The Best Index funds for your 401k, IRA, Roth IRA

Ticker

Fund name

1-yr
return

3-yr
return

5-yr
return

Exp.
ratio

Min.
inv.

Style

LARGE-CAP

FSMKX

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Investor

-23.4%

0.0%

4.5%

0.1%

$10,000

Blend

FSTMX

Fidelity Spartan Total Market Index Inv

-22.6%

0.4%

5.4%

0.1%

$10,000

Blend

VFINX

Vanguard 500 Index

-23.4%

-0.0%

4.5%

0.1%

$3,000

Blend

VTSMX

Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx

-22.7%

0.3%

5.3%

0.1%

$3,000

Blend

MIDCAP

VIMSX

Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index

-26.3%

-1.3%

7.3%

0.2%

$3,000

Blend

SMALL-CAP

NAESX

Vanguard Small Cap Index

-19.7%

0.7%

7.8%

0.2%

$3,000

Blend

SPECIALTY

VGSIX

Vanguard REIT Index

-15.0%

4.5%

12.2%

0.2%

$3,000

Real estate

FOREIGN

FSIIX

Fidelity Spartan International Index Inv

-30.0%

1.8%

9.5%

0.1%

$10,000

Blend

VEIEX

Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx

-34.8%

7.7%

18.0%

0.4%

$3,000

Emerging markets

VGTSX

Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index

-31.2%

2.6%

10.6%

0.0%

$3,000

Blend

BOND

VBISX

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index

4.4%

4.5%

3.2%

0.2%

$3,000

Bonds

VBMFX

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

4.0%

4.2%

3.8%

0.2%

$3,000

Bonds

Data as of: October 1, 2008 Source CNN.Money.com