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Americans have $4.4 trillion invested in 401(k)s, according to the Investment Company Institute, making these tax-deferred savings accounts a vital part of retirement planning for many.
BrightScope, a financial-information company that rates retirement savings plans, compiled this list for Kiplinger of the most popular mutual funds based on funds' 401(k) assets under management.
Here is the list of the top 101 funds for 401(k)s.
| 1 | Vanguard Institutional Index | VINIX | 11.19 | 17.55 | 16.22 | 7.73 | Large Blend |
| 2 | PIMCO Total Return | PTTRX | 3.07 | 2.27 | 3.97 | 5.93 | Intermediate-Term Bond |
| 3 | Fidelity Contrafund | FCNTX | 15.78 | 18.45 | 16.79 | 9.75 | Large Growth |
| 4 | American Funds EuroPacific Growth | AEPGX | 2.87 | 11.67 | 7.86 | 6.91 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 5 | Fidelity Spartan 500 Index | FUSEX | 11.13 | 17.48 | 16.15 | 7.66 | Large Blend |
| 6 | Vanguard Total Bond Market Index | VBMFX | 2.64 | 1.37 | 3.08 | 4.47 | Intermediate-Term Bond |
| 7 | Fidelity Growth Company | FDGRX | 21.71 | 21.85 | 20.05 | 11.50 | Large Growth |
| 8 | Vanguard Wellington | VWELX | 6.41 | 11.81 | 11.29 | 7.83 | Moderate Allocation |
| 9 | Dodge & Cox Stock | DODGX | 6.70 | 20.13 | 16.43 | 6.94 | Large Value |
| 10 | Vanguard 500 Index | VFINX | 11.05 | 17.40 | 16.07 | 7.60 | Large Blend |
| 11 | American Funds Growth Fund of America | AGTHX | 12.58 | 19.53 | 15.63 | 8.10 | Large Growth |
| 12 | Fidelity Freedom 2020 | FFFDX | 5.59 | 8.68 | 8.65 | 5.43 | Target Date 2016-2020 |
| 13 | Fidelity Low-Priced Stock | FLPSX | 9.32 | 18.53 | 15.90 | 9.12 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 14 | Vanguard PRIMECAP | VPMCX | 11.37 | 21.76 | 17.58 | 10.00 | Large Growth |
| 15 | Vanguard Extended Market Index | VEXMX | 10.80 | 19.35 | 16.45 | 8.76 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 16 | Fidelity Freedom 2030 | FFFEX | 7.06 | 11.04 | 10.20 | 5.72 | Target Date 2026-2030 |
| 17 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 | VTTVX | 5.34 | 11.12 | 10.42 | 6.19 | Target Date 2021-2025 |
| 18 | Vanguard Windsor II | VWNFX | 7.54 | 16.06 | 14.95 | 6.84 | Large Value |
| 19 | Fidelity Diversified International | FDIVX | 6.93 | 14.50 | 9.88 | 5.80 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 20 | Vanguard Mid Capitalizatoin Index | VMCIX | 12.82 | 20.19 | 16.99 | 8.98 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 21 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 | VTWNX | 5.09 | 10.11 | 9.71 | - | Target Date 2016-2020 |
| 22 | Dodge & Cox International Stock | DODFX | -4.32 | 14.54 | 8.62 | 6.47 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 23 | Fidelity Freedom 2025 | FFTWX | 6.19 | 10.21 | 9.66 | 5.79 | Target Date 2021-2025 |
| 24 | Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index | VGTSX | -3.86 | 9.35 | 5.88 | 4.96 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 25 | Vanguard Small Cap Index | NAESX | 10.23 | 18.77 | 16.29 | 8.65 | Small Blend |
| 26 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 | TRRBX | 4.49 | 11.03 | 10.50 | 6.65 | Target Date 2016-2020 |
| 27 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 | VTTHX | 5.81 | 13.15 | 11.83 | 6.55 | Target Date 2031-2035 |
| 28 | Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Index | VTSMX | 11.03 | 17.78 | 16.22 | 7.95 | Large Blend |
| 29 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 | VTHRX | 5.53 | 12.13 | 11.13 | - | Target Date 2026-2030 |
| 30 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 | TRRCX | 5.88 | 13.45 | 12.13 | 7.16 | Target Date 2026-2030 |
| 31 | Fidelity Freedom 2040 | FFFFX | 7.42 | 12.31 | 10.91 | 5.86 | Target Date 2036-2040 |
| 32 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 | VTXVX | 4.41 | 8.70 | 8.81 | 5.88 | Target Date 2011-2015 |
| 33 | Fidelity Freedom 2035 | FFTHX | 7.42 | 12.16 | 10.81 | 5.89 | Target Date 2031-2035 |
| 34 | T. Rowe Price Growth Stock | PRGFX | 19.77 | 21.22 | 19.00 | 9.69 | Large Growth |
| 35 | T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth | RPMGX | 20.11 | 22.13 | 18.35 | 11.17 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 36 | Harbor Capital Appreciation Instl | HACAX | 20.47 | 21.67 | 18.61 | 9.35 | Large Growth |
| 37 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 | TRRHX | 5.30 | 12.35 | 11.36 | 6.91 | Target Date 2021-2025 |
| 38 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 | VFORX | 5.85 | 13.74 | 12.14 | - | Target Date 2036-2040 |
| 39 | Fidelity Freedom 2015 | FFVFX | 5.12 | 7.95 | 7.97 | 5.39 | Target Date 2011-2015 |
| 40 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 | TRRDX | 6.81 | 14.82 | 12.96 | 7.42 | Target Date 2036-2040 |
| 41 | Harbor International | HAINX | -0.64 | 9.62 | 7.73 | 7.64 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 42 | MainStay Large Cap Growth | MLAAX | 17.98 | 19.60 | 17.08 | 9.37 | Large Growth |
| 43 | T. Rowe Price Equity Income | PRFDX | 1.65 | 13.47 | 12.56 | 6.29 | Large Value |
| 44 | Fidelity Balanced | FBALX | 9.00 | 12.56 | 11.77 | 7.21 | Moderate Allocation |
| 45 | Vanguard International Growth | VWIGX | -1.22 | 11.42 | 8.17 | 6.55 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 46 | Fidelity Puritan | FPURX | 9.64 | 12.95 | 12.05 | 7.33 | Moderate Allocation |
| 47 | Neuberger Berman Genesis | NBGNX | 10.72 | 15.72 | 14.55 | 8.71 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 48 | American Funds American Balanced | ABALX | 7.80 | 12.29 | 12.16 | 7.00 | Moderate Allocation |
| 49 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 | VTIVX | 5.84 | 13.75 | 12.14 | 6.82 | Target Date 2041-2045 |
| 50 | Columbia Acorn Z | ACRNX | 9.95 | 15.09 | 13.78 | 8.10 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 51 | Oakmark Equity & Income | OAKBX | 3.82 | 11.90 | 10.06 | 7.63 | Moderate Allocation |
| 52 | T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth | TRBCX | 18.54 | 21.99 | 19.89 | 9.75 | Large Growth |
| 53 | Vanguard Balanced Index | VBINX | 7.71 | 11.04 | 11.02 | 6.86 | Moderate Allocation |
| 54 | Thornburg International Value | TGVAX | 12.94 | 10.77 | 7.43 | 6.76 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 55 | American Beacon Lg Cap Value | AADEX | 6.02 | 17.69 | 14.84 | 7.03 | Large Value |
| 56 | MFS Value | MEIAX | 10.65 | 17.59 | 15.04 | 7.85 | Large Value |
| 57 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 | TRRJX | 6.40 | 14.28 | 12.67 | 7.27 | Target Date 2031-2035 |
| 58 | American Funds Fundamental Investors | ANCFX | 10.51 | 17.19 | 14.66 | 8.52 | Large Blend |
| 59 | Fidelity Spartan Extended Market Index | FSEMX | 11.09 | 19.29 | 16.52 | 9.05 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 60 | Artisan Mid Cap | ARTMX | 15.86 | 19.11 | 17.90 | 10.96 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 61 | BlackRock Equity Dividend | MBDVX | 6.42 | 11.32 | 11.97 | 6.93 | Large Value |
| 62 | American Funds Washington Mutual | AWSHX | 7.47 | 15.09 | 15.04 | 7.08 | Large Value |
| 63 | American Funds New Perspective | ANWPX | 9.71 | 15.55 | 12.76 | 8.70 | World Stock |
| 64 | Vanguard Explorer | VEXPX | 13.37 | 20.04 | 16.88 | 8.10 | Small Growth |
| 65 | Vanguard Growth Index | VIGRX | 14.82 | 18.49 | 17.53 | 8.85 | Large Growth |
| 66 | Fidelity Freedom 2045 | FFFGX | 7.48 | 12.57 | 11.06 | - | Target Date 2041-2045 |
| 67 | Dodge & Cox Balanced | DODBX | 5.23 | 15.23 | 13.09 | 6.62 | Moderate Allocation |
| 68 | Vanguard Instl Total Stock Market Index | VITNX | 11.13 | 17.98 | 16.41 | 8.12 | Large Blend |
| 69 | Fidelity Freedom 2010 | FFFCX | 4.50 | 7.42 | 7.59 | 5.22 | Target Date 2000-2010 |
| 70 | Fidelity Spartan US Bond Idx Investor | FBIDX | 2.89 | 1.41 | 3.10 | 4.25 | Intermediate-Term Bond |
| 71 | T. Rowe Price Institutional Large Cap Growth | TRLGX | 18.63 | 22.91 | 19.46 | 9.90 | Large Growth |
| 72 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 | TRRGX | 3.65 | 9.59 | 9.46 | 6.36 | Target Date 2011-2015 |
| 73 | Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs | VIPSX | -1.45 | -1.43 | 3.19 | 4.14 | Inflation-Protected Bond |
| 74 | American Funds Capital World Growth and Income | CWGIX | 4.36 | 13.97 | 10.83 | 7.58 | World Stock |
| 75 | Fidelity OTC Portfolio | FOCPX | 21.30 | 25.44 | 20.33 | 12.18 | Large Growth |
| 76 | Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value | GSMCX | 6.44 | 17.74 | 14.61 | 7.94 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 77 | Morgan Stanley Inst Mid Cap Growth | MPEGX | 7.98 | 15.92 | 12.65 | 9.21 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 78 | BlackRock Global Allocation | MBLOX | 1.33 | 7.20 | 6.11 | 6.02 | World Allocation |
| 79 | Oppenheimer Developing Markets | ODMAX | -14.54 | 2.90 | 3.02 | 9.14 | Diversified Emerging Mkts |
| 80 | T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Stock | OTCFX | 11.86 | 17.51 | 17.00 | 9.58 | Small Growth |
| 81 | AllianzGI NFJ Small-Cap Value | PSVIX | -2.16 | 12.63 | 11.95 | 8.25 | Small Value |
| 82 | Fidelity Spartan International Index | FSIIX | -0.22 | 12.31 | 7.95 | 5.08 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 83 | Fidelity Blue Chip Growth | FBGRX | 19.56 | 22.90 | 19.46 | 9.94 | Large Growth |
| 84 | Fidelity Freedom 2050 | FFFHX | 7.41 | 12.68 | 11.16 | - | Target Date 2046-2050 |
| 85 | JPMorgan Mid Cap Value Instl | FLMVX | 13.21 | 18.92 | 17.63 | 9.42 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 86 | Schwab S&P 500 Index | SWPPX | 11.08 | 17.45 | 16.13 | 7.68 | Large Blend |
| 87 | T. Rowe Price New Horizons | PRNHX | 18.51 | 22.30 | 22.19 | 11.53 | Small Growth |
| 88 | Vanguard Windsor | VWNDX | 8.39 | 19.68 | 16.06 | 6.89 | Large Value |
| 89 | JPMorgan Large Cap Growth Select | SEEGX | 20.70 | 18.99 | 18.62 | 9.95 | Large Growth |
| 90 | Vanguard Value Index | VIVAX | 7.70 | 16.84 | 14.81 | 6.80 | Large Value |
| 91 | Davis New York Venture | NYVTX | 9.76 | 16.92 | 13.43 | 6.37 | Large Blend |
| 92 | Artisan Mid Cap Value | ARTQX | -1.59 | 13.46 | 12.86 | 8.08 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 93 | Fidelity International Discovery | FIGRX | 6.35 | 14.15 | 9.53 | 6.25 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 94 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 | VFIFX | 5.84 | 13.75 | 12.15 | - | Target Date 2046-2050 |
| 95 | Vanguard Morgan Growth | VMRGX | 17.93 | 19.55 | 16.93 | 8.42 | Large Growth |
| 96 | Vanguard Target Retirement Income | VTINX | 3.13 | 5.13 | 6.32 | 5.32 | Retirement Income |
| 97 | PIMCO Real Return | PRTNX | -2.76 | -1.67 | 2.95 | 4.24 | Inflation-Protected Bond |
| 98 | Vanguard Developed Markets Index Admiral | VTMGX | -0.51 | 12.36 | 7.88 | 5.14 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 99 | Vanguard Small Cap Growth Index | VISGX | 12.72 | 18.64 | 17.18 | 9.45 | Small Growth |
| 100 | American Beacon Small Cap Value Instl | AVFIX | 6.84 | 17.77 | 14.68 | 7.39 | Small Value |
| 101 | Vanguard Wellesley Income | VWINX | 3.88 | 6.70 | 8.57 | 6.99 | Conservative Allocation |
Nellie S. Huang is Senior Associate Editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.
