ACS 401(K) PLAN Investment Options

Basic steps for ACS 401(K) PLAN investments

  1. Understand Your Goals and Risk Tolerance: Consider your retirement goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance when choosing investments. Are you saving for retirement, or do you have other financial goals in mind? How comfortable are you with market fluctuations?
  2. Diversification: Diversification is key to managing risk in your investment portfolio. Spread your investments across different asset classes (e.g., stocks, bonds, cash equivalents) and sectors to reduce the impact of market volatility.
  3. Asset Allocation: Determine the appropriate mix of assets for your investment portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance. This may involve allocating a percentage of your portfolio to stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents.
  4. Review Investment Options: Evaluate the investment options available within ACS 401(K) PLAN (see below for more detailed investment options). Look for funds with low fees, consistent performance, and a track record of meeting their investment objectives.
  5. Consider Target-Date Funds: Target-date funds are a popular option for retirement savings because they automatically adjust the asset allocation over time based on your expected retirement date. These funds can be a convenient option for investors who prefer a hands-off approach to investing.
  6. Monitor and Rebalance: Periodically review your investment portfolio and make adjustments as needed. Rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation and ensure it remains aligned with your goals and risk tolerance.
  7. Seek Professional Advice: If you’re unsure about which investments to choose or how to allocate your assets, consider seeking advice from a financial advisor. They can help you develop an investment strategy tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.

By following these steps, you can set up a 401(k) plan and choose investments that align with your long-term financial goals and objectives. Remember that investing involves risk, and it’s important to carefully consider your options and seek professional advice if needed.

Investment Options

ACS 401(K) PLAN provides a list of funds (mutual funds and collective investment trusts — custom-made mutual funds for the plan):

Total Available Funds: 81
Asset Class Ticker Description
US EQUITY
US EQUITY AAV Mellon Bank N.A. Advantage Energy Income Fund
SMALL VALUE AASVX Mellon Bank N.A. American Beacon FDS Small Cap Value Fund
Small Growth WBSIX Mellon Bank N.A. Blair William Small Cap Growth Fund
LARGE GROWTH CGMFX Mellon Bank N.A. CGM Focus Fund
LARGE BLEND NYVTX Mellon Bank N.A. Davis NY Venture Fund
US EQUITY DB Mellon Bank N.A. Deutsche Bank AG London Powershares Crude Oil
US EQUITY BK Mellon Bank N.A. EB Temporary Investment Fund II
US EQUITY BK Mellon Bank N.A. EB Temporary Investment Fund LEH
LARGE BLEND FAIRX Mellon Bank N.A. Fairholme Income Fund
LARGE BLEND VTSMX Mellon Bank N.A. Aggressive Unit
Mid-Cap Growth MIMSX Mellon Bank N.A. Mellon Midcap Unit
SMALL BLEND NAESX Mellon Bank N.A. Mellon Small Cap Unit
US EQUITY BK Mellon Bank N.A. Mellon Stock Unit
US EQUITY BK Mellon Bank N.A. Moderate Aggressive Unit
MID-CAP BLEND FLPSX Mellon Bank N.A Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund
Small Growth FSGRX Mellon Bank N.A Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund I – Class A
MID-CAP BLEND GABIX Mellon Bank N.A Gaebelli Asset Ben International Fund
LARGE GROWTH HACAX Mellon Bank N.A Harbor Cap Appreciation Fund
LARGE GROWTH PTWZX Mellon Bank N.A Jennison Sector Class A Fund
MID-CAP VALUE MEIFX Mellon Bank N.A Meridian Income Fund
Mid-Cap Growth OBHGX Mellon Bank N.A Old Mut Advisor Funds II Select Growth (Class Z)
SMALL VALUE ROFKX Mellon Bank N.A Royce Opportunity Fund
LARGE GROWTH RYATX Mellon Bank N.A Rydex Nasdaq-100 Fund
LARGE GROWTH VIGRX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard World Growth Fund
LARGE VALUE VWNFX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard Windsor Income Fund II
Others
ROOT CASH Mellon Bank N.A. American Century Prime Money Market Fund
EQUITY TAN Mellon Bank N.A. Claymore Exchange-Traded Mac Global
EQUITY DGP Mellon Bank N.A. Deutsche Bank AG London Gold Double Long Exchg
ROOT CASH Mellon Bank N.A. Dreyfus 100% US Treasury Money Market Fund
Conservative Allocation VWINX Mellon Bank N.A. Conservative Unit
Conservative Allocation VWINX Mellon Bank N.A. Moderate Conservative Unit
Moderate Allocation VAAPX Mellon Bank N.A. Moderate Unit
Equity Energy GAGEX Mellon Bank N.A Guinness Atkinson Global Energy Fund
EQUITY SLV Mellon Bank N.A Ishares Silver Fund 13 186
MISCELLANEOUS SECTOR PFF Mellon Bank N.A Ishares S&P US Preferred Stock Index Fund
Technology JAGTX Mellon Bank N.A Janus Investment Global Technology Fund
Financial BTO Mellon Bank N.A John Hancock Income Fund III
SPECIALTY-PRECIOUS METALS GDX Mellon Bank N.A Market Vectors ETF Gold Miners
SPECIALTY-NATURAL RES SLX Mellon Bank N.A Market Vectors ETF Steel
EQUITY PBW Mellon Bank N.A Powershares Wilder Hill Clean Energy Fund
Bear Market UVPIX Mellon Bank N.A Profunds Ultra Emerging Markets
Bear Market UVPIX Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort Traded Fund
Bear Market EUO Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort Finls
Bear Market PST Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort Lehman 7-10 years
Bear Market SDS Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort S&P 500
Bear Market TBT Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort Lehman 20
Bear Market SRS Mellon Bank N.A Proshares Ultrashort Real Estate
EQUITY XHB Mellon Bank N.A SPDR Unit Ser 1 S&P Poors
EQUITY USO Mellon Bank N.A United States Oil Fund LP units
EQUITY UNG Mellon Bank N.A United States Natural Gas Fund LP units
Technology WAGTX Mellon Bank N.A Wasatch Advisors Global Technology Fund
Equity Energy DKA Mellon Bank N.A Wisdomtree Trust International Fund
EQUITY ACS Mellon Bank N.A ACS Stock Fund
EQUITY LMT Mellon Bank N.A Lockheed Martin Stock Fund
ROOT CASH Money market substitute
FIXED INCOME
WORLD BOND BIBBX Mellon Bank N.A. Blackrock International Opportunities II
Intermediate-Term Bond VFICX Mellon Bank N.A. Mellon Agg Bond Unit
Long-Term Bond LQD Mellon Bank N.A Ishares IBOXX Investment Grade Corporate Bond
Emerging Markets Bond EDD Mellon Bank N.A Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund
Intermediate-Term Bond PTRAX Mellon Bank N.A PIMCO Total Return Fund-Admin Class
Inflation-Protected Bond VIPSX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard Fixed Income Inflation Protected Securities
Intermediate Government VFIIX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard Fixed Income GNMA
ULTRASHORT BOND NVSAX Mellon Bank N.A Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE CGMRX Mellon Bank N.A. CGM Trust Realty Fund
REAL ESTATE VGSIX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard Specialized Portfolio Reit
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY
PACIFIC/ASIA EX-JAPAN STK CNZLX Mellon Bank N.A. Commonwealth International Australia/New Zealand Fund
Foreign Large Value DODFX Mellon Bank N.A. Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund
PACIFIC/ASIA EX-JAPAN STK DPCRX Mellon Bank N.A. Dreyfus Premier International Greater China Fund
Foreign Large Growth FDIVX Mellon Bank N.A. Fidelity Diversified International Fund
Foreign Large Blend VGTSX Mellon Bank N.A. International Stock Unit
JAPAN STOCK JOF Mellon Bank N.A. Fidelity Investment Japan Small Cos Fund
Foreign Small/Mid Value OAKEX Mellon Bank N.A Harris Assoc Investment Oakmark International Small Cap Fund
PACIFIC/ASIA EX-JAPAN STK FXI Mellon Bank N.A Ishares FTSE Xinhaw China 25 Index Fund
WORLD STOCK WWNPX Mellon Bank N.A Kinetics Paradigm Mutual Funds
WORLD STOCK VHGEX Mellon Bank N.A Vanguard Global Equity Fund
PACIFIC/ASIA EX-JAPAN STK EPI Mellon Bank N.A Wisdomtree Trust India Earnings Fund
Emerging Market
Latin America Stock EWZ Mellon Bank N.A Ishares Income MSCI Brazil Free Index Fund
DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MKTS LZEMX Mellon Bank N.A Lazard Emerging Markets Portfolio
Latin America Stock PRLAX Mellon Bank N.A Rowe T Price Latin American Fund
COMMODITIES
COMMODITIES BROAD BASKET GSG Mellon Bank N.A Ishares S&P GSCI Comodity Indexed Trust
COMMODITIES GLD Mellon Bank N.A SPDR Gold Shares

Click to view the investment model portfolios of this plan ►

How to invest

Key principles in retirement investing:

  • Proper asset allocation among stocks and bonds, the two major assets. Proper assess your risk tolerance level based on your age, financial situation, personal emotional level to tolerate up and down, and retirement expectation.
  • Invest in (ultra) low cost index funds if possible. Don’t get caught up with flashy funds.
  • Invest for a long term: financial markets are up and down and investment values are subject to fluctuation. However, viewed as business investments, you can be assured that diversified funds (stocks and bonds) have solid business fundamental that eventually will deliver inflation beating returns for stocks.

See Four-Step Guide for 401(k) Retirement Investing.

Click to view the investment model portfolios of this plan ►

Basic asset allocation templates

The following asset allocation templates are based on popular lazy portfolios. These are core or major asset class-based portfolios using ultra-low-cost index funds for each asset class. Once you have decided on your proper risk asset (stocks) allocation, you can utilize these lazy portfolio templates to scale the allocations to your risk allocation level. See Asset Allocation Portfolio Templates for a guide:

The return data shown below all have the same latest date: 05/09/2025.
Name YTD Return 1Yr AR 3Yr AR 5Yr AR 10Yr AR 15Yr AR 20Yr AR Inception
Four Core Asset Portfolio 0.44% 6.34% 7.14% 7.56% 6.17% 7.12% 6.68% 6.41%
Five Core Asset Portfolio 0.20% 6.32% 6.99% 7.42% 6.09% 7.01% 6.76% 6.60%
Three Core Asset Portfolio 0.19% 6.29% 7.86% 7.99% 6.52% 7.40% 6.81% 6.33%
Two Core Asset Portfolio -2.07% 6.45% 8.37% 8.43% 7.59% 8.58% 7.50% 6.82%
Yale Endowment Template 0.92% 7.09% 6.60% 7.51% 6.64% 7.94% 7.46% 7.68%
S&P 500 Index -3.39% 9.87% 13.93% 15.77% 12.28% 13.14% 10.17% 8.32%

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