WABAC,
My plan penalizes rollovers for those under 59 1/2. -- The punishment is 6 months of no contribution (which means I pay more taxes this year) -- which also means 6 months without a 7% company match.

@Baseball_Fan said: ”illegal invaders begging in front of many stores in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the country”.
I’m absolutely astounded at the wealth disparity in this country. By all accounts it is growing. You do not need to be an immigrant (legal or otherwise) to be living in relative squalor. Where’d all that wealth come from? All clever hard working dudes? Some for sure. But much is inherited generationally and not always from the cleanest hands. Work ethics, legalities or good fortune aside, it still stinks to high heavens.

"RELIABILITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, ACCURACY, DEPENDABILITY"

You've obviously not tried to talk to anyone on the Customer Rage and Aggravation phone line in the past 30 years.

"Customer Rage and Aggravation" phone line? Is that for real? Never knew such a thing even existed.
The only thing Schwab has ever upset me about in 27 years was when they redid all the research pages, and TOOK AWAY a lot of personal portfolio data, in the fall of 2022. I complained about it to the regular people on the phone numerous times, but never went on a rage over it.
The research pages are much clumsier to find actual data on than they used to be. They look like some 5 year-old kid arranged them -- but they have to keep the nerds busy. I often go to Mstar or Yahoo if I can't find what I"m looking for on Schwab's mess.
"Change, just for the sake of change, is always good." -- any nerd.
Just in recent months they brought back (finally) the personal portfolio data and charts.
So I'm still good with the whole organization.

@FD1000
Hand-holding, I don't need much. What has gone missing is RELIABILITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, ACCURACY, DEPENDABILITY, and Customer Rage And Aggravation agents who can THINK. I also think it's disgraceful that employers won't ALLOW employees to simply have a pad and pencil to take notes, to assist the process when their help is asked for. I've been told that, explicitly.

The "hot" jobs numbers released by gummint was mentioned by Summers. He's pushing for a rather higher neutral rate. I giggle at the jobs numbers, anymore: most of the hires are part-time. No vacation, no benefits. Because employers can get away with it. Some folks want P/T, ok. And 3.8% unemployment? LOL. How many part-time jobs are in that mix? No one can be a breadwinner working P/T, although many today are forced to try to do it.

@Crash, I'm sorry for your difficulties, but I have to say that you seem to be the unluckiest person alive with all the difficulties you've had. I originally was with Thinkorswim; then to TDA; finally on to Schwab. All the transitions were smooth and all agreements were honored post-transition. Have had nothing but positive interactions with representatives all along the way. Anecdotal, of course, but your problems seem atypical to me as well.

@fred495, to add to the conversation and add to your post, which I think is a good one, I'm wondering if others, especially those near or in retirement, own or are looking at alternative type 'absolute return' funds in their portfolio. I actually like the idea of some percentage of these to smooth out the ride. Problem (maybe) is that there are so many in the alternative section to choose and they can be vastly different.
So, I'll give the ones I'm using. If others want to chime in that would be great.
I hold:
JHQAX, at about 10%, an options fund recently discussed in this month's commentary by @Devo
BLNDX/REMIX at about 5%, a multi asset fund, labeled as a L/S by M* (I don't agree)
LCR, which can be closer to a balanced fund, at about 5%
By the way, to give an opinion on your starting post, I do thing QDSNX would be as good a choice as others available to accomplish the "smoother" portfolio ride.