Hello All, I have a family member that is of retirement age but cannot retire for financial reasons. She just started a new job and she is going to sign up for their 401k (5% company match). Below are the funds available to her. I am looking for some suggestion on which funds to choose. Need to choose 4 funds at a minimum, can go with more if need be but 4 is the minimum. I am a little taken aback that the only bond fund available to her is a TIPs fund but other than that there seems to be a good mix. She is ok with a little more risk than normal given her age.
IWB – iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund
IWR – iShares Russell Mid Cap Index Fund
IWM – iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund
EFA – iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index
EEM – iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index
ICF – iShares Cohen & Shears Realty Majors Fund (REIT)
IYR – iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund
IGE – iShares Goldman Sachs Natural Resources Index Fund
GLD – StreetTracks Gold Trust
XLK – Technology Select Sector SPDR
IBB – iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund
BRK.A – Berkshire Hathaway ‘A’
BRK.B – Berkshire Hathaway ‘B’
SPY – Standard & Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDR’S)
Thanks in advance for any help you provide!
Mike
Investment options of Morningstar-community
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Investment model portfolios
We provide two types of investment model portfolios for Morningstar-community 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.
| Name | YTD Return | 1Yr AR | 3Yr AR | 5Yr AR | 10Yr AR | 15Yr AR | 20Yr AR | Common | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morningstar-community Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate | NA | 24.06% | 1.39% | 6.91% | 3.54% | 4.73% | 6.06% | … | … |
| VFINX (VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) | NA | 37.82% | 8.86% | 15.20% | 12.89% | 14.04% | 10.46% | … | … |
| VSMGX (VANGUARD LIFESTRATEGY MODERATE GROWTH FUND INVESTOR SHARES) | NA | 22.89% | 2.25% | 6.63% | 6.01% | 7.19% | 6.10% | … | … |
| Ticker/Portfolio | Last 1 Week | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr | 15 Yr | 20 Yr | Common | Inception | YTD | 2025 | 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 (%) | Morningstar-c… Moderate | -1.29 | 24.06 | 1.39 | 6.91 | 3.54 | 4.73 | 6.06 | … | … | NA | -0.29 | 6.99 | 8.33 | -17.13 | 18.49 | 16.67 | 3.82 | -6.76 | 8.95 | 3.70 | -6.83 | 0.24 | 13.09 | 7.08 | 3.86 | 8.47 | 15.59 | -7.75 | 14.15 | 18.09 | 10.08 | 11.19 | 23.78 | 0.17 | 7.20 | 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) | -1.79 | 37.82 | 8.86 | 15.20 | 12.89 | 14.04 | 10.46 | … | … | NA | 17.72 | 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) | -1.02 | 22.89 | 2.25 | 6.63 | 6.01 | 7.19 | 6.10 | … | … | NA | 16.26 | 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 | Morningstar-c… Moderate | NA | 0.08 | -0.38 | 0.29 | 0.15 | NA | NA | … | … | NA | -0.05 | 0.04 | 0.39 | -1.31 | 1.97 | 1.42 | 0.44 | -1.00 | 1.42 | 0.45 | -1.02 | 0.03 | 1.68 | 1.24 | 0.42 | 0.57 | 1.29 | -0.85 | 0.70 | 1.33 | 0.87 | 1.00 | 3.03 | -0.20 | 0.91 | 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 | 1.89 | 1.22 | 0.63 | 0.75 | NA | NA | … | … | 1.30 | 0.80 | 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 | 1.70 | 1.15 | 0.38 | 0.62 | NA | NA | … | … | 1.08 | 1.36 | 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(%) | Morningstar-c… Moderate | NA | 9.32 | 11.41 | 11.10 | 9.23 | NA | NA | … | … | NA | 6.56 | 9.38 | 10.33 | 14.08 | 9.37 | 11.61 | 5.43 | 8.09 | 5.86 | 7.79 | 6.70 | 6.81 | 7.78 | 5.67 | 9.01 | 14.66 | 12.04 | 10.20 | 15.91 | 11.13 | 9.05 | 10.23 | 7.62 | 4.63 | 5.35 | 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 | 12.22 | 14.87 | 16.92 | 18.13 | NA | NA | … | … | 13.93 | 18.66 | 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 | 8.47 | 8.97 | 10.05 | 10.33 | NA | NA | … | … | 10.48 | 9.89 | 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(%) | Morningstar-c… Moderate | NA | 6.86 | 20.61 | 22.20 | 22.20 | NA | NA | … | … | NA | 0.89 | 6.86 | 11.55 | 22.20 | 5.58 | 14.63 | 3.68 | 12.78 | 2.79 | 7.80 | 10.72 | 7.10 | 6.46 | 4.34 | 8.36 | 10.53 | 5.92 | 11.49 | 9.46 | 12.48 | 5.55 | 13.31 | 3.07 | 6.49 | 4.82 | 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 | 8.92 | 18.76 | 24.59 | 33.83 | NA | NA | … | … | 8.92 | 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 | 6.64 | 9.62 | 22.29 | 22.43 | NA | NA | … | … | 6.64 | 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(%) | Morningstar-c… Moderate | NA | 2.52 | 2.93 | 2.25 | 1.83 | NA | NA | … | … | NA | NA | 0.62 | 2.29 | 3.23 | 2.53 | 1.31 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.28 | 2.51 | 1.52 | 1.67 | 1.57 | 1.60 | 1.59 | 1.81 | 2.07 | 1.72 | 1.70 | 2.13 | 2.23 | 0.84 | 0.78 | 1.44 | 2.12 | 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) | 0.00 | 1.17 | 1.59 | 1.52 | 2.77 | 3.93 | 3.48 | … | … | 0.27 | 1.20 | 1.41 | 1.69 | 1.26 | 1.48 | 2.12 | 2.28 | 1.81 | 2.00 | 2.14 | 1.97 | 1.96 | 2.19 | 2.30 | 1.92 | 1.88 | 2.45 | 1.88 | 1.91 | 1.83 | 1.79 | 1.91 | 1.71 | 1.28 | 1.08 | 0.97 | 2.11 | 1.93 | 2.77 | 2.64 | 3.14 | 3.13 | 3.83 | 3.10 | 5.86 | 3.71 | 4.46 | 4.31 | 2.79 | 3.90 | 4.71 | 4.49 | 5.04 | 5.34 | 4.64 | 5.79 | 0.00 | |
| VSMGX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | 0.00 | 5.49 | 5.97 | 4.34 | 4.51 | 4.40 | 4.22 | … | … | 0.00 | 5.80 | 7.43 | 4.45 | 2.18 | 4.11 | 3.77 | 2.85 | 2.41 | 2.40 | 2.34 | 2.10 | 2.20 | 2.14 | 2.47 | 2.22 | 2.38 | 2.79 | 2.66 | 3.04 | 2.89 | 2.53 | 3.74 | 2.48 | 2.67 | 2.88 | 6.36 | 5.93 | 7.27 | 3.78 | 3.63 | 3.65 | 2.91 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
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