Which “lazy portfolio” Vanguard funds should I choose to be well rounded?

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I’m trying to invest wisely. I’m basically wondering which funds in my Vanguard IRA would be good choices. I’m 41. So far I have VFIAX alone in this IRA. Should I contribute and add a bond fund like BNDW or VBTLX.

For a better perspective, I’m also a fed with 300k all in C fund. I know this a basic question, but just looking for some general advice on the whole three fund portfolio and my separate Vanguard IRA. I can’t tell if I should just drop the whole 6k IRA contribution amount for 2022 into VFIAX again or add a Vanguard bond fund. Or if I should just use the money and buy ibonds instead for the near 10% return.

I won’t retire for like 25 years or more so I’ve got time to keep adding as possible. Any help is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Don't make it too complicated. All in C fund for TSP? VFIAX is basically same/similar fund as C fund so... you have all your money in S&P500. Right? Nothing wrong with that w/ 25 years out with a pension after you retire.

[Anonymous]

The classic three fund portfolio is total us stock, total international stock, and total bond. That is what we have. SP 500 is OK as substitute for total us stock if total us stock is not available to you. If you want some bonds it doesn't matter whether they go in TSP or traditional IRA.

[Anonymous]

We just do Wellington in our IRA. It works well enough for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The classic three fund portfolio is total us stock, total international stock, and total bond. That is what we have. SP 500 is OK as substitute for total us stock if total us stock is not available to you. If you want some bonds it doesn't matter whether they go in TSP or traditional IRA.

You can use I-bond and pension for "bond" portion of that portfolio. So the question becomes whether OP wants to include international fund. My exp with internation funds over the years is that it can't keep up with US companies

[Anonymous]

Agree that pension and I-bonds can serve as the bond portion. Would consider international as well although performance has lagged for some years. May not be the same going forward, so, maybe 15 percent.

As you look towards retirement, you may need to rethink. Taking RMDs from an IRA or TSP all in equity isn't great, especially if you need the money because of the possibility of having to withdraw in a down market. You might want some bond exposure then to even out dips in the market. If you are not relying on the money for income for ordinary life, you could put the RMDs in an equity index in a brokerage account and time any withdrawals for a time when the market is doing better.