Our strategies to streamline and simplify your finances will free up both time and cash.
INVEST IN A DO-IT-ALL FUND
Whether you’re a brand-new investor or an old pro, corralling a significant portion of your assets in the same fund can simplify your financial life and give you a clear picture of what you’ve saved and how close you are to meeting your goals.
With an asset-allocation fund, you get a stake in most major investment categories without having to shuffle the assets yourself. For example, FIDELITY FOUR-IN-ONE INDEX FUND (SYMBOL FFNOX) holds four Fidelity index funds, with an overall mix of 85% of assets in stocks and 15% in bonds. The fund charges 0.11% of assets annually for a portfolio that includes stocks of large, midsize and small U.S. companies, shares of foreign companies in developed markets, and corporate and government bonds. VANGUARD STAR FUND (VGSTX) is more conservative, with 60% of the portfolio in stocks and the rest in bonds. Star invests in 11 actively managed Vanguard funds and charges 0.32%. The 15-year returns of both the Fidelity and the Vanguard funds place them in the top 25% of similar funds.
Target-date funds, like asset-allocation funds, hold a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds, but they shift toward a more conservative asset mix as you approach retirement age. VANGUARD and T. ROWE PRICE both offer solid, low-fee options.
Investors who are more hands-on can build a diversified portfolio on the cheap with exchange-traded funds. Just two Charles Schwab ETFs—US BROAD MARKET ETF (SCHB) and US AGGREGATE BOND ETF (SCHZ)—give you a piece of some 2,000 stocks and 3,200 bonds. The funds charge expense ratios of 0.03% and 0.04%, respectively.
PUT ALL YOUR INVESTMENTS IN ONE BASKET
Esta historia es de la edición May 2017 de Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2017 de Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
HOW INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS WILL AFFECT YOUR TAXES
We looked at IRS rules for 2025 on everything from tax brackets to how much you can save in retirement accounts.
GUARD AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT IN THE NEW YEAR
Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.
SHOULD YOU BUY PET HEALTH INSURANCE?
You can fend off big veterinary bills with a policy that covers your furry companion.
THE LOWDOWN ON BUYING A VACATION HOME
If you return to a beloved destination again and again, purchasing a home there may be a smart move-but don't overlook the costs and effort that go into it.
HOW COUPLES CAN MANAGE DIFFERING RETIREMENT TIME LINES
Staggered retirement is increasingly common, but it can create financial and emotional challenges.
AVOID THESE CREDIT MISSTEPS
KIPLINGER ADVISOR COLLECTIVE
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING FOR YOURSELF
Whether you're looking for a side gig or planning to start your own business, it has never been easier to strike out on your own.
My Top 10 Stock Picks for 2025
SINCE 1993, I have offered an annual list of 10 stocks with the potential to beat the market in the 12 months ahead. My 2024 selections notched the highest return ever: an average of 48.9%. I beat the S&P 500 index by 10.8 percentage points, and every one of my stocks was up-six by more than 30%.
WHAT MAKES AN ETF SUCCESSFUL?
EXCHANGE-traded funds have exploded in popularity, with the industry now reaching the milestone of $10 trillion in assets.
TIPS FROM INSIDERS
When corporate insiders buy or sell, it can offer clues on whether you should do the same.
