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What to you use for small accounts?

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Aug 31, 2010 9:09 am

Just curious what everyone's go to products are on small accounts, such as 5k and under. I'm sure most of you have minimums much higher than this but won't say no when the family member of the main account holder needs to start their first IRA or something similar. So what choices do you like for these accounts?

Aug 31, 2010 1:22 pm

I think there are lots of great options, depending on what the client is looking for.  I like to use some sort of asset allocation strategy fund for that kind of money.  John Hancock has some uber diversified funds for any money over $2500.  They call them Lifestyle portfolios.  Pacific Life has something similar.  I like those two specifically because they are multi manager, fund of funds products with rebalancing and research to back up the portfolios.  

Almost all mutual fund families have their own versions, so those would be a good option also.  Not quite as good in my opinion as the multi manager product, but good none the less. 

If you want to go with a single fund then you could pick something easy like Capital Income Builder, Ivy Asset Strategy, or Blackrock Global Allocation. 

I'd hesitate to use something with a singular focus like a large cap growth fund.  Look for something that can adapt to the environment or that has enough asset classes represented that you always have something in the portfolio making money. 

Not that someone with $5000 for their first IRA will know or care about asset allocation or strategy, but you will and you won't have to spend a ton of time thinking about what to do next year with the next $5000. 

Aug 31, 2010 3:17 pm

Franklin Temp. assett allocation fund.  Best performance you can get in that space.  Ask the client if they are conservative, in the middle, or willing to take risk.  Plug and play.

Sep 1, 2010 9:08 pm

I would say MFS and John Hancock have some of the best Lifecycle/Allocation funds.

Sep 10, 2010 5:26 pm

I agree with all the posts.   I like MFS allocation funds personally, super lower maintanence.  Also,  Ivy Asset Strategy fund is a GREAT fund to start with and build off of for future contributions.