Need help choosing a Vanguard Fund?

Question

Hi all! I am 30 years old and have just started investing a few months ago. I was broke until I was 28 so that caused the late start. Anyways, here is my portfolio:

10K in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
10K in Vanguard Total International Stock Index
(additional $300 in each monthly)

4K in Vanguard Target Retirement 2040
(additional $333 monthly)

15K in Emigrantdirect CD at 5.20 APY

I know I probably have too much in International Stock. I am more a risk taker but I think I need to diversified my portfolio a bit. I have another 15K to invest now, what should I buy from Vanguard? I am thinking about Star Fund, Vanguard Strategic Equity Fund, Value Index Fund, U.S. Value Fund, Wellington and Windsor I or II.
Once the 15K in CD is matured, I will put the money in Vanguard as well.

Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Go to morningstar.com. Tons of free info. Get to program called fund compare. Will do all the work for you to help pick your Vanguard Funds or any others for that matter.

Next question....why just Vanguard Funds? There are over 15000 mutual funds in the universe. Highly unlikely Vanguard has all the best ones! Take a look at following funds. All stellar funds with great long term track records and fund managers who are considered all stars in the trade.....

Marsico 21st Century...symbol MXXIX...large cap
Cambiar Opportunity....symbol CAMOX.....large cap
Excelsior Value&Restructuring....symbol UMBIX....large cap
FBR Small Cap....symbol FBRVX....small cap
SSGA International Stock Selection...symbol SSAIX...international
Wescore Plus Bond....symbol WTIBX...bonds

Given your age and not knowing your tolerance for risk or reason for your investments.....a good mix would be given current market conditions.....

Large Cap......50%
Small Cap......25%
International....15%
Bonds.............10%

Just my opinion....that and $2 will get you a cup of java at Starbucks! Good luck.

Answer 2

Some studies conclude that 90% of your long-term returns will come from asset allocation, not through fund selection. So you may want to first consider looking at your asset allocation and then picking the funds you like in each category.

I'm going to guess that the 4k in the Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 (+$333 monthly) is your IRA. You can leave this alone.

I'm guessing that the rest is in a taxable account. After adding in your current holdings plus $30,000, you will eventually have $50,000 in your taxable account. In this account you may want to consider modifying Yale guru, David Swensen's model portfolio. Here is an article about it: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6203264

You may want to modify it to:

30% US Large (Total Stock)
20% US Mid/Small (Strategic Equity)
20% Developed International (Total International Stock)
10% Emerging Markets (Emerging Markets)
10% REITs (REIT Index)
10% Bonds (TIPs)

This is an aggressive portfolio and could have substantial declines if the markets go south, but has potential to outperform your current allocation over time.

Answer 3

72% of the Target Retirement 2040 fund is made up of Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index fund and total Stock Market ETF. So your 10k in Total stock Market is not diversification. Neither is your 10k in Total International as the Target Retirement fund also includes Europe Index, Pacific Index, and Emerging Markets Stock Index (but only 2.63% of the fund's holdings). The 2040 fund's small cap holdings consists of the 8.1% of Total Stock Market's portion of the fund. Since you say your are more of a risk taker, why not switch out of Total Stock Market and Total International, put most in Target Retirement (as your "core" holding), and for diversification, also invest in Emerging Markets Stock Index and either Small Cap Value Index or their new Strategic Small Cap Equity Fund? Later, you can add from one of their sector ETFs, whichever one you like.

Answer 4

well with vanguard you have one of the lowest fees you could possibly get (and keep it over 10k). I don't like the indexes for they pretty much mirror the market you are still young take a little more risk like the ETF equilivaent of these funds. 40k in two years has me scratching my head plus another 15k on top? If you really have that much money just ask Vanguard what to do.

Answer 5

I don't think international stock is all that much of a risk, something could happen to the US given all the problem we've had for the past 8 years.

I've have the VANGUARD INDEX TRUST 500 INDEX four about 5 or 6 years, I'm the same age as you,
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=vfinx&x=0&y=0

Answer 6

It's great that you start investing at your 30s
Most people your age just are getting larger and larger debts

Many broad indexes, either domestic or foreign follow similar trends, just compare their charts, in say, Yahoo finance, and you will see not only similar trends but almost identical pivot points, because the economy is becoming more globalized.

Why not some SPDRs/QQQQ/DIA/EEM ETFs?
In any case you will have to be aware when market turns downwards and promptly sell, or you will lose money, at least a temporary loss, since indexes generally tend to gain over the very long term (many years).

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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Answer 9

international explorer in place of tsm index us value midcap index 500 index big stocks are ready to make a move.they have been laging for some time.this should be 500 index,s year.good luck

Answer 10

study: Mutual money For Dummies. that is not any longer a e book to make you an expert.... besides the undeniable fact that it supplies you a foundation aspect for making solid judgements at the same time as figuring out to purchase Mutual money. Pay particular interest to asset allocation suggestions/causes. BTW: both alternatives you've suggested are polar opposite (for one individual to make certain on between). you want to comprehend what you're doing. Getting particular suggestions from strangers, whose skills and causes can not in any respect be known.... is..... absolutely the worst thanks to plot your destiny.