If choosing a fund family gives you access to all of its funds, I'd go with Fidelity.

Without more information, I'd agree with the others that Fidelity and TIAA-CREF are probably your best bets among the options available to you.  Since you don't have a lot of time to devote to researching the individual funds, my advice would be to allocate primarily to low cost index funds

Best,
Oildog

Thanks for the input. Knowing who is easy to deal with is as important to me as fees, options, and performance. Ant oher insight and experience would be more than welcome. Right now I'm reading up on portfolio diversification (lg Vs sm cap, growth Vs. blend , etc...) so I can go in with eyes wide open.

I'm still waiting to hear (they don't work weekends?!? :)) from each of the reps whether I'll have unrestricted access to all funds or which funds I will have access to.

Thanks all.

-EB

Geech..Nice Choices... LOL ! Alot of Ins. Co.'s with big fee's.. Ask your new boss> " how much is the Company owners getting in Kick backs"  LOL  or they probably have them due to a tie in deal with there Group health and Admiinstration programs..( I used to sell LN and Met yrs back when in the Ins. 'Racket"...)

But, be as it may.. if your stuck with them only? I'd go the Fido.. and Do you really have to put so much into it? ( I assume that $16k = 10% of your Income of $160k/yr? )       At this early stage of your Life? Remember, you got College ( Min. $50k each) and Weddings ( Another $50K ea) to pay for too comming up...so best get those covered first.. ( really makes you double think about having more kids, doesn't it?  LOL )

and your odds of a Divorce? now bordering on 55% and She Gets most of the $!            + Child support and Alimoney..( Watch "Two & half men" show )

and all this "Long Term" stuff is all nice and dandy..Only one problem?

What would you have Really done in 1987( Dropped -27%), 98 ( dropped some 30%) and how about during the last Bear market of 2000-Early 03' ( -58% tot by end of 1st qtr 03')? most bailed, while others Hung themselves in their Tree in their backyards and others took 3 more yrs after just to break even again..

Pick whatever gives you no more than 60% Equities and at least 40% In Bonds..

FYI? Did you know Bond Funds Outperformed the S&P for the past 8 & 10 yrs...

and if your really a LT type? What R  U looking at it's Most recent, 1,3 & 5 yrs for? They were All Bull Market yrs! Anyone can do well in a Bull, it's who does Well in a BEAR that counts..Go back now to the past 8 & 10 yrs.. and reconfigure things...

There..feel better now.?...

Scarey isn't it...

Oh yeah! Welcome to the Mess. boards... Were Investing reallly is a Crap Shoot..

 

I agree with the other's TIAA-CREF or Fidelity. I personally have been with TIAA-CREF through my University employer for about 15 yrs. now and i'm perfectly happy with them. If it were me, I'd stay away from all the others and go with T-C or Fido. Clem

As far as the amount we're investing into the 403b, it's a set amount from my employer, The University of Texas - for this year, $16k from me, matched by my employer. Roth is not an option for us.

We'll be looking into setting up other funds for the kids (2 boys, 3 years and 1 month old) college and other contingencies (weddings, bail bonds, trial lawyers :)) in the future (one thing at a time).

As far as divorce, we've been together 13 years and 10 years married this year with no issues. I think we'll be OK.

 -EB

So, Fidelity it is. I'll be meeting with my rep today and setting up an appointment with a CFP to do some brainstorming. In the meantime, I've been going through the list of funds available and coming up with favorites based on expense ratios, performance, and Morningstar rating (4* or better).

I'm still kicking around the 100% equities versus including a small portion of bonds (80/20) to stabilize the returns/losses should the market volatility continue. I think, though, based on my age (35) and expected duration of contributions (25-30 years), at this point I'm willing to accept more risk for higher returns and am leaning toward 100% equities with a Kiplinger split since that offers good steady growth with moderate risk and hopefully some stability:

60% lg cap (15% blend, 15% growth, 30% growth)
20% international

10% mid cap
5% sm growth
5% specialty (nat resource)

Any comments or advice on that? Oh, by the way, here is the link to the funds available ( https://www.mysavingsatwork.com/taxexemp... any advice or comments on that would be awesome as well. Thanks again!

-EB

I won't comment on any Fidelity funds as I have never invested in them but I am sure you will get some very good advice from others.  Just wanted to thank you for your service in the military.  Best of luck.

btw, the link doesn't really get you to any kind of fund selection that I can see.

~Dan

 [edit] You may also want to post this over at the Fidelity forum as well.  Erryl is a good source I would listen to if he responds.

I can't help with your question, but I did find the problem with the link.  Here it is:

https://www.mysavingsatwork.com/taxexempt/assets/utex.pdf

 

Your Asset Allocation will be the most important decision. That is the allocation between equities and fixed. as you mention a 100% equity position, you will be sorry. thjats way too aggressive. Also choosing fidelity or Tia is the best choices. those insurance company options have to be awful with high costs. Rich