Talbots 401k (RSVP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

The last scan of the year and the Balanced portfolio was mostly in the RVST Income Fund represented in the scan by WFSRF and it was the largest holding in the employee portfolio as well. The company stock had a very negative 5yr APR = -36.39% but was up 251% in 2009.

The Balanced portfolio second largest holding was a money market fund represented by FRTXX in the scan. There are several good funds in the plan that the employee portfolio under weighted. Their portfolio as of 12/31/2008 had a 5yr APR = 0.85%.

Diamond Offshore 401k Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

Another plan helped by company stock DO and the Balanced portfolio invested 6.3% of the plan in the stock. It is very volatile like most energy stocks. The employee portfolio had 5.0% in the company stock and 38.3% in the stable value fund FMIP2 in the scan. That portfolio returned only 2.82% as their mutual fund investments were all hurt by 2008. Most have bounced back in 2009 and DO stock is up 85.8% year-to-date.

Alberto Culver 401k (PSP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

A good plan that was helped by company stock ACV. The Balanced portfolio had 9.5% of the plan in the stock and the employee portfolio had 12% invested in the stock. The Vanguard target retirement funds without 5yr data were represented by the same year Wells Fargo funds.

The plan is well diversified and has a Wells Fargo stable return fund where the Balanced portfolio invested 79.5% of the plan.

Weatherford International 401k (SP) PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This is a good plan however company stock WFT sold off in 2008 like many but much more than most at down -68.5%. This reduced WFT 5yr APR to 3.72% even though the average return was 18.9% for the same 5 years. A textbook example of how volatiltiy kills compounding. The Balanced portfolio invested most of the plan in a Retirment Preservation Trust GIC.ekx in the scan and the employee portfolio invested 23.0% in that Trust. On a positive note WFT enjoyed a good 2009 and was up 64.5%. That helps but even so the new 5yr APR is still small at 6.7%because 2004 was up 42.5%.

Pacific Gas & Electric 401k (RSP) PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

The SEC 11-k for this plan as of 12/31/2008 listed only three options in the over 5% catagory. Fidelity is the trustee and more Fidelity funds were to be added on 7/31/2009. The scan has only the three 5% options; company stock PCG, a large company stock index fund FLCSX, and a stable value fund FMIP in the scan. When the 2009 additions and 2009 results are reported to the SEC a new scan will be posted.

Cameron International 401k (RSP) PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This plan was helped a little by company stock CAM and the Balanced portfolio had 2.2% of the plan invested in it and 89.5% in the stable value fund SVF.inv in the scan. The employee portolio had 23.3% of the portfolio invested in company stock and 20.4% in the stable value fund. Like most energy companies the stock returns were high with even higher volatility risk.

Thermo Fisher Scientific 401k (RP) PSDS Scan12/31/2008

This plan could use some help. The Balanced portfolio has 99.6% of the plan in the stable value fund SVF.hpx in the scan. The employee portfolio as of 12/31/2008 had TRRBX as its largest holding at 14.5% of the portfolio and TRRBX had a negative 5yr APR = -0.32%. T. Rowe Price is the trustee and they have many funds with positive 5yr returns, PRGMX for example or another bond fund or Treasury index fund with positive 5yr Sharpe ratios would help. On a positive note company stock TMO has a positive 5yr APR = 6.23% and is up 43.9% year-to-date.

Western Digital 401k Plan PSDS Scan 6/30/2009

This scan uses 6/30/2009 data and the Balanced portfolio lifeboat is getting smaller as markets are starting to turn up. The Balanced portfolio still has 73.6% of the plan in the stable value fund NGSVF in the scan and 5.8% in company stock WDC which has a high return APR = 21.4% but with very high volatility STD = 78.2%. The employee portfolio as of 6/30/2009 had 15.4% invested in company stock and 26.2% invested in the stable value fund. The T. Rowe Price Equity Index Trust was represented by SPY in the scan.

Health Net 401k (SP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

The Balanced portfolio does not have any company stock HNT which had a 5yr APR= -19.76% with high volatility. The not so Balanced portfolio has 90.4% of the plan in the stable value fund SVF.hpx in the scan. The stable value fund was the largest holding in the employee portfolio too at 14.3%. Keep in mind volatility kills compounding.

Cascade 401k (SIP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This plan was helped a little by company stock CASC and like most hurt by 2008. The so called Balanced portfolio has 90.7% of the plan in the stable value fund represented by the index SVF.hpx in the scan. The Putnam S&P 500 Index fund was reresented by SPY. The employee portfolio's largest holding was the stable value fund at 16.6% of the plan.

Toro 401k (ISP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This plan was scanned last December before 12/31/2008 data were available. This scan includes the target retirement funds but the Balanced portfolio still only invested in the stable value fund DSVG1 in the scan and company stock TTC. The employee portfolio as of 12/31/2008 had 30.7% invested in company and 21.7% invested in the stable value fund.

Brinker International 401k (SP) PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This is plan has no stable value fund and the Balanced portfolio invested most of the money in the money market fund FRTXX 62.4% and the bond fund PTTRX 29.0%. The employee portfolio had FCNTX as its largest holding at 16.7% and a small amount in company stock EAT at 8.6%. Company stock had a negative 5yr APR = -12.53% and was volatile.

Fossil 401k (SRP) Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

Another lifeboat portfolio with the Balanced portfolio investing 92.8% of the plan in the stable value fund SVF.hpx in the scan. It is also the largest holding in the employee portfolio at 40.5%. The employees also invested 6.8% in company stock FOSL which is very volatile and had a negative 5yr APR = -2.28 as of 12/31/2008. It is up 100.2% year to date in 2009.

Limited Brands 401k (RSP) PSDS Scaan 12/31/2008

This plan was hurt by 2008 and company stock LTD. The Balanced portfolio invested 85% of the plan in the GIC represented by the index GIC.ekx in the scan and the rest in PTTRX. In the scan the Schwab Managed Retirement funds (SWBRX etc.) were represented by the Fidelity funds for the same period which have 5yr data. The empoyee portfolio had the GIC as its largest holding with 34.8% invested in it and 9.1% in company stock.

Blackstone Audio GRAMMY Nominations

An early Christmas gift for the family this year was having two GRAMMY nominations for Blackstone Audio produced by two of the Grandchildren, Josh and Casey, in the 1987 group picture on this Blog. They have grown up of course and Josh is now President of the company.

AZZ Inc. 401k (EBP&T) Plan PSDS Scan 2/28/2009

This scan is for a 5yr period ending 2/28/2009 not 12/31/2008. It is a small plan with no stable value fund but a money market fund and a company stock AZZ with a 5yr APR just over 30%. It produced an unusal Balanced portfolio with 30.6% of the plan in company stock and the rest in the money market fund MCMXX. We live in interesting times. It appears that the employee portfolio may have been spooked by the rapid decline in everything going on in Q4 2008 and Q1 2009. They had only 2.2% invested in company stock.

UNUM Group 401k (RP) PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

A plan helped a little by company stock and hurt by 2008 like many. The so called Balanced portfolio has 85.4% of the plan invested in a Fidelity stable value fund FMIP2 in the scan. The employee portfolio largest holding is also the stable value fund with 22.6% of the portfolio in FMIP2. The plan trustee is Fidelity and many of the funds are from Fidelity with FCNTX being the employee portfolio second largest holding.

Plantronics 401k Plan PSDS Scan 12/31/2008

This plan was not helped by company stock. The Balanced portfolio has 62.9% of the plan in the GIC represented by the index GIC.ekx in the scan. The employee portfolio has 5.7% of their money in company stock and their 5yr APR was only 1.04%. In the scan MKAXX was represented by VMMXX which has 5yr data.