Merrill Lynch Investor Choice IRA
Investment Model Portfolios
Investment options of Merrill Lynch Investor Choice IRA
Total Available Funds: 62
| Asset Class |
Ticker
| Description |
| INTERNATIONAL EQUITY |
|
|
| Foreign Large Value |
ABIAX |
Alliance Bernstein International Value Fund |
| Foreign Large Blend |
AEGFX |
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund- Class F |
| WORLD STOCK |
MDGGX |
BlackRock Global Growth Fund, Inc. |
| Foreign Large Value |
MDIVX |
BlackRock International Value Fund |
| FOREIGN SMALL/MID GROWTH |
LAIAX |
Columbia Acorn Internation- Class A Shares |
| Foreign Large Value |
TEMFX |
Templeton Foreign Fund- Class A Shares |
| WORLD STOCK |
TEPLX |
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc. |
|
| US EQUITY |
|
|
| MID-CAP VALUE |
ABASX |
Alliance Bernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Fund |
| LARGE VALUE |
ABVAX |
Alliance Bernstein Value Fund- Class A |
| LARGE GROWTH |
PCFAX |
Allianz CCM Capital Appreciation Fund |
| LARGE VALUE |
PNEAX |
Allianz NFJ Dividend Vallue Fund- Class A |
| LARGE GROWTH |
AGTHX |
American Funds The Growth Fund of America- Class F |
| LARGE BLEND |
AIVSX |
American Funds The Investment Company of America- Class F |
| LARGE VALUE |
MDBAX |
BlackRock Basic Value Fund, Inc.- Investor A Shares |
| LARGE GROWTH |
MDFGX |
BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc- Investor A Shares |
| LARGE BLEND |
MDLRX |
BlackRock Large Cap Core Fund |
| LARGE GROWTH |
MDLHX |
BlackRock Large Cap Growth Fund |
| LARGE VALUE |
MDLVX |
BlackRock Large Cap Value Fund |
| LARGE BLEND |
MDSRX |
BlackRock S&P 500 Index Fund |
| SMALL BLEND |
MDSPX |
BlackRock Value Opportunities Fund, inc. |
| Small Growth |
LAUAX |
Columbia Acorn USA |
| LARGE GROWTH |
NMGIX |
Columbia Marsico Growth Fund |
| LARGE BLEND |
NYVTX |
Davis New York Venture fund, Inc.- Class A Shares |
| Small Growth |
DELTX |
Delaware Trend Fund- Class A Shares |
| LARGE BLEND |
DGAGX |
Dreyfus Appreciation Fund, Inc. |
| LARGE VALUE |
EHSTX |
Eaton Vance Large-Cap Value Fund- Class A Shares |
| LARGE BLEND |
FEDEX |
Federated Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc- Investor A Shares |
| Mid-Cap Growth |
KAUAX |
Federated Kaufmann Fund |
| LARGE BLEND |
GTVLX |
Invesco Basic Value Fund- Class A |
| MID-CAP BLEND |
GTAGX |
Invesco Mid Cap Core Equity Fund- Class A |
| LARGE VALUE |
ACSTX |
Invesco Van Kampen Comstock Fun- Class A Shares |
| LARGE GROWTH |
JDCAX |
Janus Forty Fund- Class A Shares |
| Mid-Cap Growth |
JAENX |
Janus Enterprise Fund- Class A Shares |
| Small Growth |
JISGX |
JPMorgan Small Cap Growth Fund |
| LARGE VALUE |
LAFFX |
Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.- Class A Shares |
| MID-CAP VALUE |
LAVLX |
Lord Abbett Mid Cap Value Fund-- Class A Shares |
| LARGE GROWTH |
OPTFX |
Oppenheimer Main Street Capital Appreciation Fund- Class A Shares |
| LARGE BLEND |
MSIGX |
Oppenheimer Main Street Main Street Fund |
| SMALL BLEND |
SCOSX |
Oppenheimer Main Street Main Street Small Cap Fund |
| LARGE BLEND |
PIODX |
Pioneer Pioneer Fund |
| Small Growth |
PGOFX |
Pioneer Growth Opportunities Fund |
| Mid-Cap Growth |
SCFIX |
Seligman Capital Fund, Inc.- Class A Shares |
| LARGE GROWTH |
ITQAX |
Transamerica WMC Diversified Growth- Class A Shares |
| Mid-Cap Growth |
ITSAX |
Transamerica Growth Opportunities |
| SMALL BLEND |
IIVAX |
Transamerica Small/Mid Cap Value |
|
| FIXED INCOME |
|
|
| Intermediate-Term Bond |
ABNFX |
American Funds The Bond Fund of America- Class F |
| Intermediate Government |
CCGAX |
BlackRock Government Income Portfolio |
| High Yield Bond |
MDHIX |
BlackRock High Income Fund |
| Intermediate-Term Bond |
MPHQX |
BlackRock Total Return Fund |
| Bank Loan |
EVBLX |
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Fund- Class A Shares |
| Multisector Bond |
LBNDX |
Lord Abbett Debenture Fund, Inc. |
| Short-Term Bond |
PTLAX |
PIMCO Low Duration Fund |
| Inflation-Protected Bond |
PRTNX |
PIMCO Real Return Fund |
| Intermediate-Term Bond |
PTTAX |
PIMCO Total Return Fund |
| High Yield Bond |
TAHYX |
Pioneer High Yield Fund |
| Multisector Bond |
IDITX |
Transamerica Flexible Income |
|
| Others |
|
|
| Moderate Allocation |
AMECX |
American Funds The Income Fund of America- Class F |
| World Allocation |
MDLOX |
BlackRock Global Allocation Fund, Inc.- Investor A Shares |
| Long-Short |
JMNAX |
JPMorgan Multi-Cap Market Neutral Fund- Class A Shares |
|
| COMMODITIES |
|
|
| COMMODITIES BROAD BASKET |
PCRPX |
PIMCO CommodityRealReturn Strategy fund- Class A Shares |
|
| Emerging Market |
|
|
| DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MKTS |
PEMFX |
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund- Class A Shares |
|
| REAL ESTATE |
|
|
| REAL ESTATE |
PWREX |
Pioneer Real Estate Shares Fund |
|
Investment model portfolios
We provide two types of investment model portfolios for Merrill Lynch Investor Choice IRA participants. You can customize and follow a model portfolio in your plan account.
Types of portfolio strategies
- Strategic asset allocation portfolio: It invests in a diversified portfolio of multiple assets, buy-and-hold without frequently changing the asset allocation weights.
- Suitable: For long-term (more than 15 years, preferably more than 20 years), want to be tax efficient and can withstand interim drawdown or loss as high as 50% or more.
- Pros:
- Less error-prone
- Infrequent rebalancing or transactions
- Tax efficient for taxable brokerage investments
- Cons:
- Interim loss or drawdown can be substantial
- Possible low returns for an extended period, such as 10 years or longer
- Tactical asset allocation portfolio: it invests in a diversified portfolio of multiple assets, dynamically adjust stock and bond allocations to minimize losses during market stress.
- Suitable: For long-term (more than 10 years or preferably longer) capital. Investors are willing to rebalance as frequent as monthly.
- Pros:
- Reduce large interim loss or drawdown
- Less sensitive to investment entry point
- Likely to improve returns
- Cons
- Demand more frequent rebalancing or transactions
- Less tax efficient — more suitable in a tax-deferred account such as 401(k) or IRA
- Can experience a period of lower returns compared to a broad-based strategic allocation or a buy-and-hold benchmark, especially in some bull markets
These portfolios are proactively monitored and rebalanced on a monthly basis when needed, ensuring it remains in line with its target allocation.
Let us know (Email us) if you need help to create a custom model portfolio for your plan.
Example model portfolios
The following provides historical returns for example model portfolios with a moderate risk profile (at most 60% in stocks) and their comparison with benchmark index funds. You can customize these portfolios according to your own risk profile.
Strategic Asset Allocation Model Portfolio
The following portfolio is based on the MyPlanIQ Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) strategy.
Tactical Asset Allocation Model Portfolio
The following portfolio is based on the MyPlanIQ Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) strategy.
|
Ticker/Portfolio |
Last 1 Week |
1 Yr |
3 Yr |
5 Yr |
10 Yr |
15 Yr |
20 Yr |
Inception |
YTD |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
1992 |
1991 |
1990 |
1989 |
1988 |
1987 |
1986 |
1985 |
1984 |
1983 |
1982 |
1981 |
1980 |
1979 |
|
Annualized Return (%)
|
Merrill Lynch... Moderate
|
-0.46 |
-12.00 |
5.74 |
11.69 |
8.22 |
7.38 |
9.95 |
9.89 |
NA |
NA |
-335,014.92 |
-13.02 |
11.15 |
23.30 |
22.47 |
19.58 |
10.57 |
5.47 |
-5.64 |
1.54 |
15.17 |
10.78 |
-0.65 |
11.70 |
27.30 |
-18.70 |
22.94 |
18.15 |
12.41 |
11.35 |
31.56 |
11.94 |
4.72 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VFINX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
-0.65 |
-7.84 |
12.14 |
9.76 |
12.14 |
9.45 |
10.11 |
7.22 |
NA |
24.84 |
26.12 |
-18.24 |
28.53 |
18.74 |
31.33 |
-4.55 |
21.66 |
11.83 |
1.23 |
13.52 |
32.17 |
15.82 |
1.96 |
14.91 |
26.52 |
-37.02 |
5.39 |
15.64 |
4.77 |
10.74 |
28.50 |
-22.17 |
-12.03 |
-9.05 |
21.08 |
28.62 |
33.18 |
22.87 |
37.45 |
1.18 |
10.15 |
8.24 |
32.05 |
-3.33 |
28.37 |
14.92 |
3.97 |
9.30 |
22.60 |
3.67 |
17.07 |
19.25 |
-8.55 |
27.89 |
-2.07 |
|
VSMGX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
-0.49 |
-8.47 |
3.99 |
3.84 |
5.55 |
4.84 |
6.49 |
5.06 |
NA |
10.28 |
15.51 |
-16.01 |
10.08 |
13.59 |
19.30 |
-6.28 |
14.86 |
7.09 |
-2.21 |
6.38 |
14.73 |
9.78 |
0.12 |
13.14 |
20.35 |
-26.49 |
7.21 |
13.30 |
5.68 |
11.76 |
22.40 |
-10.34 |
-4.78 |
1.27 |
14.09 |
21.59 |
17.90 |
10.77 |
26.58 |
2.04 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
Sharpe Ratio
|
Merrill Lynch... Moderate
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
-1.02 |
0.95 |
2.53 |
2.30 |
1.94 |
1.75 |
0.82 |
-0.87 |
0.23 |
2.07 |
1.86 |
-0.07 |
0.83 |
2.49 |
-2.20 |
1.50 |
1.54 |
1.52 |
1.18 |
5.95 |
2.01 |
0.48 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VFINX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
0.36 |
0.91 |
0.78 |
0.62 |
NA |
NA |
0.45 |
0.06 |
1.67 |
1.73 |
-0.82 |
2.17 |
0.53 |
2.39 |
-0.35 |
3.16 |
0.89 |
0.08 |
1.19 |
2.90 |
1.25 |
0.08 |
0.82 |
0.97 |
-0.92 |
0.14 |
1.22 |
0.24 |
0.88 |
1.63 |
-0.90 |
-0.68 |
-0.60 |
0.97 |
1.23 |
1.61 |
1.62 |
4.31 |
-0.19 |
0.90 |
0.57 |
1.91 |
-0.55 |
1.71 |
0.59 |
-0.01 |
0.30 |
1.47 |
-0.26 |
0.79 |
0.63 |
-1.30 |
1.17 |
-3.84 |
|
VSMGX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
0.57 |
0.75 |
0.53 |
0.47 |
NA |
NA |
0.50 |
0.65 |
0.87 |
1.45 |
-1.22 |
1.32 |
0.70 |
2.77 |
-0.87 |
3.75 |
0.83 |
-0.26 |
1.01 |
2.16 |
1.23 |
0.01 |
1.18 |
1.12 |
-0.98 |
0.39 |
1.34 |
0.49 |
1.49 |
2.09 |
-0.75 |
-0.59 |
-0.24 |
1.06 |
1.56 |
1.56 |
0.91 |
4.18 |
4.60 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
Standard Deviation(%)
|
Merrill Lynch... Moderate
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
14.18 |
11.72 |
9.11 |
9.17 |
9.41 |
5.67 |
6.45 |
6.50 |
6.67 |
7.30 |
5.77 |
9.54 |
13.95 |
10.94 |
8.90 |
13.30 |
9.69 |
6.71 |
8.79 |
5.19 |
5.39 |
4.97 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VFINX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
19.77 |
17.38 |
17.51 |
18.48 |
NA |
NA |
18.10 |
24.84 |
12.67 |
13.09 |
24.19 |
13.11 |
34.69 |
12.48 |
17.11 |
6.68 |
13.11 |
15.51 |
11.39 |
11.07 |
12.74 |
23.36 |
18.07 |
27.22 |
40.99 |
16.02 |
10.04 |
10.29 |
11.10 |
17.04 |
25.96 |
21.55 |
22.20 |
18.17 |
20.48 |
18.21 |
11.77 |
7.77 |
9.92 |
8.83 |
9.93 |
14.69 |
16.06 |
13.09 |
17.07 |
33.80 |
16.55 |
11.67 |
12.80 |
13.62 |
18.09 |
14.61 |
16.53 |
23.80 |
|
VSMGX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
10.42 |
10.16 |
10.12 |
10.41 |
NA |
NA |
11.48 |
12.60 |
7.69 |
8.26 |
14.34 |
7.62 |
19.08 |
6.43 |
8.81 |
3.80 |
8.31 |
8.51 |
6.28 |
6.80 |
7.99 |
14.68 |
11.10 |
18.01 |
27.95 |
10.37 |
7.43 |
6.96 |
7.25 |
10.38 |
15.37 |
12.42 |
12.30 |
10.07 |
11.65 |
9.10 |
7.74 |
5.41 |
15.57 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
Draw Down(%)
|
Merrill Lynch... Moderate
|
NA |
200,825.45 |
200,825.45 |
200,825.45 |
200,825.45 |
NA |
NA |
200,825.45 |
NA |
NA |
200,825.45 |
19.77 |
7.68 |
4.28 |
0.48 |
5.58 |
3.42 |
4.55 |
9.62 |
7.96 |
5.38 |
4.17 |
9.22 |
10.21 |
5.36 |
21.45 |
11.14 |
13.89 |
6.01 |
12.35 |
1.81 |
4.71 |
3.83 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VFINX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
18.76 |
18.76 |
24.59 |
33.83 |
NA |
NA |
55.25 |
18.76 |
8.45 |
9.97 |
24.59 |
5.14 |
33.83 |
6.63 |
19.40 |
2.60 |
10.29 |
12.05 |
7.30 |
5.59 |
9.60 |
18.71 |
15.66 |
27.17 |
47.73 |
9.88 |
7.47 |
7.01 |
7.47 |
13.79 |
33.02 |
29.18 |
16.55 |
11.81 |
19.20 |
10.79 |
7.45 |
2.50 |
8.48 |
4.84 |
5.63 |
5.57 |
19.19 |
7.35 |
7.24 |
33.08 |
11.63 |
7.51 |
10.58 |
7.02 |
13.21 |
15.61 |
16.03 |
2.40 |
|
VSMGX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
9.62 |
12.88 |
22.29 |
22.43 |
NA |
NA |
41.18 |
9.62 |
4.17 |
8.15 |
21.74 |
3.53 |
22.43 |
3.12 |
11.47 |
1.14 |
6.20 |
8.34 |
4.70 |
5.67 |
6.27 |
12.90 |
8.64 |
19.61 |
36.81 |
6.11 |
6.13 |
4.74 |
5.89 |
8.91 |
20.06 |
17.93 |
8.77 |
6.26 |
11.99 |
6.02 |
4.75 |
1.82 |
1.89 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
Yield(%)
|
Merrill Lynch... Moderate
|
NA |
40.46 |
18.16 |
19.31 |
12.77 |
NA |
NA |
8.80 |
NA |
NA |
31.79 |
14.97 |
2.34 |
14.42 |
21.51 |
19.90 |
1.29 |
3.00 |
7.17 |
9.13 |
6.98 |
4.97 |
6.44 |
3.33 |
4.36 |
2.60 |
6.88 |
7.17 |
3.20 |
3.64 |
5.58 |
4.88 |
8.15 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VFINX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
VSMGX (VANGUA...R SHARES)
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Data as of 02/28/2023, AR inception is 12/31/2000
