What is a good yardstick to measure my 401k against?

Question

I want to compare my annualized return over the past 5 years to the average market return, but I can't seem to find the market numbers.

Answer 1

Get out of the yard. Are you aware that you can lose all the money in your 401K and that you are gambling with your retirement? Were you born AFTER Enron?

Personally me, I wouldn't get a 401K match or no match. If my employer matches a loss I'm not too impressed.

Why don't you try something more stable like an FDIC insured bank not about to go under CDs?

Answer 2

Morningstar or Ibbotson.   Bloomberg or factset, compustat if you're lucky enough to have access.

the annual/quarterly statements as well as prospectuses should have this info already.  

for example, say you have stock funds in your 401K.  and say they're all growth funds.  the statement should have a little section where it does a benchmark comparison showing your returns versus the market overall (liek the S&P 500, or Dow 30), but also it should show your returns versus all other growth funds.

so if we're talking funds, morningstar is your best bet.  for sure.

Answer 3

S&P 500 is one index.

Answer 4

Use "SPY", which just tracks the S&P500, or the Dow...