Best Balanced funds

**corn18** · 05-13-2021, 12:40 PM

Total US Stock Index Fund (FZROX) 37.5%
Total International Index Fund (FZILX) 12.5%
401k Stable Value Fund (proprietary) 50%

That's it. I do that so I can manage growth and taxes. Roths are 100% stock. 401k is 100% fixed income. Taxable is a mix of all 3 funds to keep me @ 50/50.

I'm not a fan of target date or life strategy funds in taxable due to taxes. They spin off a lot of taxable income that I would rather not pay. But if you want simple, pick a life strategy fund that matches your desired AA and just buy that. I could do that but I need something to manage.

**disneysteve** · 05-13-2021, 12:52 PM

I think the first thing you need to decide is what AA you are looking for. There are funds that are 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, etc. Once you pick your AA, I'd find the Vanguard fund that matches, assuming that's where you are investing.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 05-13-2021, 01:26 PM

I'm not actually managing my parents investments a stupid financial advisor is. Trust me they are already in things like mutual funds with c shares. They have an annuity in a IRA. They are holding cash in a roth IRA. There is pretty much nothing that can be worse than what they have. Nope I have to Keep it as simple as stupidly possible. Literally the most boring balanced fund so that way my mom can say please put me in 1 mutual fund period. Nothing else. Corn it cannot be done. They cannot be VTI, VOO, BND, etc. Until my dad passes away and I take over fully it has to be as stupid as possible.

**disneysteve** · 05-13-2021, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by LivingAlmostLarge View Post

I'm not actually managing my parents investments a stupid financial advisor is. Trust me they are already in things like mutual funds with c shares. They have an annuity in a IRA. They are holding cash in a roth IRA. There is pretty much nothing that can be worse than what they have. Nope I have to Keep it as simple as stupidly possible. Literally the most boring balanced fund so that way my mom can say please put me in 1 mutual fund period. Nothing else. Corn it cannot be done. They cannot be VTI, VOO, BND, etc. Until my dad passes away and I take over fully it has to be as stupid as possible.

So what money is this question regarding? Are they pulling things out from the advisor or is this some other account? Or are you researching for what to do after your father is gone and you take over?

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 05-13-2021, 09:22 PM

Nope it's whatever cash they have in the accounts, his entire roth is cash, she's got $120k cash in Roth just cash in any accounts that are being "managed' being in cash.

**srblanco7** · 05-14-2021, 01:23 AM

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Vanguard funds that you mention. I tend to stick with index funds rather than actively managed funds. Wellington and Wellesley are less tax efficient than the Balanced Index, but if you're looking to generate income (or they are in a 401k/Roth) to fund retirement they are a viable choice.

**Jluke** · 05-14-2021, 01:56 AM

Wellesley

If they are conservative consider the LifeStrategy Income fund (I think I have the name right).

**disneysteve** · 05-14-2021, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by LivingAlmostLarge View Post

Nope it's whatever cash they have in the accounts, his entire roth is cash, she's got $120k cash in Roth just cash in any accounts that are being "managed' being in cash.

In that case, I'd reiterate what I said earlier. Decide on the asset allocation you want for this money and choose a fund based on that. Lots of good options. You just have to decide how aggressive or conservative you want to be with this money.

Best Balanced funds