THING5, LLC 401(K) PLAN Investment Options

Available Funds in THING5, LLC 401(K) PLAN

Below is the lineup of investment options available to participants in THING5, LLC 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.

Total Available Funds: 31
Investment Description
BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond K Fund "
Lord Abbett High Yield R6 Fund "
PIMCO International Bond (US Dollar-Hedged) I Fund "
Fidelity 500 Index Fund "
MFS Value R6 Fund "
Vanguard Growth Index Admiral Fund "
Vanguard Value Index Admiral Fund "
American Century Small Cap Growth R6 Fund "
BlackRock Mid-Cap Growth Equity K Fund "
Vanguard Mid Cap Value Index Admiral Fund "
Vanguard Small Cap Value Index Admiral Fund "
American Funds New Perspective R6 Fund "
Vanguard International Growth Admiral Fund "
PIMCO Commodity Real Return Strategy Institutional Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid Income CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2015 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2020 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2025 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2030 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2035 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2040 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2045 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2050 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2065 CIT Fund "
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2070 CIT Fund "
Principal Core Fixed Income Separate Account Pooled separate account
Principal Blue Chip Separate Account Fund "
Principal MidCap S&P 400 Index Separate Account Fund "
Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Separate Account Fund "

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 THING5, LLC 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%
Data as of 05/01/2026, Common starting date is 12/31/2000

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