The coffee club IRA was made up of 4 Vanguard funds: Index 500 20%, Life Strat. Growth 40%, STAR 20%, Total Bond Mkt. 20%. These 4 funds were picked by 6 retired guys as a way of comming up with a simple IRA(the limit was 6 funds)that would work in retirement. In talking with some of the guys this week the new plan is to use the 4 fund concept as a "core" for a IRA, that would contain 70-80% of the total IRA investment. The other 30-20% of the IRA would be used for "pet" funds nobody wanted to give up. You could also use other funds that were in the same class for the core. Example instead of Vanguard Index 500, one guy wants to use Schwab Index 1000. All for now.

Originally posted in thread: 99

Joe; You are in an excellent position to help answer questions for those like myself
who haven't retired yet. Let's hear what you
and your other club members would have changed or done differently prior to retirement.

More risk? Less Risk? Waited longer to retire? Sooner? Spending habits during
retirement. Of course I realize each case
is different but some type of summary from
the club would be helpful. Your proposed
portfolio for your IRA looks good.

Charles
PS Is it one lump or two?

Originally posted in thread: 99

your portfolio sounds like a difficult version of scott burns couch potato portfolio ( 50% vanguard 500/50% vanguard intermediate term us treasury fund= 18.04% 1998 and consistently good.
scott also recommends a variation of same for the sophisticated couch potato ( same funds, but 75% 500/25% vitust).=22.96% 1998 and just as consistent.
what do you guys know about the "retire" project at Georgia State U?
doug
dag1023@yahoo.com

Originally posted in thread: 99