Can I pick the same stocks/funds my 401K has?

GE
NpTLiH

Go to company page GE

NpTLiH
Sep 9, 2020 13 Comments

I’m very happy with the performance of my 401K through Fidelity. I simply use a target date retirement fund and average around 10%.

Can I open a brokerage account with Fidelity and get the same mix? I couldn’t find a clear answer to this on Google. I just want a portion of my savings to be fluid but I’m tired of making less than 1% interest.

Thanks for the advice!

Early 30s
Midwest
TC $148K

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TOP 13 Comments
  • BGSAX, all the risk involved don't matter in the long run. If you don't like the expense ratio, then the vanguard or fidelity funds which replicate US large cap growth
    Sep 9, 2020 1
  • SAP
    LuvWalStrt

    Go to company page SAP

    PRE
    Amazon
    LuvWalStrt
    You can buy similar 401k funds as ETFs as well ...ETFs are best way to invest if you dont have time to research stocks.. google search for vanguard ETFs.. some of the popular ones are VGT, VUG, VTI, VOO, VT, VO, VB..they also have industry-specific like VHT, VFH.. very low expense ratio and 5-star rating from morning stars.. if you combine them properly you may get 20% annual return
    Sep 9, 2020 0
  • You can, but why would you at such an early age?
    Sep 9, 2020 2
    • GE
      NpTLiH

      Go to company page GE

      NpTLiH
      OP
      I’ve been watching lots of videos and taking investment classes but I just don’t want that kind of risk. I also stress over picking the right investment advisor. My 401K is working well so it would be awesome to just copy that. What do you recommend I do instead?
      Sep 9, 2020
    • Unless you pick US large cap growth from among your 401k plan options, you are effectively losing money by unnecessarily investing money in conservative funds. Over a long run stocks have always recovered.
      Sep 9, 2020
  • Visa
    fabvisa

    Go to company page Visa

    fabvisa
    Yes you can open brokerage account in fidelity and transfer funds from 401k account and play there. The good thing is you don’t owe any tax for the capital gains in this account.
    Sep 9, 2020 1
  • Yes you can mirror the mix pretty closely, actually! I recommend just buying a vanguard target date fund however since it will be much easier and should be able to get nearly the same risk/return profile.

    But if you wanted you could find the funds contained in the fidelity fund and buy them individually- I would not recommend this because it will require active rebalancing.
    Sep 9, 2020 1
    • GE
      NpTLiH

      Go to company page GE

      NpTLiH
      OP
      I will check out Vanguard. I definitely want to be hands off. I’m not experienced enough. But I’m happy with my 401Ks performance.
      Sep 9, 2020