Poik

Yeah. You're right. And their recounting of what they invested in makes no sense. I caught that later. So there's definitely poor choices somewhere they aren't mentioning.

Okay... I even came with receipts on this one. Am I just annoying? What's with the downvote, even on ones where people are suggesting target date funds? The fund will bounce, it's just a huge dip for one that was supposed to be, according to professionals, safe for retirement use. So sure, I can see the downvote as disagreeing with sensationalism, but I was contesting the suggestion that no funds dropped in that time. If it's because I got spammy, sure... I assume most people don't reread the other comments after the first time they go through, but I can stop.

For reference, target date funds are still usually good, but total stock index is always better in a ten year period, so whether they are actually worth it is questionable.

Not sure. I'm guessing interest rate stuff will mess with anything with bond holdings, so that probably had stuff to do with it. Other than that.. I don't know if I can convey a big enough shrug in text form.

Good point.

Yeah. Something doesn't add up. The worst dip of what you mention is the blue chip large cap, but the curve you posted looks like VTINX or the vanguard 2030-2040 target date funds, not any of the funds you listed.

Target date funds are also supposed to be set and forget, but this looks like the curve from Vanguards 2030 through at least 2040 target date funds.

The 2030 target fund is still down 8.8% since that date.

All target date funds through vanguard tanked that year unless you have 2060 or later as the target. 2030 lost 25% and hasn't yet recovered.

They likely were using a full retirement fund, like VTINX or Vanguard Target 2030 or something like that. All of them tanked in the end of 2021 up to target 2060. Even my shares in the Total Bond Index tanked then, and those are supposed to be as low risk as possible, literally.

Stop. The Vanguard retirement funds all did this if the target is before 2060. And those are invested in index funds by professionals. OP likely had the VTINX or a total bond fund, both of which did this that year and were recommended for during retirement. This is likely the more liquid portion of the portfolio, not the penny stock portion.

The close to retirement ones suffered that year. The 2030 target lost 25% in less than a year recently and hasn't recovered. Ironically, the high risk ones have been less risky during COVID than the low risk ones.

Check the vanguard target retirement income fund (vtinx) and other similar funds. There was a dip in 2021 that absolutely destroyed a number of retirements, my patents included, despite being low risk options. Total bond index funds also suffered for some reason, and those are as low risk as you can get. Every other fund I have is doing great, but the ones that are supposed to be safe are not doing great.