option 2 is clearly more diversified (more fixed income allocation) but seems primarily based on actively-managed funds with likely higher expenses.

What is your intended asset allocation and risk tolerance? what is your time frame to retire? what are your taxable account assets as well as other assets in other portfolios (tax-advantaged or otherwise)? You must answer these questions ESPECIALLY the intended asset allocation question first.

fender5150
Is there a more aggressive mix of the Kiplinger Top 25? At 43, I'd probably go with option 2 minus the bottom 3. Don't get me wrong; I love Loomis Sayles.

stockwell
I am age 53; have held my Roth in American Century for 10 years. Woud it be prudent to move it into Vanguard? Are there any 'consequences'? What experience have you had with each company?