"jIM" <noreplysoccer[at]hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1151586472.692486.260910[at]j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
- quote -

I appreciate the time you spent on your reply, but I submitted that message
months ago. It apparently only recently passed moderator review. In the
meantime, I've already done some reallocation based on information found
here and on other sources. I'm content with my choices.

Again, thanks for your efforts.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL


======================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
The OP's post was received on June 27 and posted June 28. Posters can check on their posts at http://readystump.algebra.com/

Chris Cowles wrote:
- quote -

I will suggest to list the 9 accounts in one list and tell us which two
can be consolidated, please. I might be able to "guess" based on
below.

- quote -

25% in conservative instruments is not bad. It might be good, average,
OK, or not enough depending on your age and how much is already
invested. How much total do you have invested? According to post you
are 50 and 46 years of age, and plan to retire at age 67. How much do
you think you'll need when you retire?

- quote -

These do not sound bad in and of themself. Do you have a fund list?

- quote -

I would list all the funds in your 403/401 accounts and your wife's
401k on the same list. Choose the BEST funds in various cateogories
(probably large cap, small cap, international large cap, international
small cap, possibly mid cap, possibly microcap).

- quote -



Please list the Fidelity funds you own. What I would suggest is choose
the best funds of the 401/403, then use Fidelity funds in the IRA to
fill in what a 401/403 plan for you or your wife does not offer.

A couple of accounts are Roths with < $5000 each, so minimum
investments may apply.

Between my wife and myself, we have 9 different investment accounts.
Excluding conversion of IRAs to Roth, I can consolidate only two together. I
could move my wife's rollover IRA into her 401k, but choices there aren't
great. The rollover is at Fidelity.

2 accounts comprise ~25% of the total, outside our investment control. One
(17%) is a guaranteed income contract currently paying ~4%. The other (8%)
is a retirement mutual fund I'd characterize as balanced. Between the mutual
fund being 40% bonds, and the GIC being essentially cash, I have 21% of my
investments in conservative or extremely conservative investments, and can't
change it.

So, my question is, how to invest the rest to boost the return? Unless I do
something real stupid, I can't reasonably hurt myself by being aggressive.

Another 25% is split equally between my and my wife's employer 401 and 403
accounts:

My wife's HCA 401k choices are private funds. Other than bond, interest, or
balanced funds, they're labeled as large value, large growth, small value,
small growth, S&P 500, and an international fund targeting the EAFE index.
Most is in the large cap value fund, and has done well, as has the portion
in the international index.

My own 403b and 401a accounts are managed by Lincoln Financial. I'm invested
100% in BTIEX, which has done well over the period of my investment. Choices
are below:

American Funds EuroPacific Gr A - AEPGX
American Funds Grth Fund of Amer A - AGTHX
American Funds Washington Mutual A - AWSHX
Scudder Equity 500 Index Invm - BTIEX
Calvert Social Investment Equity A - CSIEX
Goldman Sachs Small Cap Value Svc - GSSSX
Munder Micro-Cap Equity A - MMEAX
Dreyfus MidCap Index - PESPX

The remaining 50% is in Fidelity IRAs. I can invest in anything available
through them. About half is in Spartan 500 Index (FSMKX) and has not done
well, overall. That's because the timing of a 403b rollover wasn't great. I
invested large chunks around 1999-2001, when the money became available. I
wasn't trying to time anything, just allocate. A couple of accounts are
Roths with < $5000 each, so minimum investments may apply.

I'm 50, wife's 46. Both of us are securely employed with higher than average
annual increases. I'm comfortable with the cash we have on hand, and our
savings rates. We plan to retire at 67. Kids are 10 and 13, respectively,
and we'll pay for college by selling our house when the younger leaves for
college. We have significant equity and will trade down to a smaller single
family house, then later to a condo.

Where do I go from here? Where should I reallocate, and put future payroll
deposits? We're both contributing the minimum required to get the maximum
match, and I'd prefer that our continued contributions don't significantly
change the allocation balance. Remember, I can't move this around much.

I aware of the importance of rebalancing to match your situation and the
change in value of your investments, and I'm basically a set-and-forget
kinda guy. I don't care if the market goes up and down and takes my
investments with it. I'll rebalance at planned intervals and drift more
toward stability as we age.

All offers of help are appreciated.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL