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First cryptocurrency, now this. 401(k)s are looking less and less attractive. I need to find an alternative and get my money out.

toomuchtodo 1y ago
Not investing advice. 401ks remain fine as investment strategy assuming there is at least a handful of index or target date funds providing the capital market exposure you're after at very low expense ratio cost. But, if your employer's plan doesn't allow in service transfers to a brokerage held IRA, those funds are going to be held captive until you separate and can wholesale transfer. Find the best deal you can within them for your time horizon of having the funds tied up.
- JohnFen 1y ago
  Yes, I understand that very well, but I'm taking into account considerations beyond just that. This is piling on to my increasing sense that getting as much separation between me and the US economy as possible is the wise move.
  - toomuchtodo 1y ago
    Re-allocating away from US economic exposure is somewhat straightforward. VXUS vs VTI/ITOT, international bond funds (BNDX) vs US bond funds (BND), etc. In my opinion, the harder part is the actual infra you need for value and securities ownership: your brokerage and your bank. As a US citizen, it is a challenge to find a financial services firm outside the US who is going to be willing to custodian and manage securities and other investment assets for you without you being a bona fide resident of their jurisdiction (if you're wealthy enough, this is of course not an issue). Am I at the point where I would consider moving my assets to an entity outside of US control and perhaps acquire hard assets outside the US (real estate, physical gold, etc)? Not yet, but we are getting there slowly, and it is better to have a plan and not need it than to need a plan and not have it.
    - toomuchtodo 1y ago
      Citation: Trump Tariffs Are Making International Stock Markets Great Again - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-08/trump-tariffs-are-making-international-stock-markets-great-again https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-08/trump-tar... | https://archive.today/XtRZI https://archive.today/XtRZI - August 8th, 2025
dgs_sgd 1y ago
But doesn't one normally have a great deal of control over their 401(k) investments? Just because these assets are allowed doesn't mean you have to allocate to them.
- JohnFen 1y ago
  You're probably right. Nonetheless, these moves (especially the cryptocurrency part) make me nervous, not only about my 401k, but they also increase my anxiety about the economy in general. I think I'll just avoid the whole issue by moving that money somewhere a bit less tied to the US economy.

toomuchtodo 1y ago

Not investing advice. 401ks remain fine as investment strategy assuming there is at least a handful of index or target date funds providing the capital market exposure you're after at very low expense ratio cost. But, if your employer's plan doesn't allow in service transfers to a brokerage held IRA, those funds are going to be held captive until you separate and can wholesale transfer. Find the best deal you can within them for your time horizon of having the funds tied up.

JohnFen 1y ago
Yes, I understand that very well, but I'm taking into account considerations beyond just that. This is piling on to my increasing sense that getting as much separation between me and the US economy as possible is the wise move.
- toomuchtodo 1y ago
  Re-allocating away from US economic exposure is somewhat straightforward. VXUS vs VTI/ITOT, international bond funds (BNDX) vs US bond funds (BND), etc. In my opinion, the harder part is the actual infra you need for value and securities ownership: your brokerage and your bank. As a US citizen, it is a challenge to find a financial services firm outside the US who is going to be willing to custodian and manage securities and other investment assets for you without you being a bona fide resident of their jurisdiction (if you're wealthy enough, this is of course not an issue). Am I at the point where I would consider moving my assets to an entity outside of US control and perhaps acquire hard assets outside the US (real estate, physical gold, etc)? Not yet, but we are getting there slowly, and it is better to have a plan and not need it than to need a plan and not have it.
  - toomuchtodo 1y ago
    Citation: Trump Tariffs Are Making International Stock Markets Great Again - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-08/trump-tariffs-are-making-international-stock-markets-great-again https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-08/trump-tar... | https://archive.today/XtRZI https://archive.today/XtRZI - August 8th, 2025

dgs_sgd 1y ago

But doesn't one normally have a great deal of control over their 401(k) investments? Just because these assets are allowed doesn't mean you have to allocate to them.

JohnFen 1y ago
You're probably right. Nonetheless, these moves (especially the cryptocurrency part) make me nervous, not only about my 401k, but they also increase my anxiety about the economy in general. I think I'll just avoid the whole issue by moving that money somewhere a bit less tied to the US economy.