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Changing My 401(k) Asset Allocation

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My 401((k) asset allocation is too aggressive. I have been reading a few books (e.g., The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and Wise Investing Made Simple by Larry E. Swedroe), as well as a few investing sites. I am now at a point where I think 100% equity asset allocation for my 401(k) is too risky — even for a 33 years old.

My Current 401(k) Asset Mix

  • 20% – Large-cap stocks
  • 20% – Mid-cap stocks
  • 20% – Small-cap stocks
  • 30% – International stocks
  • 5% – Global REIT
  • 5% – Company stocks

Making Changes

I am thinking about changing my allocations as follow:

  • Eliminate my company stocks position. Although I love my company and strongly believe it will perform well, owning company stocks does not improve the diversification, or reduce the risk of my portfolio. I think owning it for the familiarity and sentimental value is a bad long-term decision.
  • Add 10% of bond index fund to my portfolio, and increase Global REIT to 10%. Based on what I’ve read, the key to successful asset allocation is having investments that have low (or negative) correlation to one another. Making this change will certainly reduce the overall asset correlation; and further diversify the portfolio.
  • Other reductions. Since I am removing 5% and adding 15%, I have to come up with 10% from somewhere. The two places I decided to make sacrifice are large-capitalization stocks and mid-capitalization stocks.

Here’s my proposed 401(k) allocation:

  • 15% – Large-cap stocks
  • 15% – Mid-cap stocks
  • 20% – Small-cap stocks
  • 30% – International stocks
  • 10% – Global REIT
  • 10% – Bonds
BeforeAfter
Asset Allocation BeforeAsset Allocation After

I have been trying to optimize my asset allocation for maximum return and minimum risk and found some find free online tools that could help:  Personal Capital and Morningstar’s Portfolio X-Ray Tool.

I would love to hear feedback from my readers about this new asset allocation mix.

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plonkee
plonkee
16 years ago

How are you ensuring that the funds you pick actually match your investment portfolio?

hank
16 years ago

Eh, don’t worry about it – you still have many years to go! Stocks over the past 80 years have proven you’re going to be alright, eh? 🙂

DR
16 years ago

I think your new allocation, over all, is pretty good. I personally agree with adding 10% bonds even at 33. At 40, I have 20% in cash and bonds. Some questions I would ask about the asset allocation would include: (1) why own mid-cap stocks at all; (2) do your international investments include emerging markets, and if so, how much (if not, why not); (3) how much of your global REIT is in U.S. REITs; (4) do you favor growth, value or a blend in your equity investments? Good luck!

Mrs. Micah
16 years ago

I think 10% bonds is a wise decision. And you’re totally right to get out of your company’s stock. Even if you worked for Google it wouldn’t be a good idea. Your income is already tied up in them…no point in furthering the crisis if they suddenly implode.

The other balancing bits look good too, but I think getting into bonds and out of your company were the wisest moves.

kev
16 years ago

That’s pretty much dead on with my asset mix for my 401k plan (except my plan does not offer REITs). I have 10% in bonds/cash and 25% in international/emerging markets. I’m a few years younger than you, but I still prefer the 90/10 stocks-bonds ratio. It suits me.

Dave
Dave
16 years ago

Morningstar has a great feature. Give them your portfolio & x-ray it to see what you have. It has an asset allocation tool too. You also need to examine your international holding (are they international large cap, small cap, emerging market, etc.) Some of the morningstar features are for paying members but you can try a two week free trial. Good luck re-balancing!

Jon
16 years ago

“For the 23 year period 1966-88, the U.S. large-cap growth stocks underperformed totally riskless one-month bank certificates of deposit.” Keep in mind that quotes like these generally assume that you invested $X in 1966, let it sit there, and then took it out in 1988. That just doesn’t happen in reality. If you make regular, yearly contributions, you’d have to look at 1966-1988, 1967-1988, 1968-1988, etc. From 1974-1988, the return was like 300%! That said, in any account where you can’t add and remove money freely and there is a yearly cap on contributions(like a 401k or Roth IRA), it’s… Read more »

Steve
Steve
15 years ago

Pinyo – good article. You should be able to find the funds you are investing in through Morningstar. What are the names of the funds? Type them into Google and it should point you to the Morningstar page for that fund. That’s what I did.

OSR
OSR
14 years ago

How’d all that work out for you?

Richard
Richard
14 years ago

It is best to have equal amounts in percentage because you never know which fund will do better. There is no need for bonds funds because they provide little value.

Stick with 25% in Large Cap, Small Cap, Medium Cap and International.

Go with money market 100% when the stock market is at a one year low.

Red Zinger
Red Zinger
12 years ago

Our 401K and IRA are with Citigroup/Morgan Stanley and we want to move the funds to a source that we can actually trust. Put everything in C.D.s because of the tremendouse loss, now want to get back in the market but not with this company. I am a total layman could use some advice. Thanks.

Richard
Richard
12 years ago

Red,

The market has done well in the past 12 months so what did Citi and Morgan do?

I don’t need you to give me personal information but at least give me something I can work with to help you.

The market now as of 4/29/11 is at high which means it is soon bound for a downward period.

I can give you information slowly at a time to help you. I have been doing this since 2000 and have seen how it works.

goodoboy
goodoboy
10 years ago

Hello, I am curious to your 401K allocation now and how do you feel about changing your 401k 6 years ago. I am going thru the same stage now as to how to allocate my 401K. I am 33 and wanting to use a 70/30 mix. Any advice you can provide considering you experience the same challenge 6 years ago.

goodoboy
goodoboy
10 years ago

Thank you for sharing. I recently change my AA to 80/20 for each of the accounts. I have 5 (IRA, 2 Roth IRA, and 2 401k)

I made 4 portfolios:

1. IRA – Vanguard Target Fund
2. Roth – Vangaurd Target Fund
3. Roth – Vanguard Target Fund
4 Both 401K mirrow the Vanguard Target Fund.

I know many would say combined all accounts into one big portfilo but for me its just easier this way.

How did you decided your 85/15 mix?

Thanks

Changing My 401(k) Asset Allocation

by Pinyo Bhulipongsanon time to read: 1 min
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