Gyroscopic Investing

I currently invest in the 4 x 25 permanent portfolio.  I also have a 401k that I invest in to get my company match.  I treat my 401k as my variable portfolio.  I would like to use a moderate to aggressive strategy within my variable portfolio.  I respect the financial minds here, so I thought it would be interesting to get some of your input.  Here are my investment options:


Investment NamePrior Month  Prior 3 Months  Prior 12 Months  Prior 3 Years  Prior 5 Years  Prior 10 Years  Net Expense Ratio  Ticker
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGT TODAY0.59%-0.61%16.67%4.01%4.46%4.37%0.45%WOTDX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20100.83%-0.21%22.15%2.38%3.98%3.35%0.48%WFOAX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20201.43%0.78%33.98%-0.23%3.37%2.14%0.50%WFOBX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20302.08%1.80%48.76%-2.42%2.55%1.30%0.51%WFOOX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20402.52%2.50%58.11%-3.53%2.36%0.47%0.52%WFOSX
WF ADVTG DOW JONES TARGET 20502.53%2.60%58.33%N/AN/AN/A0.52%WFQFX
WF COLL STABLE RETURN (N4)0.21%0.69%2.86%3.85%4.01%4.56%0.40%DSVG1
WF ADVTG GOV SECURITIES-ADMIN0.31%-0.07%6.49%6.45%5.38%6.34%0.70%WGSDX
PIMCO TOTAL RETURN0.49%1.31%16.38%9.19%7.07%7.54%0.71%PTRAX
WF ADVTG C&B LARGE CAP VALUE3.72%1.58%57.95%-6.51%-0.05%6.41%0.95%CBLLX
WF ADVANTAGE INDEX - ADMIN3.06%1.30%53.75%-5.94%0.10%-0.51%0.25%NVINX
AMERICAN FUNDS GRW FD AMERICA3.01%1.07%49.69%-3.64%2.62%0.89%0.70%RGAEX
WF ADVTG SMALL CAP VALUE - INV5.30%10.27%79.74%0.74%5.60%11.16%1.36%SSMVX
WF ADVANTAGE SMALL CAP OPP-ADM2.98%7.47%59.36%-0.68%5.78%9.70%1.20%NVSOX
HARTFORD SMALL COMPANY HLS IB5.23%7.94%53.86%-5.58%4.20%-0.63%0.96%HDMBX
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON WORLD-0.07%-1.82%51.93%-5.87%1.79%3.66%1.10%TEMWX
AMERICAN FDS EUROPACIFIC GRWTH-0.25%-4.62%52.91%-2.57%5.91%2.83%0.85%REREX


Does anyone have any suggestions on what fund or mix of funds to invest in?

Have you considered filling the 401(k) with Treasury bonds to shelter the income? Does your 401(k) offer a brokerage window to do direct purchases?

It doesn't offer a brokerage window.  I have my permanent portfolio in a Roth IRA.  I found it messy to have some pieces in the 401k and some in the Roth.  It made rebalancing difficult and also I didn't know how to weigh them to make up for their difference in tax treatment.  That's why I came to the conclusion to just use my 401k as a variable portfolio.

Then in that case I'd consider the "Advantage Index" NVINX fund. It's an S&P 500 index. I would have suggested even the small cap value fund, but the expense ratio is outrageous at 1.36% a year. Mixing with the EuroPacific fund is another option if you want to just reach for the brass ring and go heavy in stocks.