- quote -

For a Roth, I would not choose a Target Fund. A Target Fund automatically
adjusts risk according to its target date (well, duh!) Because you are not
required to take minimum distributions in a Roth, your decision as to when
to start withdrawals, if at all, will likely be different than the target
date, and your allocation needs will quite possibly be different than the
managers would expect for holders of the fund. I personally like the
LifeStrategy series, and hold some funds in both the Growth and Conservative
Growth funds, so maybe I'm not as objective as you might prefer. The
LifeStrategy Funds probably overlap what you have in your 401k, but you will
always know what it's allocation is. To me, that means you can hold it and
pretty much ignore it, instead feeling free to pursue other hobbies and
interests.

Elizabeth Richardson

<<but I would duplicate much of what's in my 401K>
That's actually a good thing... if your 401K and Roth IRA are set up to
parallel each other, they will be easier to keep track of and keep in
balance.

John Cowart

"Mike" <sdlfk[at]mike.com> wrote in message
news:XrISf.13923$S25.9581[at]newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
- quote -

This isn't an opinion of your choice, but general advice on the approach:
Have a target allocation for your total holdings. Evaluate your investments
in the different accounts from the perspective of your overall allocations.

I'm in the process of rebalancing and revising (slightly) my target
allocation. I based my targets on model allocations found at Jack Piazza's
site, http://www.seninvest.com/. (I think Elle's site led me to that one,
either directly or indirectly.)

Adjusting Jack's Established Earner portfolio to meet some restrictions I
have (like 27% in cash, outside my control, and large proportions in private
mutual funds offered by employer) I used Morningstar to evaluate which funds
meet the descriptions of my needs.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice. I'm fairly new to investing but have been
reading as much as I can on the subject. I want to open a Roth IRA and
contribute the max for 2005, $4000. I'm not quite sure which fund to go
with. I'm 27 y/o, so my time horizon is 35-40 years. Currently, I have
about $13,000 in my 401K with the following asset allocation:

VINIX - (S&P 500 index fund) - 35%
FSEIX - (Mid Cap Value) - 15%
FISGX - (Mid-Cap Growth) - 20%
FSCCX - (Small Cap Value) - 15%
SDIEX - (International Large Value) - 15%

For my Roth IRA, at first I was looking at putting it all into VFINX, the
S&P 500 index, but I would duplicate much of what's in my 401K (with the
VINIX fund). I'm also looking at the following:

VASGX (LifeStrategy Growth)
VTIVX (Target Retirement 2045)

What are all your opinions on the latter two or any advice on other funds
would be appreciated. I'm willing to go pretty aggressive, and am leaning
towards a single index fund if not the above 2 mentioned "fund of funds".
Thanks in advance.

Mike