Investment Advice
Diversification, low-cost funds, and a long-term strategy.

Low-cost funds, built-in investment advice
We make it easy to save for the future
Making investment decisions can be hard, especially when you’re just getting started. For employees, Human Interest Advisors (“HIA”) provides investment advice via our Model Portfolios.1 Our Model Portfolios are designed to do the heavy lifting so you can start saving in a few simple steps, while helping to keep your fees low with affordable funds.
Think of a Model Portfolio as a pre-built portfolio of funds. Instead of individually selecting from a potentially extensive menu of mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment options within a retirement plan, you can choose a Model Portfolio that aligns with your risk tolerance (e.g., conservative, moderate, aggressive) and time horizon (i.e., years until retirement).
Investment strategies should not be one-size-fits-all
Our Model Portfolio design can be customized to align with your risk tolerance. If you select a Model Portfolio1, we automatically diversify your assets in low-cost mutual funds and collective investment trusts (CITs) and rebalance them quarterly to help make sure your portfolio stays within target allocations.
You can further refine the Model Portfolio’s risk profile by completing our Risk Tolerance Questionnaire. Those who want more flexibility can even choose and manage their own portfolio from available funds.
Flexibility and responsibility: Understanding your retirement plan investment choices
We understand that some individuals may prefer a more hands-on approach to managing their retirement investments. If you are seeking greater flexibility, we offer the option to choose and manage your own investment portfolio from your plan's universe of available funds.
The self-directed option: You're in control
If you opt for this self-directed path, you have the freedom to:
Select specific funds: Build a portfolio that aligns with your personal investment strategy and preferences from the available fund options.
Customize your allocations: Determine the percentage of your contributions in each chosen fund.
Key responsibility: Maintaining your asset allocation
It's important to understand that managing your own portfolio means you are responsible for establishing and maintaining your portfolio's asset allocation. This includes regularly reviewing your investment choices.
Making any necessary adjustments so that your portfolio remains aligned with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
Rebalancing your portfolio as needed due to market fluctuations or changes in your investment strategy.
Important clarification regarding HIA advice
Please be aware that individuals who choose to manage their own portfolio will not receive asset allocation recommendations or ongoing rebalancing. By choosing the self-directed option, you gain increased control and flexibility, but also take on the responsibility for selecting and managing your investments. As a reminder, the Model Portfolios will continue being available, and at any time, individuals can select from the Model Portfolios and discontinue managing their own portfolio.
Funds from a wide range of asset classes
For employers, HIA offers either discretionary investment management through the selection, construction, and oversight of a diversified plan investment menu (3(38) fund lineup) or non-discretionary investment advice utilizing HIA’s 3(21) service offering.3 From the investment menu, employers can select mutual funds and collective investment trusts from nearly every major asset class to further customize their lineup. We offer access to several low-cost funds from leading investment companies.2
Our 3(38) fund lineup3,4
U.S. Stocks
Fund Name | Symbol | Expense Ratio |
---|---|---|
Blackrock Equity Index | WBREOX | 0.015% |
Blackrock Russell 3000 Index | MG7283 | 0.02% |
Vanguard Value Index Admiral | VVIAX | 0.05% |
Vanguard Growth Index Admiral | VIGAX | 0.05% |
Vanguard Mid Cap Index Admiral | VIMAX | 0.05% |
Vanguard Mid Cap Growth Index Admiral | VMGMX | 0.07% |
Vanguard Mid Cap Value Index Admiral | VMVAX | 0.07% |
Vanguard Small Cap Index Admiral | VSMAX | 0.05% |
Vanguard Small Cap Growth Index Admiral | VSGAX | 0.07% |
Vanguard Small Cap Value Index Admiral | VSIAX | 0.07% |
Vanguard FTSE Social Index Admiral | VFTAX | 0.14% |
International Stocks
Fund Name | Symbol | Expense Ratio |
---|---|---|
Blackrock MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. Index | WBRMAX | 0.055% |
DFA International Core Equity I | DFIEX | 0.23% |
DFA International Value I | DFIVX | 0.28% |
DFA Emerging Markets Small Cap I | DEMSX | 0.59% |
DFA Emerging Markets Value I | DFEVX | 0.44% |
Fidelity International Index Fund | FSPSX | 0.035% |
Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Admiral | VEMAX | 0.14% |
Bonds
Fund Name | Symbol | Expense Ratio |
---|---|---|
Blackrock U.S. Debt Index | MG7282 | 0.025% |
Nuveen Core Impact Bond R6 | TSBIX | 0.36% |
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Admiral | VBIRX | 0.07% |
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Admiral | VBILX | 0.07% |
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Admiral | VTABX | 0.11% |
Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Admiral | VTAPX | 0.06% |
Our investment philosophy
Expense management
Just as interest compounds, so can fees. Extra fees can add up in the long run. We believe utilizing low-cost mutual funds and CITs is an efficient way to optimize a portfolio.
Avoid performance chasing
401(k)s are a long-term investment, not a short-term bet. We’ll help you stay the course and weather the inevitable ups and downs of the market. For those in a Model Portfolio,1 we'll automatically rebalance your portfolio on a quarterly basis to help provide an appropriate level of diversification and help your portfolio allocation stay consistent with your selected risk level. Please be aware that rebalancing does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
Diversified portfolios
Our Model Portfolios follow Modern Portfolio Theory, which has the goal of maximizing potential reward for a given level of risk. Our Models are designed to help you invest across several asset classes to spread out your risk. Again, diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
Take the right amount of risk
A 25-year-old and a 55-year-old typically should not have the same 401(k) strategy. We offer tools and resources to help you figure out how to balance risk and reward to align with your goals.