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PRWAX or VWNFX or both

Helping a friend. She has only two decent large-cap funds in her 401k. I realize one is
large-cap growth and other is large-cap value. PRWAX has larger turnover.
I was a little surprised by a little more drawdown for VWNFX, it being a value fund, from
beginning of 2007 through the bottom in 2008.

Thoughts on the two funds?

Comments

  • @Kaspa: When John Bogle went to Jim Barrow back in 1985 it was the beginning of a great fund. However, in 2003 Vanguard started bring in one fund manager after another spoiling the broth, plus asset blot. I'd take a pass on VWNFX, and in my opinion PRWAX is run-of-the-mill. What other funds are available in her 410 (k) ?
    Regards,
    Ted
  • Is there a LC index fund?

    IMHO, LC is the area where indexing makes the most sense. Unless you are looking for a manager that has a mandate to preserve capital first, hedge with cash when stocks look pricey and that is the strategy you want (ala funds like YAFFX, PRBLX or SEEDX to name a few) the S&P500 index will out perform most LC funds over time.
  • @mikeM: Congratulations On Bills win !
    Regards,
    Ted
  • MikeM said:

    Is there a LC index fund?

    IMHO, LC is the area where indexing makes the most sense. Unless you are looking for a manager that has a mandate to preserve capital first, hedge with cash when stocks look pricey and that is the strategy you want (ala funds like YAFFX, PRBLX or SEEDX to name a few) the S&P500 index will out perform most LC funds over time.

    There is an index fund VINIX.

  • Kaspa said:

    MikeM said:

    Is there a LC index fund?

    There is an index fund VINIX.

    That fund has an expense ratio of 0.04%.
    Not a typo. 4 basis points.

    Below is the performance, and the performance of its category, large cap blend:

    image
  • Kaspa said "She has only two decent large-cap funds in her 401k" (prwax, vwnfx)
  • If there is no cheap index fund option, I would go with Price New America. One lead manager (though new to this fund) with a good record.
  • dicksonL said:

    Kaspa said "She has only two decent large-cap funds in her 401k" (prwax, vwnfx)

    Thank you everyone for their comments.

    Sorry, I did not notice the index fund:-), but it is there.

    BobC: With the availability of index fund, would you still prefer Price New America?


    Ted: Regarding other funds, there are these three LC funds (PRWAX,VINIX,VWNAX).

    There are three in small/midcap space (ABMIX, CAMZX, OTCFX),
    two international (RERGX, DODFX), three bond funds (PTTRX, VFIUX, VBIRX).

    She is in her late fortys and currently invested in
    PRWAX (18%), ABMIX(27%), OTCFX(15%), DODFX(22%), PTTRX(18%).



  • I am familiar with many of these funds as my 403 offers some, and I am also invested in my own IRA accounts.

    The current holdings break-down looks like this, and I think she picked all the good active funds. Although PRWAX may bear watching as a new manager took over in 2013.

    PRWAX: domestic large growth
    ABMIX: domestic mid blend
    OTCFX: domestic small growth
    DODFX: foreign large blend
    PTTRX: intermediate term bond

    60% : US, 22%: foreign, 18%: bond

    A few interesting notes:

    VINIX is just the Vanguard institutional version (low cost) of S&P 500 Index.
    ABMIX is closed to new investor. I have the investor version (CHTTX).
    OTCFX is closed to new investor.
    RERGX is foreign large growth with .49% expense. Both DODFX and RERGX are fine choices for foreign exposure.

    I am not familiar with the others.

    I hope she's comfortable with 82% stock and 18% bond levels:
    https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/saving-investing/model-portfolio-allocations

    Hope this helps.
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