THE CHALLENGER 401(K) PLAN Investment Options
Available Funds in THE CHALLENGER 401(K) PLAN
Below is the lineup of investment options available to participants in THE CHALLENGER 401(K) PLAN. This typically includes a mix of mutual funds, index funds, and collective investment trusts (CITs) — which are pooled investment vehicles custom-built for large retirement plans, often with lower expense ratios than their retail mutual fund equivalents.
When evaluating these options, focus on expense ratios (lower is better), asset class coverage (U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds, and stable value), and whether low-cost index funds are available. Research consistently shows that low-cost, broadly diversified index funds outperform most actively managed funds over the long term.
| Investment Option List |
|---|
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2055 Fund (TTRLX) |
| Vanguard Vanguard |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund (TFTIX) |
| JP Morgan JP Morgan Large-Cap Growth Fund (SNIGX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2045 Fund (TTFIX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2060 Fund (TLXHX) |
| Vanguard Mid-Cap (VIMSX) |
| Vanguard Small-Cap (VISVX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund (TCLOX) |
| Vanguard FTSE All World Ex-US (VFWIX) |
| Baird Baird Core Plus Bond Fund (BCOIX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2035 Fund (TCLRX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2030 Fund (TCLNX) |
| MFS Investment MFS Mid-Cap Value Fund (MCVIX) |
| Vanguard Windsor II Fund (VWNFX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2065 Fund (TFIHX) |
| Vanguard Balance |
| American Funds New World Fund (HVWBX) |
| BlackRock Investments Blackrock High Yield Bond Fund (BHYIX) |
| TIAA Investments TIC Lifecycle Index Ret Inc Fund |
| MFS Investment MFS International Growth Fund (MQGIX) |
| Lord Abbett Short Duration Income Fund (LLDYX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2025 Fund (TCLFX) |
| JP Morgan JP Morgan Mid-Cap Growth Fund (DGRDX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2015 Fund (TCLIX) |
| TIAA Investments TIAA Cref Lifecycle Index 2010 Fund (TCLEX) |
| various dates through August |
| (Form 5500) |
| (6) Net investment gain (loss) from common/collective trusts …………………… 2b |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2050 R6 |
| VANGUARD MID CAP INDEX – ADM (VIMSX) |
| JPMORGAN LARGE CAP GROWTH R6 (SEEGX) |
| VANGUARD 500 INDEX FUND – ADM (VFINX) |
| JPMORGAN MID CAP GROWTH R6 (HLGEX) |
| MFS MID CAP VALUE FUND – R6 (MVCKX) |
| VAN FTSE ALL WLD EX US IDX ADM (VFWIX) |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2035 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2040 R6 |
| BAIRD CORE PLUS BOND INSTL (VCPSX) |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2030 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2020 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2055 R6 |
| VANGUARD FEDERAL MM INV (VDMIX) |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2065 R6 |
| VANGUARD WINDSOR II FD- ADM (VWNFX) |
| VANGUARD BAL IDX – ADM |
| AMERICAN FUNDS NEW WORLD R6 (HVWBX) |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2025 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2045 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2060 R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2010 R6 |
| VANGUARD SMALL CAP INDEX ADMRL (VISVX) |
| LORD ABBETT SHORT DUR INC R6 (LLDYX) |
| NUV LIFECYCLE IDX RET INC R6 |
| NUVEEN LC INDEX 2015 R6 |
| MFS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH R6 (MQGIX) |
| BLACKROCK HIGH YIELD K (BHYIX) |
How to Build a Smart Portfolio in Your 401(k)
Your investment lineup is only as good as how you use it. Here are the key steps to building a portfolio that works for your retirement goals:
- Know your risk tolerance and timeline. If you are decades from retirement, you can generally afford more stock exposure. Closer to retirement, you may want to shift toward bonds and stable value for capital preservation.
- Diversify across asset classes. Spread investments across U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds, and possibly real estate or stable value. This reduces the impact of any single market downturn.
- Favor low-cost index funds. Even a 0.5% difference in annual fees compounds to tens of thousands of dollars over a 30-year career. If your plan offers an S&P 500 index fund or a total stock market index fund at low cost, that is typically a strong core holding.
- Consider a target-date fund if you prefer simplicity. Target-date funds automatically adjust your stock/bond allocation as you approach retirement, making them a solid one-fund solution for hands-off investors.
- Rebalance at least annually. Over time, your portfolio drifts from its target allocation as some assets outperform others. Rebalancing keeps your risk level consistent.
Learn more in our Four-Step Guide for 401(k) Retirement Investing, or use the Asset Allocation Calculator to find the right mix for your age and risk tolerance.
Model Asset Allocation Portfolios
Not sure how to allocate your investments? These model portfolios are built from core, broadly diversified asset classes using ultra-low-cost index funds. Choose a template that matches your risk tolerance, then adapt it to the specific funds available in THE CHALLENGER 401(K) PLAN. See Asset Allocation Portfolio Templates for a detailed guide.
| Name | YTD Return | 1Yr AR | 3Yr AR | 5Yr AR | 10Yr AR | 15Yr AR | 20Yr AR | Common | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Core Asset Portfolio | 4.74% | 18.86% | 12.42% | 5.72% | 8.01% | 7.30% | 6.92% | … | … |
| Five Core Asset Portfolio | 4.70% | 18.79% | 12.38% | 5.55% | 7.97% | 7.19% | 6.94% | … | … |
| Three Core Asset Portfolio | 4.57% | 19.80% | 13.11% | 6.19% | 8.52% | 7.64% | 7.10% | … | … |
| Two Core Asset Portfolio | 3.87% | 19.18% | 13.68% | 6.85% | 9.34% | 8.84% | 7.95% | … | … |
| Yale Endowment Template | 5.35% | 17.45% | 11.87% | 5.56% | 8.33% | 7.96% | 7.55% | … | … |
| S&P 500 Index | 5.96% | 30.43% | 21.65% | 12.98% | 15.09% | 13.73% | 10.93% | … | … |
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- We monitor and send timely rebalance emails on what investment funds to buy and sell
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