401k Struggles

quote:

---

Started with a new company around 2 years ago.

---

The market has had the suck for those 2 years.

quote:

---

My 491k is still not where it was in Jan 2021. That’s with me maxing out contributions and 10% form my employer.

I am up 18% YTD which I’m happy with

---

Weird - WTF have you been doing in there? The S&P is up about 20% over that same period.

quote:

---

What are you referring to? The S&P is up like 15% (before dividends) since October 2021.

---

What charts are you looking at?

Oct 1, 2021 - 4,307
Oct 30, 2021 - 4,139

Right now - 4,379

quote:

---

What charts are you looking at?

Oct 1, 2021 - 4,307
Oct 30, 2021 - 4,139

Right now - 4,379

---

No, you're right, I must have put my slider wrong. I show Nov 1 2021 @ 4567, so down about 4% before dividends.

How are you possibly down YTD? Did you make a lump sum contribution on July 31st?

Good on you for the correction.

But you seemed to experience a very knee jerk reaction to the claims of economic struggles the past 2 years.

I'm not putting blame anywhere. But why do you think you were so quick to pounce?

I wouldn't worry about a few years unless you are getting close to retirement.

I got clobbered last year due to being overweight in Fidelity Growth Company.

It's my largest holding and was down 32% in 2022

quote:

---

401Ks are likely to be in stocks, and stocks have been good.

---

Not in the last 2 years.
My 401k balance was $445000 in late December 2021.
It dropped as low as $363000 in June 2022.
It bounced as high as $467000 July 2023.
It just pushed up to $446000 as of yesterday.

This is with maximum contributions, company match, and dividends.

Does the performance bother me? Not at all (45 years old).
But I'm very aware of the last 2 years activity.
And I'm kind of shocked that you were so quick to argue otherwise.

quote:

---

Not in the last 2 years.

---

I mean, yes, timing matters. But one guy earlier in the thread is saying he's down big from Jan 2021 - which is hard to do.

quote:

---

But I'm very aware of the last 2 years activity.
And I'm kind of shocked that you were so quick to argue otherwise.

---

I responded to 2 particular situations that posters cited specifically. And I stick by that. stocks have been volatile, but not bad.

quote:

---

My 401k balance was $445000 in late December 2021.
It dropped as low as $363000 in June 2022.
It bounced as high as $467000 July 2023.
It just pushed up to $446000 as of yesterday.

---

That still seems odd to me, as you would have been re-investing basically all days at a lower price in the markets than the end of Dec 2021.

Now, if you are significantly in bonds, I understand more. Bonds have been hammered. Of course I would have thought it was obvious to be very light in fixed income - particularly at your age - at the prices they were in Q4 2021.

YTD I'm down just under 4%. Our investment options are not great.