How To

How to Analyze Your 401(k)

Member
By Lindsay
User-Submitted Article
(8 Ratings)

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. Step 1

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

  2. Step 2

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

  3. Step 3

    Go to finance.yahoo.com.

  4. Step 4

    Type in a stock ticker.

  5. Step 5

    Click on "charts" on the left hand side.

  6. Step 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. Step 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. Step 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. Step 9

    Chart those compared to your funds to find a replacement.

  10. Step 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.

Comments  

jpkelly said

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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 said

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

Morrikai said

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

grouch said

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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.

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