Gyroscopic Investing

Anybody know if there's a free online fund correlation calculator?  I'm looking for a way to find the historical correlations between the funds in my 401K account, so I can create the best approximation of a PP that I can within the limits of the plan. 

The only one I've found is this one:

http://buyupside.com/calculators/stockc ... ninput.php

It doesn't seem to have data going back very far, but it's a start.  Any others you know of?

Thanks MangoMan, I'll give T. Rowe Price a shot.  I've used Morningstar's X-ray tool (our library has free access to the advanced features), but I never saw a correlation tool.  I'll have to give that another look. 

I've liked using http://www.assetcorrelation.com/ in the past.

401Ks have many virtues. But PP compatibility is rarely one of them. If you can make it work without bizarre financial contortions, more power to you. But in my experience it is usually more trouble than it's worth. My advice to people is to just do a conservative boglehead type deal in your 401K and do the PP in your IRA and taxable accounts.

Ad Orientem wrote: 401Ks have many virtues. But PP compatibility is rarely one of them. If you can make it work without bizarre financial contortions, more power to you. But in my experience it is usually more trouble than it's worth. My advice to people is to just do a conservative boglehead type deal in your 401K and do the PP in your IRA and taxable accounts.

Yup, that's pretty much what I do.  About half of my 401K is as close to a PP as I can get, except without any gold.  The other half is just a well-diversified boglehead-style portfolio.  I feel pretty good about it, given the restrictions I'm working with. 

rocketdog wrote:

Ad Orientem wrote: 401Ks have many virtues. But PP compatibility is rarely one of them. If you can make it work without bizarre financial contortions, more power to you. But in my experience it is usually more trouble than it's worth. My advice to people is to just do a conservative boglehead type deal in your 401K and do the PP in your IRA and taxable accounts.

Yup, that's pretty much what I do.  About half of my 401K is as close to a PP as I can get, except without any gold.  The other half is just a well-diversified boglehead-style portfolio.  I feel pretty good about it, given the restrictions I'm working with. 

I totally agree.  The PP is great. But sometimes it just isn't practical. Anyone who puts their 401k in a 65/35 portfolio (BND/VTI or VT) is probably going to be fine barring an SHTF event.

Ad Orientem wrote: I totally agree.  The PP is great. But sometimes it just isn't practical. Anyone who puts their 401k in a 65/35 portfolio (BND/VTI or VT) is probably going to be fine barring an SHTF event.

I agree as well, but I think it's definitely worth it to try to hold at least some gold if it's at all possible, even if it's only 5-10%.  It can really help to keep things less volatile.

AdamA wrote:

Ad Orientem wrote: I totally agree.  The PP is great. But sometimes it just isn't practical. Anyone who puts their 401k in a 65/35 portfolio (BND/VTI or VT) is probably going to be fine barring an SHTF event.

I agree as well, but I think it's definitely worth it to try to hold at least some gold if it's at all possible, even if it's only 5-10%.  It can really help to keep things less volatile.

Unfortunately gold is rarely an option in 401K accounts.  Unless you have a brokerage window, you simply have to do your best without the gold.