Looking for 401k fund suggestions for VP

[HBFan]

I currently invest in the 4 x 25 permanent portfolio.  I also have a 401k that I invest in to get my company match.  I treat my 401k as my variable portfolio.  I would like to use a moderate to aggressive strategy within my variable portfolio.  I respect the financial minds here, so I thought it would be interesting to get some of your input.  Here are my investment options:


Investment NamePrior Month  Prior 3 Months  Prior 12 Months  Prior 3 Years  Prior 5 Years  Prior 10 Years  Net Expense Ratio  Ticker
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGT TODAY0.59%-0.61%16.67%4.01%4.46%4.37%0.45%WOTDX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20100.83%-0.21%22.15%2.38%3.98%3.35%0.48%WFOAX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20201.43%0.78%33.98%-0.23%3.37%2.14%0.50%WFOBX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20302.08%1.80%48.76%-2.42%2.55%1.30%0.51%WFOOX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20402.52%2.50%58.11%-3.53%2.36%0.47%0.52%WFOSX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20502.53%2.60%58.33%N/AN/AN/A0.52%WFQFX
WF COLL STABLE RETURN (N4)0.21%0.69%2.86%3.85%4.01%4.56%0.40%DSVG1
WF ADVTG GOV SECURITIES-ADMIN0.31%-0.07%6.49%6.45%5.38%6.34%0.70%WGSDX
PIMCO TOTAL RETURN0.49%1.31%16.38%9.19%7.07%7.54%0.71%PTRAX
WF ADVTG C&B LARGE CAP VALUE3.72%1.58%57.95%-6.51%-0.05%6.41%0.95%CBLLX
WF ADVANTAGE INDEX - ADMIN3.06%1.30%53.75%-5.94%0.10%-0.51%0.25%NVINX
AMERICAN FUNDS GRW FD AMERICA3.01%1.07%49.69%-3.64%2.62%0.89%0.70%RGAEX
WF ADVTG SMALL CAP VALUE - INV5.30%10.27%79.74%0.74%5.60%11.16%1.36%SSMVX
WF ADVANTAGE SMALL CAP OPP-ADM2.98%7.47%59.36%-0.68%5.78%9.70%1.20%NVSOX
HARTFORD SMALL COMPANY HLS IB5.23%7.94%53.86%-5.58%4.20%-0.63%0.96%HDMBX
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON WORLD-0.07%-1.82%51.93%-5.87%1.79%3.66%1.10%TEMWX
AMERICAN FDS EUROPACIFIC GRWTH-0.25%-4.62%52.91%-2.57%5.91%2.83%0.85%REREX


Does anyone have any suggestions on what fund or mix of funds to invest in?

[craigr]

Have you considered filling the 401(k) with Treasury bonds to shelter the income? Does your 401(k) offer a brokerage window to do direct purchases?

[HBFan]

It doesn't offer a brokerage window.  I have my permanent portfolio in a Roth IRA.  I found it messy to have some pieces in the 401k and some in the Roth.  It made rebalancing difficult and also I didn't know how to weigh them to make up for their difference in tax treatment.  That's why I came to the conclusion to just use my 401k as a variable portfolio.

[craigr]

Then in that case I'd consider the "Advantage Index" NVINX fund. It's an S&P 500 index. I would have suggested even the small cap value fund, but the expense ratio is outrageous at 1.36% a year. Mixing with the EuroPacific fund is another option if you want to just reach for the brass ring and go heavy in stocks.