Retirement Savings Options, Part II
I wrote yesterday about my options when it comes to choosing a retirement plan at my new job. I’m still leaning toward the defined contribution plan — in fact, I’ve all but made up my mind. This brings me to my next big decision…
Who do I want to use as a plan administrator. Before I go any further, let me just say that I love Vanguard. Our Roth IRAs are at Vanguard, and my old 403(b) was held at Vanguard. We have traditionally invested in a mix of index funds, including the Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX), Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX), European Stock Index (VEURX) and Pacific Stock Index (VPACX). More recently, we started using a mix of the Target Retirement 2035 (VTTHX) and Target Retirement 2045 (VTIVX) funds in our Roth IRAs — these funds are made up of the four aforementioned index funds, but they were not available through my employer’s plan.
Anyway, the problem that I’m facing right now is that Vanguard is no longer an option. Rather, I have to choose from:
- American Century
- Fidelity
- TIAA-CREF
- VALIC
I have yet to investigate these options, but off the top of my head I’m guessing that Fidelity (or possibly TIAA-CREF) will be most likely to suit our needs.
I’ll post more on this topic as I have time to investigate further. But in the mean time, can anyone out there provide any insight?
See also: Retirement Savings Options, Part I
Published on September 7th, 2006 - 2 Comments
Filed under: Retirement, Saving & Investing, Taxes
email this article
- add to tip'd - stumble it - digg it - bookmark it
About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!
Related articles...
» From the Archives (September 2nd – September 8th)» Retirement Savings Options, Part I
» 2006 Federal Tax Rates
» From the Archives (August 31st – September 6th)
» Retirement Savings Rate Poll Results
» Carnivals – Week of 09/11/06
» Ten Steps to Simplify Your Finances, Part 1
» Money Poll #9: Retirement Savings Rate
Was this article useful? Please sign up to receive our content via e-mail:
Great deals...
Readers’ choice...
Recent articles...
- Did Congress Make the Homebuyer Tax Credit Retroactive?
- Congress Extends $8000 Homebuyer Tax Credit, Adds New $6500 Credit
- Lending Club Update - October 2009 Performance
- How Much to Budget for Car Maintenance?
- Series I Savings Bonds Now Paying 3.36%
- Use Weight Loss Strategies to Get Out of Debt
- Weekly Roundup - Disney Shanghai Edition
- How to Save Money on Vacations
- Most and Least Reliable Cars - 2009 Edition
- Get 100 Free Trades from OptionsHouse Brokerage
Recent comments...
- APRIL DAYS: I FOR ONE HOPE THAT THE FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS TAX CREDIT IS EXTENDED BECAUSE...
- JB: I drive a 1999 car and save $60 a month for car repairs, oil...
- Greta: My significant other and I bought a house in February 2009. My boyfriend...
- Jay: Don't forget nCleaner 2nd for turning off widows firewall and windows defender...also use the...
- Bryan: @Doug - you said it... if you simply delayed the closing, it would have...
- Sympathetic Dish TSR: @ Bonnie: Is your HD tv a Flatscreen LCD style? If so then a...
- John DeFlumeri Jr: Thanks for explaining the tax credit. Too bad for those who purchase in...
- Hank: I always budget $100 a month for car repairs. I constantly find myself going...
Most talked about...
- Dave Ramsey is Bad at Math
- $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit
- Dish Network Customer Service SUCKS
- How to Claim the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
- $15,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit
- Reduced Credit Limits? Share Your Experience
- Would the "Fair Tax" Gut the Economy?
- Tax Stimulus Rebate Payments to Start Early
- Pay Off Mortgage Early? Or Invest?
- The Best Online Savings Accounts (Updated!)
- Life's Too Short to Drink Cheap Beer
- $7500 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
Fidelity offers their Freedom Funds, which are similar to the Vanguard Target Retirement funds. The expense ratio is higher – looking at the 2035 fund (FFTHX) its 0.75% at Fidelity, which doesn’t seem bad until you compare it to the 0.21% for Vanguard. However if Vanguard isn’t available it might be a good alternative.
Comment by Chuck — Sep 7th 2006 @ 7:14 amI work at an academic institution where we are offered a choice between TIAA-CREF and Fidelity. As soon as Fidelity came on board here as an option, I moved everything I could out of TIAA-CREF. I’m not sure if it’s the way our institution deals with TIAA or if TIAA itself is to blame but I had MAJOR problems with funds not being deposited into my accounts as I specified and a TON of trouble trying to set things right. I have not had these problems with Fidelity since I switched. (I too am a Vanguard fan and have a Roth IRA and a traditional rollover IRA with them.)
Comment by Andrea — Sep 8th 2008 @ 5:23 pm