How to Analyze Your 401(k)

I used to pick my 401(k) funds with a dart board. Now, I know how to figure out which ones make me more money. Read on to find out what I've learned about how to compare one against another.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet
• Paper

1. Log on to Fidelity, Vanguard or the financial institution where your 401(k) sits.

2. Write down the name (and ticker if it's there) of each fund in your portfolio.

3. Go to finance.yahoo.com.

4. Type in a stock ticker.

5. Click on "charts" on the left hand side.

6. Add all of your stock tickers to where it says: "add compare symbol(s)." You will have a visual of all your mutual funds on one single chart.

7. Look at your chart and see how well your mutual funds have done over a long period of time. You want to track a long period, 5 or 10 years because the daily, weekly and monthly market is sporadic.

8. If you've got some bum funds, take a look at what other funds available to you that you can exchange. Note their tickers.

9. Chart those compared to your funds to find a replacement.

10. Track your new funds on a quarterly basis to see how well they do.

Tips & Warnings

• Read up on mutual funds. Suze Orman has a lot of easy to understand information.
• If your employer offers informational sessions, sit in on those and ask a lot of questions.
• Call the financial institution's customer service number if you need help.
• This is only one way to analyze the performance of your mutual funds.

[jpkelly]

on 9/19/2009 This is a stupid web site!!!!! I was told that all I had to do was to go to www.dart401k.com and I could look up my 401k to see how it was doing. I have done everything the paper said, yet I am still unable to do what I {or any first grader} should be able to do

[Rockney]

on 12/5/2008 Great info on your 401K investing! 5*!

[Morrikai]

on 8/25/2008 Its important to look out a few a years and just what happened yesterday with a stock. good info

[grouch]

on 3/1/2008 Great ideas. I think not putting all your chickens in one basket is a great idea. Some tips from the company that carries your 401 are wonderful and some are bombs....just beware and investigate on your own before buying those magic beans.