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What investment options does Guideline offer?
What investment options does Guideline offer?
Updated over 3 weeks ago

π–¨π—‡π—π–Ύπ—Œπ—π—†π–Ύπ—‡π— π–Ίπ–½π—π—‚π—Œπ—ˆπ—‹π—’ π—Œπ–Ύπ—‹π—π—‚π–Όπ–Ύπ—Œ π–Ώπ—ˆπ—‹ π–¦π—Žπ—‚π–½π–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π–Ύβ€™π—Œ 401(𝗄) (𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 3(38) π–Ώπ—‚π–½π—Žπ–Όπ—‚π–Ίπ—‹π—’ π—Œπ–Ύπ—‹π—π—‚π–Όπ–Ύπ—Œ 𝖺𝗋𝖾 π–Ίπ—‰π—‰π—ˆπ—‚π—‡π—π–Ύπ–½) 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝖀𝖯 𝖨𝖱𝖠/𝖨𝖱𝖠 π—‰π—‹π—ˆπ–½π—Žπ–Όπ—π—Œ 𝖺𝗋𝖾 π—ˆπ–Ώπ–Ώπ–Ύπ—‹π–Ύπ–½ 𝖻𝗒 π–¦π—Žπ—‚π–½π–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π–Ύ π–¨π—‡π—π–Ύπ—Œπ—π—†π–Ύπ—‡π—π—Œ, 𝖫𝖫𝖒, 𝖺𝗇 𝖲𝖀𝖒-π—‹π–Ύπ—€π—‚π—Œπ—π–Ύπ—‹π–Ύπ–½ π—‚π—‡π—π–Ύπ—Œπ—π—†π–Ύπ—‡π— π–Ίπ–½π—π—‚π—Œπ–Ύπ—‹. π–±π–Ύπ–Ώπ–Ύπ—‹π–Ύπ—‡π–Όπ–Ύπ—Œ π—π—ˆ β€œπ–¦π—Žπ—‚π–½π–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π–Ύβ€ β€œπ—π–Ύβ€ π—ˆπ—‹ β€œπ—ˆπ—Žπ—‹β€ 𝗂𝗇 π—π—π—‚π—Œ 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗅𝖾 π—Œπ—‰π–Ύπ–Όπ—‚π–Ώπ—‚π–Όπ–Ίπ—…π—…π—’ 𝗋𝖾𝖿𝖾𝗋 π—π—ˆ π–¦π—Žπ—‚π–½π–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π–Ύ π–¨π—‡π—π–Ύπ—Œπ—π—†π–Ύπ—‡π—π—Œ, 𝖫𝖫𝖒. π–₯π—ˆπ—‹ π—†π—ˆπ—‹π–Ύ π—‚π—‡π–Ώπ—ˆπ—‹π—†π–Ίπ—π—‚π—ˆπ—‡ 𝗋𝖾𝗀𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 π–Ώπ–Ύπ–Ύπ—Œ 𝖺𝗇𝖽 π—Œπ–Ύπ—‹π—π—‚π–Όπ–Ύπ—Œ, π—Œπ–Ύπ–Ύ π–¦π—Žπ—‚π–½π–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π–Ύβ€™π—Œ 𝖠𝖣𝖡 2𝖠 π–‘π—‹π—ˆπ–Όπ—π—Žπ—‹π–Ύ 𝖺𝗇𝖽 π–₯π—ˆπ—‹π—† 𝖒𝖱𝖲.


As a 3(38) fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Guideline RK, LLC has strict standards of conduct, responsibility, and obligations. We are legally – and morally – obligated to make prudent and measured investment decisions that are in our 401(k) plans' and their participants’ best interests. These same principles apply to those who choose our IRA products.

Guideline Investments, LLC’s investment committee is responsible for routinely monitoring our fund menu to ensure each selected fund continues to serve the best interests of our clients.

When you set up your Guideline account, you’ll complete a short questionnaire to assess your risk tolerance and saving timeline, among other factors. Based on your answers, we’ll then present you with one of our six managed portfolios, ranging from conservative to very aggressive. Alternatively, you can build your own custom portfolio from our full investment fund menu.

Guideline’s investment options

Guideline Investments, LLC offers a wide range of low-cost mutual funds with a variety of strategies chosen to help you diversify your portfolio and meet your retirement goals. We also look for funds that aim to minimize fees, which we believe could negatively affect your investment portfolio’s performance.

Below is a list of our current investment fund menu.

Ticker

Fund name

US Stock Market

VTSAX

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares

US Large Cap Equity

VFIAX

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares

VIGAX

Vanguard Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares

VLCAX

Vanguard Large Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares

VVIAX

Vanguard Value Index Fund Admiral Shares

VDADX

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Fund Admiral Shares

VHYAX

Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund Admiral

VFTAX

Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares

US Mid Cap Equity

VIMAX

Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares

VEXAX

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Admiral Shares

VMGMX

Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares

VMVAX

Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund Admiral Shares

US Small Cap Equity

VSMAX

Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares

VSGAX

Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares

VSIAX

Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund Admiral Shares

International Developed Equity

VTMGX

Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund Admiral Shares

VPADX

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

VTIAX

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

VFWAX

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares

VEUSX

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

VFSAX

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small Capital Index Fund Admiral Shares

VIAAX

Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Admiral Shares

Emerging Markets Equity

VEMAX

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

US Bonds

VBTLX

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares

VBILX

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

VBIRX

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

VBLAX

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

US Government Bonds

VTAPX

Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares

International Bonds

VTABX

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

Real Estate

VGRLX

Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index Fund Admiral Shares

VGSLX

Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Admiral Shares

Sector Equity

VENAX

Vanguard Energy Index Fund Admiral Shares

VFAIX

Vanguard Financials Index Fund Admiral Shares

VHCIX

Vanguard Health Care Index Fund Admiral Shares

VINAX

Vanguard Industrials Index Fund Admiral Shares

VITAX

Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares

VMIAX

Vanguard Materials Index Fund Admiral Shares

VTCAX

Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares

VUIAX

Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares

Money Market

VMFXX

Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund

For additional information on each fund, including the expense ratios, share price, and historical returns, please see here.

Does Guideline offer crypto investment options?

At this time, we do not offer Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency investments. As an ERISA 3(38) fiduciary and a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), Guideline has a responsibility to act in the best interest of 401(k) plan participants. These same principles also guide our IRA fund decisions.

Because crypto can be a highly speculative and volatile asset class, asset values can change quickly with little predictability. Extreme swings in value can have a negative impact on participants, especially those nearing retirement.

As a result, as a fiduciary, we do not believe it would be prudent or in the best interest of plan participants to include crypto investments in our portfolio of funds.

Does Guideline offer ESG investment options?

Guideline Investments, LLC offers an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) fund through Vanguard’s FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX).

We are frequently asked about adding more ESG funds to our menu. Unfortunately, however, the industry currently continues to charge outsized premiums for these funds and has been slow to bring quality, low-cost ESG funds to market.

We’ll continue to monitor the ESG environment and look for opportunities to add more of these funds in the future.

Can I make changes to my Guideline portfolio?

You can make changes to your investment choices at any time within your Guideline dashboard. Here are step-by-step instructions for your 401(k) or IRA.

The information provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing, and you are advised to consult a qualified financial advisor.


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