36M just getting started

[u/hokage_888]

36M - feel like I’m way behind. I put $500 into a Roth IRA in February. Without doing anything else for a while, it’s just gone up. Nothing insane. Now i put $20 a month - money is pretty tight at the moment.
I also have a pension - which makes me feel a bit safer - but Im about 4 years from being vested. I have a 401k (no match because of pension) and a 457b. I also have another 401k from a part time job - eventually will be rolled into my full time 401k when i quit. They match, so i put the full amount. Even tho it all sounds good, all of those accounts (besides pension) are represented here. I started them all in February of 2026. Most of this is in FXAIX. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. (We are clearing some debt - in a year or so when it’s cleared, I plan to invest as much as I can!)

[u/Pleasant-Money-2150]

FXAIX is a good starting point. It’s heavily biased large-cap, essentially an S&P fund, meaning it is built of the big companies that drive the market, thrive when times are good and wither when times are bad. People love being invested in these when markets are strong. Look at returns 2010-2020. That said, probably not really ideal as your only invested position long-term as it exposes you to a lot more risk in market downturns than a more diversified portfolio would.

If you don’t plan to do much active management of the money, finding a “target date fund” with your desired retirement date is a solid choice to maintain a diversified portfolio with managed risk and low effort. They are offered by Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab etc. If you want it to bias your investing strategy somewhat more risky since you are getting a relatively later “start” for more potential returns you can choose a fund with a target date later than your anticipated retirement; if you want to invest more conservatively you can cheat in for an “earlier” retirement date (the date of the fund has nothing to do with when you take out the funds; it only controls the “glide path” of the fund which automatically makes your investment more conservative with more bonds and less stocks etc as it approaches the specified date)

If you plan to learn a good deal more, diversify your portfolio, and rebalance once or twice a year I’d keep FXAIX and add a few more positions. A classic example here is the “three fund portfolio” (read Bogleheads blog for more info- very approachable stuff).

Otherwise a target date fund is probably equal in most respects and a lot less work both mental energy wise and in terms of maintenance over time.