Retirement Essentials by MyPlanIQ
Find the money you left behind. Grow what you have. Know when you can retire.
One subscription for retirement savers: our old 401(k) and pension finder, a full retirement planner, and the model portfolios behind 16 years of MyPlanIQ research. $9.95 a month, cancel anytime.
Dear retirement saver,
Americans hold about 12 jobs between ages 18 and 56, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each job can leave behind a 401(k), a pension, or a small balance that a plan quietly moved into an IRA you never opened. Companies merge, rename themselves and go out of business. The plan’s paper trail goes cold, and the money sits there, sometimes for decades.
At the same time, the money you can see is often working too hard or not hard enough. Cash in a bank account earns little. Vanguard’s total bond market fund, sold to millions as the safe part of a portfolio, lost 13% in 2022. And the big questions (how much can I spend, when should I claim Social Security, should I convert to Roth) usually get answered with a rule of thumb, or by someone who earns a commission on the answer.
We built Retirement Essentials to fix all three, using the data and models we have built and published since MyPlanIQ started more than 16 years ago.
1Find your old plans
Track down old 401(k)s and pensions, even when the company is gone
Type a former employer’s name. FindMyPlan searches 2.3 million plans and their public filings back to 1999, then follows the plan wherever it went: renamed, merged into another plan, moved to the company that bought your employer, or paid out and closed. It adds what most finders never look at: company mergers and acquisitions from SEC records, bankruptcies, and the successor company that now holds the records.
When the filings stop, our AI research agent picks up the trail on the web and shows its sources, so a closed company is not a dead end. You get a plain answer (where the money most likely is now and the one office to call), plus a ready-to-send records request and a saved case to track your progress.
Search a former employer (free with a MyPlanIQ account) or read how to find an old 401(k).
2Earn more than cash
Higher returns than cash savings, without betting your savings on stocks
Retirement Essentials includes two income portfolios built from low-cost ETFs that you can hold at any broker.
The cash-enhanced portfolio uses ultra short-term bond ETFs for money you want to keep steady. Over the past 10 years it returned 2.55% a year, compared with 1.71% for cash, with a worst decline of 3.27%.
The MPIQ ETF Fixed Income portfolio is for the bond part of your savings. Over the past 10 years it returned 2.71% a year, compared with 1.36% for Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND), 2.05% for PIMCO Active Bond ETF (BOND) and 1.39% for SPDR DoubleLine Total Return ETF (TOTL), and it was less volatile than all three. In 2022, when those funds lost 11.6% to 14.6%, it lost 1.32%.
It builds on more than 15 years of our mutual-fund total return bond portfolios. Measured against two of the best-known bond funds, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX) and PIMCO Total Return (PTTAX), they have come out ahead by a wide margin over every 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year stretch, with much smaller drops along the way:
| Annual return | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our total return bond portfolios | 1.7% to 2.2% | 2.5% to 3.0% | 4.0% to 4.4% | 4.7% to 5.0% |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX) | -0.42% | 1.26% | 1.81% | 2.95% |
| PIMCO Total Return (PTTAX) | 0.05% | 1.76% | 2.28% | 3.66% |
Worst decline over the last 5 years: 5% to 7% for our portfolios, against 18% to 19% for VBMFX and PTTAX. Source: our fixed income portfolios page, November 2026.
Live figures below. Free visitors see data delayed by about three months; subscribers see current holdings and trades.
| Name | YTD Return | 1Yr AR | 3Yr AR | 5Yr AR | 10Yr AR | 15Yr AR | 20Yr AR | Common | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | 0.92% | 3.56% | 5.57% | 2.43% | 2.71% | NA | NA | 2.57% | 2.73% |
| BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares) | -0.18% | 2.05% | 4.06% | -0.34% | 1.36% | 1.94% | NA | 1.62% | 2.97% |
| BOND (PIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund) | 0.06% | 3.07% | 5.29% | 0.22% | 2.05% | NA | NA | 2.07% | 2.97% |
| TOTL (SPDR® DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF) | -0.86% | 1.30% | 4.45% | 0.35% | 1.39% | NA | NA | 1.63% | 1.63% |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized Return (%) | MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | -0.13 | 3.56 | 5.57 | 2.43 | 2.71 | NA | NA | 2.57 | 2.73 | 0.92 | 8.56 | 5.86 | -2.72 | -1.32 | 4.28 | -0.45 | 11.03 | -0.65 | 5.03 | 2.55 | -0.31 | 0.00 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BND (Vanguard…F Shares) | -0.18 | 2.05 | 4.06 | -0.34 | 1.36 | 1.94 | NA | 1.62 | 2.97 | -0.18 | 7.08 | 1.38 | 5.65 | -13.11 | -2.01 | 7.54 | 8.84 | -0.12 | 3.57 | 2.52 | 0.56 | 5.82 | -2.11 | 3.89 | 7.93 | 6.20 | 3.63 | 6.87 | 6.10 | |
| BOND (PIMCO A…ded Fund) | -0.26 | 3.07 | 5.29 | 0.22 | 2.05 | NA | NA | 2.07 | 2.97 | 0.06 | 8.39 | 2.77 | 7.25 | -14.57 | -0.77 | 7.80 | 8.54 | 0.37 | 4.76 | 2.76 | 1.22 | 6.62 | -1.26 | 11.91 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOTL (SPDR® D…ical ETF) | -0.21 | 1.30 | 4.45 | 0.35 | 1.39 | NA | NA | 1.63 | 1.63 | -0.86 | 7.68 | 3.15 | 5.54 | -11.60 | -1.00 | 3.56 | 6.93 | 0.76 | 3.55 | 2.79 | -0.28 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Sharpe Ratio | MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | NA | -0.74 | 0.77 | -0.22 | 0.18 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -0.85 | 2.17 | 0.52 | -1.28 | -0.84 | 1.99 | -0.07 | 2.79 | -0.77 | 1.53 | 0.73 | -0.08 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BND (Vanguard…F Shares) | NA | -0.69 | 0.46 | -0.49 | -0.06 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -0.75 | 0.95 | -0.41 | 0.27 | -1.84 | -0.55 | 0.78 | 2.19 | -0.57 | 1.04 | 0.71 | 0.14 | 2.20 | -0.60 | 1.52 | 1.99 | 1.69 | 0.68 | 0.59 | 1.27 | |
| BOND (PIMCO A…ded Fund) | NA | -0.61 | 0.68 | -0.42 | 0.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -0.70 | 1.11 | -0.16 | 0.54 | -2.21 | -0.25 | 0.96 | 2.76 | -0.41 | 1.53 | 0.72 | 0.26 | 2.25 | -0.32 | 5.21 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOTL (SPDR® D…ical ETF) | NA | -0.91 | 0.55 | -0.42 | -0.08 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -1.14 | 1.22 | -0.08 | 0.27 | -1.94 | -0.38 | 0.49 | 1.93 | -0.24 | 1.28 | 1.12 | -0.14 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Standard Deviation(%) | MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | NA | 3.18 | 3.57 | 3.76 | 4.60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3.26 | 2.62 | 4.29 | 4.97 | 3.26 | 2.14 | 10.37 | 3.43 | 2.65 | 2.86 | 3.20 | 4.26 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BND (Vanguard…F Shares) | NA | 3.97 | 4.97 | 6.07 | 5.57 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4.15 | 4.46 | 5.42 | 7.33 | 7.95 | 3.70 | 9.29 | 3.37 | 2.65 | 2.80 | 3.27 | 3.73 | 2.64 | 3.54 | 2.54 | 3.96 | 3.61 | 5.17 | 10.03 | 4.32 | |
| BOND (PIMCO A…ded Fund) | NA | 4.52 | 5.23 | 5.90 | 5.17 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4.77 | 4.99 | 5.40 | 6.75 | 7.28 | 3.15 | 7.82 | 2.56 | 2.50 | 2.69 | 3.53 | 4.64 | 2.94 | 4.09 | 2.78 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOTL (SPDR® D…ical ETF) | NA | 3.63 | 4.96 | 5.65 | 4.83 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3.79 | 3.96 | 6.08 | 6.90 | 6.73 | 2.73 | 6.80 | 2.82 | 2.60 | 2.26 | 2.30 | 2.60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Draw Down(%) | MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | NA | 3.24 | 3.24 | 9.22 | 16.82 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3.24 | 0.97 | 3.14 | 7.86 | 3.71 | 1.14 | 16.82 | 2.17 | 2.92 | 1.64 | 3.75 | 4.08 | 0.00 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BND (Vanguard…F Shares) | NA | 4.50 | 4.74 | 17.51 | 18.84 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4.50 | 2.44 | 3.97 | 7.18 | 16.67 | 4.05 | 8.67 | 2.17 | 3.10 | 1.60 | 4.75 | 3.13 | 1.14 | 5.18 | 1.39 | 1.50 | 3.59 | 3.15 | 9.31 | 2.32 | |
| BOND (PIMCO A…ded Fund) | NA | 5.50 | 5.50 | 19.04 | 19.71 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5.50 | 3.29 | 3.94 | 6.91 | 18.62 | 3.12 | 10.88 | 1.61 | 2.77 | 1.34 | 3.81 | 3.53 | 0.95 | 6.17 | 1.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOTL (SPDR® D…ical ETF) | NA | 5.43 | 5.43 | 15.80 | 16.48 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5.43 | 2.33 | 4.10 | 7.13 | 15.21 | 2.01 | 7.29 | 1.41 | 2.04 | 1.49 | 3.29 | 1.35 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Yield(%) | MPIQ ETF Fixed Income | NA | 5.79 | 5.68 | 5.42 | 4.36 | NA | NA | 0.00 | NA | 4.35 | 5.54 | 5.99 | 4.60 | 5.72 | 4.42 | 2.57 | 3.65 | 3.47 | 2.95 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 0.00 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BND (Vanguard…F Shares) | 0.36 | 3.98 | 4.02 | 2.88 | 2.73 | 2.74 | 3.25 | 3.42 | NA | 3.33 | 3.97 | 3.60 | 3.14 | 2.22 | 1.89 | 2.33 | 2.87 | 2.74 | 2.57 | 2.52 | 2.52 | 2.86 | 2.66 | 3.27 | 3.72 | 4.00 | 4.02 | 4.56 | 3.12 | |
| BOND (PIMCO A…ded Fund) | 0.45 | 5.08 | 5.56 | 3.84 | 3.53 | 3.62 | 2.71 | 3.88 | NA | 4.22 | 5.26 | 4.94 | 4.85 | 2.85 | 2.49 | 2.78 | 3.54 | 3.37 | 2.92 | 2.85 | 4.00 | 4.22 | 2.72 | 2.75 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOTL (SPDR® D…ical ETF) | 0.44 | 5.20 | 5.47 | 4.20 | 3.53 | 2.69 | 2.01 | 3.66 | NA | 4.15 | 5.34 | 5.25 | 4.85 | 3.96 | 2.95 | 2.92 | 3.43 | 3.33 | 3.01 | 3.23 | 2.60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Name | YTD Return | 1Yr AR | 3Yr AR | 5Yr AR | 10Yr AR | 15Yr AR | 20Yr AR | Common | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | 1.37% | 2.93% | 4.67% | 3.72% | 2.55% | NA | NA | 2.13% | 2.14% |
| CASH | 1.67% | 2.56% | 3.15% | 2.65% | 1.71% | 1.15% | 1.14% | 1.36% | 3.06% |
| BIL (SPDR® Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) | 2.37% | 3.68% | 4.49% | 3.60% | 2.33% | 1.53% | NA | 1.83% | 1.67% |
| 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 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973 | 1972 | 1971 | 1970 | 1969 | 1968 | 1967 | 1966 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1962 | 1961 | 1960 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized Return (%) | MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | 0.04 | 2.93 | 4.67 | 3.72 | 2.55 | NA | NA | 2.13 | 2.14 | 1.37 | 5.13 | 3.85 | 7.13 | 1.37 | 0.14 | -0.25 | 3.06 | 2.11 | 1.44 | 1.25 | 0.70 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 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 |
| CASH | 0.05 | 2.56 | 3.15 | 2.65 | 1.71 | 1.15 | 1.14 | 1.36 | 3.06 | 1.67 | 2.88 | 3.62 | 3.66 | 1.43 | 0.02 | 0.25 | 1.47 | 1.38 | 0.66 | 0.22 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 | 0.10 | 0.97 | 3.15 | 3.42 | 2.26 | 0.98 | 0.72 | 1.15 | 2.46 | 4.22 | 3.37 | 3.47 | 3.68 | 3.65 | 3.98 | 3.07 | 2.17 | 2.49 | 3.92 | 5.50 | 5.95 | 4.89 | 4.22 | 4.36 | 5.49 | 7.05 | 6.31 | 7.84 | 10.54 | 8.54 | 7.43 | 5.22 | 3.81 | 3.64 | 4.22 | 5.76 | 5.16 | 2.94 | 3.15 | 4.67 | 4.89 | 3.91 | 3.11 | 3.52 | 2.87 | 2.58 | 2.28 | 2.00 | 1.69 | 2.07 | |
| BIL (SPDR® Bl…Bill ETF) | 0.05 | 3.68 | 4.49 | 3.60 | 2.33 | 1.53 | NA | 1.83 | 1.67 | 2.37 | 4.15 | 5.19 | 4.94 | 1.40 | -0.10 | 0.40 | 2.03 | 1.74 | 1.21 | 0.18 | -0.13 | -0.07 | -0.09 | -0.04 | -0.04 | -0.04 | 0.36 | 3.90 | 5.10 | 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 | |
| Sharpe Ratio | MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | NA | -0.02 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 0.76 | NA | NA | NA | NA | -0.37 | 2.22 | 0.16 | 3.41 | -0.10 | 0.40 | -0.21 | 4.15 | 1.42 | 1.15 | 1.45 | 0.77 | -0.03 | 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 |
| CASH | NA | -1.57 | -0.31 | -0.14 | -0.04 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| BIL (SPDR® Bl…Bill ETF) | NA | 5.48 | 5.81 | 3.81 | 2.44 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5.28 | 6.23 | 6.29 | 4.57 | -0.10 | -0.89 | 0.83 | 2.95 | 1.93 | 1.55 | -0.13 | -0.62 | -0.34 | -0.52 | -0.46 | -0.26 | -0.46 | 0.39 | 1.78 | 3.92 | 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 | |
| Standard Deviation(%) | MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | NA | 0.91 | 1.24 | 1.03 | 1.08 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.97 | 1.01 | 1.44 | 1.02 | 0.51 | 0.28 | 2.32 | 0.38 | 0.51 | 0.68 | 0.71 | 0.87 | 0.39 | 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 |
| CASH | NA | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.07 | 0.08 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.03 | |
| BIL (SPDR® Bl…Bill ETF) | NA | 0.20 | 0.23 | 0.26 | 0.26 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.25 | 0.28 | 0.25 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.26 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.22 | 0.26 | 0.29 | 0.68 | 1.65 | 1.52 | 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 | |
| Draw Down(%) | MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | NA | 1.13 | 1.13 | 1.13 | 3.27 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1.13 | 0.50 | 0.76 | 0.30 | 0.26 | 0.25 | 3.27 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.00 | 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 |
| CASH | NA | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| BIL (SPDR® Bl…Bill ETF) | NA | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.21 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.24 | 0.64 | 0.24 | 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 | |
| Yield(%) | MPIQ Ultra ST Bond ETFs | NA | 4.47 | 4.81 | 3.38 | 2.55 | NA | NA | 0.00 | NA | 0.00 | 4.49 | 5.13 | 4.86 | 1.80 | 0.69 | 1.34 | 2.67 | 2.15 | 1.46 | 1.03 | 0.82 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 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 |
| CASH | 0.05 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.24 | 1.48 | 0.99 | 0.92 | 3.01 | NA | 2.14 | 2.56 | 2.62 | 2.60 | 1.28 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.91 | 1.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.58 | 2.61 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.35 | 4.93 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 2.62 | 3.79 | 2.81 | 2.61 | 2.62 | 4.00 | 5.22 | 5.20 | 5.22 | 4.89 | 4.45 | 5.22 | 7.05 | 5.50 | 7.24 | 10.06 | 8.10 | 7.62 | 5.27 | 3.60 | 2.68 | 4.45 | 5.34 | 5.01 | 2.60 | 2.65 | 4.87 | 5.22 | 3.36 | 2.60 | 2.65 | 2.61 | 2.62 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 2.60 | 2.60 | |
| BIL (SPDR® Bl…Bill ETF) | 0.34 | 3.67 | 4.34 | 3.67 | 4.62 | 3.08 | 2.76 | 2.91 | NA | 2.97 | 4.13 | 5.03 | 4.92 | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.30 | 2.05 | 1.66 | 1.37 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.19 | 3.83 | 5.00 | 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 |
3Invest with a plan
Follow our general-purpose asset allocation model
For your long-term retirement money, our strategic asset allocation ETF portfolios hold low-cost, broad-market stock and bond index funds as the core. On top of that core, they invest in sectors with strong long-term business economics, such as healthcare and technology.
The approach has held up. Since it started, our Strategic Stock Allocation Moderate portfolio has returned 8.73% a year, ahead of both Vanguard Balanced Index (VBINX, 8.63%) and the DFA Global Allocation 60/40 fund (DGSIX, 7.99%) over the same period.
You see every holding and every rebalance, so you can follow the portfolio yourself in an IRA, a brokerage account or a 401(k) with similar funds. No advisory fee, no account to move.
| Name | YTD Return | 1Yr AR | 3Yr AR | 5Yr AR | 10Yr AR | 15Yr AR | 20Yr AR | Common | Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyPlanIQ ETF Strategic Stock Allocation Moderate | 8.91% | 14.95% | 11.72% | 7.08% | 8.98% | NA | NA | 8.89% | 8.91% |
| VBINX (VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX FUND INVESTOR SHARES) | 7.92% | 13.22% | 13.99% | 6.90% | 9.43% | 9.57% | 8.12% | 8.85% | 8.60% |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL ALLOCATION 60/40 PORTFOLIO) | 8.65% | 13.53% | 13.21% | 8.37% | 9.55% | 8.73% | 7.47% | 8.27% | 7.99% |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized Return (%) | MyPlanIQ ETF … Moderate | -0.63 | 14.95 | 11.72 | 7.08 | 8.98 | NA | NA | 8.89 | 8.91 | 8.91 | 12.24 | 8.24 | 12.43 | -7.96 | 17.73 | 7.80 | 21.37 | -1.29 | 12.96 | 6.74 | 3.69 | 11.86 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| VBINX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | 0.13 | 13.22 | 13.99 | 6.90 | 9.43 | 9.57 | 8.12 | 8.85 | 8.60 | 7.92 | 13.46 | 14.46 | 17.43 | -16.98 | 14.08 | 16.26 | 21.67 | -2.97 | 13.75 | 8.64 | 0.36 | 9.81 | 17.96 | 11.33 | 4.14 | 13.13 | 20.09 | -22.21 | 6.17 | 11.03 | 4.65 | 10.58 | 19.86 | -9.55 | -3.03 | -0.32 | 15.30 | 19.18 | 21.05 | 12.97 | 28.14 | -1.55 | 11.55 | 3.69 | |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL…ORTFOLIO) | -0.08 | 13.53 | 13.21 | 8.37 | 9.55 | 8.73 | 7.47 | 8.27 | 7.99 | 8.65 | 14.07 | 11.32 | 14.54 | -9.70 | 17.10 | 14.00 | 18.97 | -6.04 | 14.38 | 9.32 | -1.73 | 3.71 | 15.97 | 13.05 | -2.17 | 13.75 | 25.54 | -25.44 | 5.92 | 14.22 | 9.86 | 12.30 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Sharpe Ratio | MyPlanIQ ETF … Moderate | NA | 1.00 | 1.09 | 0.43 | 0.75 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.73 | 1.02 | 0.67 | 1.18 | -0.77 | 2.50 | 0.37 | 2.98 | -0.30 | 3.07 | 0.79 | 0.40 | 2.01 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| VBINX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | NA | 0.55 | 1.35 | 0.34 | 0.69 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.65 | 0.92 | 1.28 | 1.54 | -1.15 | 1.70 | 0.77 | 2.84 | -0.45 | 3.29 | 1.08 | 0.04 | 1.47 | 2.61 | 1.55 | 0.30 | 1.23 | 1.21 | -0.98 | 0.33 | 1.15 | 0.37 | 1.37 | 2.04 | -0.77 | -0.45 | -0.32 | 1.07 | 1.36 | 1.73 | 1.18 | 4.51 | -0.68 | 1.56 | 5.70 | |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL…ORTFOLIO) | NA | 0.71 | 1.33 | 0.53 | 0.77 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.68 | 1.15 | 1.05 | 1.41 | -0.80 | 1.90 | 0.77 | 2.44 | -0.85 | 3.21 | 1.04 | -0.21 | 0.57 | 2.14 | 1.48 | -0.14 | 1.11 | 1.33 | -1.11 | 0.28 | 1.54 | 1.21 | 2.83 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Standard Deviation(%) | MyPlanIQ ETF … Moderate | NA | 7.89 | 8.01 | 8.95 | 10.04 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8.09 | 9.17 | 6.89 | 7.43 | 12.14 | 7.09 | 20.54 | 6.67 | 8.89 | 4.01 | 8.26 | 9.19 | 5.91 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| VBINX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | NA | 8.62 | 9.68 | 11.15 | 11.27 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8.79 | 11.48 | 8.47 | 9.03 | 16.05 | 8.26 | 20.61 | 7.10 | 9.80 | 4.00 | 7.81 | 8.67 | 6.66 | 6.86 | 7.35 | 13.57 | 10.59 | 16.52 | 23.49 | 9.17 | 6.65 | 6.52 | 6.99 | 9.38 | 13.87 | 12.48 | 14.34 | 11.17 | 11.57 | 9.98 | 7.81 | 5.35 | 6.83 | 6.00 | 4.65 | |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL…ORTFOLIO) | NA | 7.98 | 8.48 | 9.88 | 10.07 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8.24 | 9.79 | 7.32 | 7.77 | 13.98 | 8.97 | 17.84 | 7.18 | 8.81 | 4.30 | 8.76 | 8.58 | 6.51 | 7.43 | 8.88 | 15.95 | 12.35 | 19.08 | 23.72 | 9.80 | 7.04 | 6.29 | 6.49 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Draw Down(%) | MyPlanIQ ETF … Moderate | NA | 6.10 | 8.88 | 13.13 | 24.91 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6.10 | 8.88 | 3.98 | 5.90 | 13.13 | 3.30 | 24.91 | 2.87 | 10.31 | 1.43 | 6.80 | 7.67 | 3.80 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| VBINX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | NA | 5.82 | 11.73 | 21.61 | 22.78 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5.82 | 11.59 | 4.70 | 8.27 | 21.37 | 3.67 | 22.78 | 3.26 | 11.95 | 1.35 | 5.99 | 7.27 | 4.07 | 4.70 | 5.28 | 10.87 | 8.83 | 17.50 | 31.87 | 5.50 | 4.77 | 4.03 | 4.98 | 7.07 | 18.14 | 15.94 | 9.94 | 7.19 | 12.20 | 6.83 | 5.51 | 1.82 | 7.21 | 2.78 | 0.87 | |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL…ORTFOLIO) | NA | 6.11 | 9.98 | 18.35 | 23.59 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6.11 | 9.98 | 4.51 | 6.65 | 18.35 | 3.52 | 23.59 | 4.00 | 12.34 | 1.43 | 6.53 | 9.04 | 5.85 | 5.68 | 7.94 | 15.68 | 9.77 | 19.39 | 35.82 | 6.71 | 6.91 | 4.28 | 3.88 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| Yield(%) | MyPlanIQ ETF … Moderate | NA | 3.17 | 4.10 | 3.57 | 3.26 | NA | NA | 0.00 | NA | NA | NA | 1.61 | 3.05 | 5.67 | 2.99 | 2.23 | 3.58 | 3.28 | 2.73 | 2.94 | 2.89 | 4.80 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| VBINX (VANGUA…R SHARES) | 0.00 | 5.38 | 6.29 | 4.25 | 4.86 | 5.30 | 4.80 | 8.75 | NA | 2.39 | 6.30 | 5.64 | 4.78 | 2.19 | 3.44 | 2.86 | 2.60 | 2.08 | 2.04 | 2.11 | 1.92 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 2.17 | 2.22 | 2.45 | 3.05 | 2.75 | 3.09 | 3.00 | 2.74 | 3.90 | 2.83 | 2.91 | 3.32 | 5.40 | 5.41 | 5.40 | 3.81 | 3.84 | 4.35 | 3.68 | 5.53 | 0.80 | |
| DGSIX (GLOBAL…ORTFOLIO) | 0.00 | 6.86 | 7.21 | 6.50 | 6.65 | 6.35 | 5.48 | 6.67 | NA | 0.00 | 8.99 | 7.56 | 5.73 | 6.23 | 8.90 | 6.00 | 3.76 | 3.08 | 2.67 | 2.36 | 1.85 | 2.02 | 1.83 | 2.32 | 2.36 | 2.08 | 1.96 | 2.05 | 4.26 | 2.59 | 7.16 | 1.39 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
4Plan your retirement
MyPlanner: your whole retirement plan, saved to your account
MyPlanner walks you through the decisions that matter most, one step at a time, and keeps your numbers in one plan:
- Are you on track to retire, and at what age
- How much you can safely spend each year
- When to claim Social Security, for you and your spouse
- Whether and how much to convert to Roth, and which accounts to draw from first
- Healthcare costs, life insurance, housing, debt and estate planning
- Major life events on one timeline: a home sale, a pension starting, a child’s tuition
Retirement planners of this kind cost $129 to $168 a year on their own (MaxiFi Planner is $149, Boldin PlannerPlus $168, ProjectionLab Premium $129). With Retirement Essentials, MyPlanner is included, along with everything above.
What you get for $9.95 a month
| Included | What it does for you | Typical cost elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| FindMyPlan, full results | Plan history, money trail, who to contact, records request letters, AI research, saved cases | Finder services are usually paid when you roll money over to them |
| MyPlanner, saved plan | Retirement, Social Security, Roth, spending, healthcare and estate planning in one plan | $129 to $168 a year |
| Cash-enhanced and fixed income ETF portfolios | Current holdings and trades for your safe money | Advisory fees often 0.25% to 1% of assets a year |
| Strategic asset allocation ETF portfolios | A long-term model for your stock money, with every rebalance | Included in the same fees |
| No ads | A clean site while you research |
Why we can tell you the truth about your money
We are paid by you
Most free 401(k) finders make money when your money moves: a rollover IRA, a managed account, a loan. We earn nothing from where your money goes, so we can tell you when the best move is to leave it alone.
We show our work
Every plan answer starts from the plan’s own public filings, and every portfolio shows its holdings, trades and full history, including the bad years.
We have been doing this a long time
MyPlanIQ has rated retirement plans and published model portfolios for more than 16 years, through the 2020 crash and the 2022 bond market collapse.
Start with Retirement Essentials today
- Find old 401(k)s and pensions, with AI research where the filings stop
- Earn more than cash with our cash-enhanced and fixed income ETF portfolios
- Follow our strategic asset allocation model
- Plan your retirement in MyPlanner, saved to your account
$9.95 a month, or $99.95 a year (about two months free). Cancel anytime. Payment is handled by Stripe; MyPlanIQ never sees your card.
Get Retirement EssentialsCompare all plans
Basic, Expert and Pro subscribers already have everything in Retirement Essentials.
Questions
Can I try the plan finder before I pay?
Yes. Create a free MyPlanIQ account and search any former employer. You will see how many plans we found. Plan details, the money trail, contacts and AI research come with Retirement Essentials.
Is this one of those lost-money scams?
No. We never ask for your Social Security number, your account logins or a share of what you recover. We do not hold or move money. The government’s free tools (the Labor Department’s Retirement Savings Lost and Found and state unclaimed property sites) are worth checking too, and we link to them.
Will FindMyPlan show my account balance?
No. Public filings describe the plan, not your account. FindMyPlan tells you what happened to the plan and who holds the records, so you can ask about your own balance.
Do the portfolios tell me what to buy?
Yes. Each portfolio lists its ETFs, target weights and every rebalance, so you can follow it in your own account. They are model portfolios, not personal advice for your situation.
How is this different from the Basic plan?
Basic ($19.95 a month) adds tactical and advanced portfolios, more income portfolios, premium newsletters and custom portfolios for your 401(k) plan. Retirement Essentials covers what most retirement savers need.
Can I cancel?
Anytime, from your account. There is no contract.
P.S. Most people who search find something they did not know about: a plan that merged into a new employer’s plan, a pension now paid by an insurer, or a small balance sitting in an IRA they never opened. A free search takes a minute. Search a former employer now.
Performance figures in the text are from MyPlanIQ’s portfolio tables as shown to free visitors in early November 2026 (the live tables above update automatically) and include reinvested distributions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Model portfolios are for information and are not individualized investment advice. MyPlanIQ does not hold funds, determine eligibility for benefits or guarantee a recovery.