Spent the better part of the day making below changes.
Opened Vanguard Roth IRA, funded 2026 max: $8600
- 56% ($4816) VTI (US Stock Market)
- 44% ($3784) VXUS (Total International Stock)
Swapped my 401k from Vanguard Target Date 2035 to:
- 60% FXAIX/FID 500 INDEX
- 10% FSMAX/FID EXTD MKT IDX
- 20% FSPSX/FID INTL INDEX
- 10% MINHX/MFS INTL INTR VAL
The idea was to try to replicate the VTI/VXUS US/International mix in my 401k with stuff that had decent performance but low cost to me.
I had too much in bonds and felt it could grow better in the years I have left. When the time comes I can add bonds back for stability. I also have some liquid assets.
Earnings – made sure I'd max 2026 contributions for:
- ESPP ($21,500 I think)
- 401k ($32,500 w/catch up)
I'll be living on savings a few months but should max out ESPP soon and have a paycheck again.
I have some money in a HYSA and was going to open a personal brokerage account at Vanguard to put some of it in there. My HYSA is like 3.26% APY so the money just going to waste, growth wise – barely beating inflation.
Q: My HYSA has enough "rough weather" cash. Would you put the rest in VTI and VXUS, or something else?
After this I need to look at rolling my past employer 401ks into my current one.
This is my first pass on this and I definitely waited too long in life to do this. So if you're younger, please start now is my advice to you. I'm hoping to avoid being in a ditch when I retire.
Don't expect big expenses any time soon; that said my car is older and will croak one day so I need to be able to handle that. I'm renting right now but I got a good price and location so not much incentive to buy, but I'd be open if everything were right.
54, I have about $145k in the 401k I listed, 100k+ in another, 40k in another. HYSA has $170k. $400k in a stock investment but portfolio is worth $700k if it all vests. $109k year guaranteed but made $138k with performance bonuses and HYSA interest in 2025. Not really sure what age I can retire, hopefully not too old, but pretty worried with social security etc.
Thoughts?
Woke up and made financial changes today
byu/NSASpyVan inpersonalfinance
Posted by NSASpyVan
3 Comments
How old are you and how much money is in each account? Annual income? Planned retirement age?
I agree that this is a good move! Just don’t let the ‘optimizing everything’ phase turn into overtrading. If your emergency fund is truly covered, a simple VTI/VXUS split in a taxable brokerage is the usual boring-but-effective move.
Again, rolling old 401(k)s into your current plan can help keep things clean and easier to manage in the long-run.
This is the kind of post that should be pinned. Most people talk about getting their finances together, you actually did it in one day. For the HYSA question — VTI/VXUS split makes sense if that money won’t be touched for 5+ years.