The 100 Most Popular Mutual Funds for 401(k) Retirement Savings

These mutual funds have the most assets under management in 401(k) workplace retirement plans.

Close up of a 401(k) statement. The statement is surrounded by a cup of coffee, a pie chart of personal finances, a calculator and a pen with a soft focus on a graph in the background.This im
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There's no denying the importance and popularity of 401(k)s for retirement savers. Americans have $7.3 trillion invested in these tax-deferred workplace savings accounts, according to the Investment Company Institute, and there are roughly 60 million active 401(k) participants.

BrightScope, a financial-information company that rates retirement-savings plans, compiled for Kiplinger this list of the 100 most popular mutual funds in 401(k) plans based on funds' 401(k) assets under management.

Here is the list of the top 100 mutual funds for your 401(k) retirement savings. All figures are as of April, 30, 2022.

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RankFund NameSymbolFund TypeAnnualizedTotalReturn1-yrAnnualizedTotalReturn3-yrAnnualizedTotalReturn5-yrAnnualizedTotalReturn10-yrExpense ratio
1Vanguard Institutional IndexVINIXLarge Blend0.1813.8213.6313.640.04
2Fidelity 500 IndexFXAIXLarge Blend0.2013.8313.65113.660.02
3American Funds EuroPacific GrowthAEPGXEAFE-19.384.165.306.160.82
4Vanguard Total Bond Market IndexVBTLXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-8.650.361.171.680.05
5Vanguard 500 IndexVFIAXLarge Blend0.1713.8113.8113.620.04
6Fidelity ContrafundFCNTXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-9.5912.4714.3313.730.81
7Vanguard PRIMECAPVPMCXLarge Blend-5.1011.8613.1815.050.38
8Dodge & Cox StockDODGXLarge-Value U.S. Equities0.7112.5411.4213.500.51
9Vanguard Mid Capitalization IndexVIMAXMid Cap U.S. Equities-4.5411.1110.8612.060.05
10Vanguard WellingtonVWELXModerate Allocation-3.218.338.509.130.24
11Vanguard Target Retirement 2030VTHRXModerate Allocation-6.786.617.168.030.08
12Vanguard Target Retirement 2025VTTVXConservative Allocation-6.695.976.657.430.08
13Vanguard Total International Stock IndexVTIAXEAFE-10.534.494.945.310.11
14Vanguard Small Cap IndexVSMAXSmall Cap U.S. Equities-11.208.679.2511.250.05
15Vanguard Target Retirement 2035VTTHXModerate Allocation-6.617.297.778.640.08
16Vanguard Total Stock Market IndexVTSAXLarge Blend-3.3613.0112.9613.240.04
17American Funds Growth Fund of AmericaAGTHXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-13.2311.9012.9713.580.61
18PIMCO Total ReturnPTTAXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-9.030.401.151.790.81
19Vanguard Target Retirement 2040VFORXModerate Allocation-6.527.968.389.140.08
20T. Rowe Price Blue Chip GrowthTRBCXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-18.978.2513.2513.940.69
21MetWest Total Return BondMWTRXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-9.310.631.322.340.67
22Vanguard Extended Market IndexVEXAXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-18.848.689.3311.170.06
23Vanguard Target Retirement 2020VTWNXConservative Allocation-5.975.355.916.770.08
24Fidelity Freedom 2030FFFEXModerate Allocation-7.737.167.447.980.67
25Vanguard Target Retirement 2045VTIVXAggressive Allocation-6.408.658.899.440.08
26Fidelity Growth CompanyFDGRXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-14.2720.6320.2017.530.79
27T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030TRRCXModerate Allocation-7.547.637.978.810.58
28Fidelity Freedom 2025FFTWXConservative Allocation-7.646.416.617.240.63
29Vanguard Target Retirement 2050VFIFXAggressive Allocation-6.378.738.949.460.08
30Harbor Capital AppreciationHCAIXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-17.9212.6115.5014.061.01
31American Funds American BalancedABALXModerate Allocation-1.727.998.179.120.56
32Fidelity Freedom 2040FFFFXModerate Allocation-8.099.198.989.150.75
33Fidelity Freedom 2035FFTHXModerate Allocation-8.008.408.458.840.72
34Fidelity US Bond IndexFXNAXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-8.560.371.161.700.03
35Vanguard Windsor IIVWNFXLarge-Value U.S. Equities-0.8113.4311.6111.800.34
36Vanguard International GrowthVWIGXEAFE-28.728.7210.409.140.43
37Fidelity Freedom 2020FFFDXConservative Allocation-7.365.846.106.550.59
38Fidelity Extended Market IndexFSMAXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-18.838.659.3411.130.04
39American Funds 2030 Target Date RetirementAAETXModerate Allocation-5.507.297.698.870.66
40Dodge & Cox IncomeDODIXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-7.681.552.202.790.41
41T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040TRRDXModerate Allocation-8.738.598.889.650.60
42Dodge & Cox International StockDODFXEAFE-4.134.693.545.930.62
43Vanguard Growth IndexVIGAXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-8.3216.0816.1014.790.05
44MFS ValueMEIAXLarge-Value U.S. Equities0.539.279.0310.980.80
45T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025TRRHXConservative Allocation-6.767.117.408.200.55
46T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth ITRLGXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-17.2911.6215.5515.380.56
47Vanguard Developed Markets IndexVTMGXEAFE-8.795.125.236.200.07
48T. Rowe Price Growth StockPRGFXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-21.118.6112.1613.280.64
49T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020TRRBXConservative Allocation-6.266.446.737.480.53
50T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap GrowthRPMGXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-13.488.0311.0412.640.73
51American Funds 2025 Target Date RetirementAADTXConservative Allocation-4.616.656.858.020.64
52Vanguard Equity-IncomeVEIPXLarge-Value U.S. Equities7.5211.3210.9411.910.28
53T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035TRRJXModerate Allocation-8.228.148.449.280.59
54American Funds Washington MutualAWSHXLarge Blend5.9811.9412.1712.410.58
55American Funds 2035 Target Date RetirementAAFTXModerate Allocation-6.378.398.869.620.67
56American Funds New PerspectiveANWPXWorld Equity-11.5811.7412.1511.560.72
57Fidelity Freedom 2045FFFGXAggressive Allocation-8.109.188.979.200.75
58American Funds 2040 Target Date RetirementAAGTXModerate Allocation-7.168.819.279.920.68
59Fidelity BalancedFBALXModerate Allocation-4.2411.4110.6110.110.51
60Vanguard Value IndexVVIAXLarge-Value U.S. Equities5.9011.0010.9412.270.05
61Fidelity Freedom 2050FFFHXAggressive Allocation-8.079.188.979.220.75
62Fidelity International IndexFSPSXEAFE-8.854.214.695.820.04
63Fidelity Blue Chip GrowthFBGRXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-15.5717.6918.8516.860.79
64PGIM Total Return BondPDBAXShort/Intermediate Government Bonds-8.730.301.492.580.76
65Vanguard Target Retirement 2055VFFVXAggressive Allocation-6.378.728.939.440.08
66T. Rowe Price New HorizonsPRNHXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-27.3810.0514.8615.050.75
67Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market IndexVITNXLarge Blend-3.3313.0412.9913.280.03
68Vanguard Balanced IndexVBIAXModerate Allocation-5.318.218.468.730.07
69T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045TRRKXAggressive Allocation-8.838.959.179.820.62
70American Funds 2020 Target Date RetirementAACTXConservative Allocation-3.465.876.006.990.64
71iShares S&P 500 IndexBSPAXLarge Blend-0.1413.4613.2813.260.35
72T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050TRRMXAggressive Allocation-8.888.969.189.820.63
73Janus Henderson EnterpriseJAENXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-8.269.9013.3413.630.91
74Fidelity Diversified InternationalFDIVXEAFE-12.006.756.036.871.01
75American Funds 2045 Target Date RetirementAAHTXAggressive Allocation-7.628.859.3710.020.68
76Vanguard Inflation-Protected SecuritiesVIPSXTIPS0.485.163.652.080.20
77Fidelity Low-Priced StockFLPSXMid-Value U.S. Equities-1.2012.3310.2410.970.65
78Vanguard ExplorerVEXPXSmall-Growth U.S. Equities-14.6410.3912.7912.440.40
79MainStay Winslow Large Cap GrowthMLINXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-12.7912.3315.5313.531.08
80Invesco Developing MarketsODMAXEmerging Markets-31.11-3.431.592.171.20
81Fidelity Total Market IndexFSKAXLarge Blend-3.3512.9812.9313.210.02
82Vanguard Target Retirement 2015VTXVXConservative Allocation-5.604.214.835.750.08
83American Funds 2050 Target Date RetirementAALTXAggressive Allocation-8.348.749.3510.020.69
84Fidelity PuritanFPURXModerate Allocation-3.8710.8310.289.880.51
85Fidelity Mid Cap IndexFSMDXMid Cap U.S. Equities-6.1310.4810.6511.970.03
86JPMorgan Large Cap GrowthOLGAXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-11.0518.0619.6115.250.94
87Vanguard Real Estate IndexVGSLXReal Estate7.789.898.708.920.12
88Vanguard Target Retirement IncomeVTINXConservative Allocation-5.663.864.224.440.08
89Schwab S&P 500 IndexSWPPXLarge Blend0.1913.8213.6313.600.02
90American Funds Fundamental InvestorsANCFXLarge Blend-4.3710.2010.6812.150.59
91Vanguard US GrowthVWUSXLarge-Growth U.S. Equities-23.8011.8014.9614.100.38
92JPMorgan Mid Cap ValueJAMCXMid-Value U.S. Equities0.489.048.1010.621.14
93JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2030JSMAXModerate Allocation-8.055.316.077.290.85
94Fidelity Small Cap IndexFSSNXSmall Cap U.S. Equities-16.896.787.3410.210.03
95JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2025JNSAXConservative Allocation-7.894.565.226.520.84
96Vanguard Wellesley IncomeVWINXModerate Allocation-2.835.425.696.310.23
97JPMorgan Equity IncomeOIEIXLarge-Value U.S. Equities4.2710.5010.8211.480.96
98Vanguard Short-Term Bond IndexVBIRXTotal Bond Market-5.090.661.091.130.07
99MassMutual Mid Cap GrowthMEFAXMid-Growth U.S. Equities-14.997.5910.4511.871.20
100Fidelity Freedom Index 2030FXIFXModerate Allocation-6.986.537.407.630.12

* The dollar amounts represent funds' total assets under management held both within 401(k) plans and outside of 401(k)s, according to Morningstar. BrightScope ranked the funds by assets under management held in 401(k)s only, but it did not disclose the precise amounts for proprietary reasons.

Disclaimer

Sources: BrightScope, Morningstar

Nellie S. Huang
Senior Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Nellie joined Kiplinger in August 2011 after a seven-year stint in Hong Kong. There, she worked for the Wall Street Journal Asia, where as lifestyle editor, she launched and edited Scene Asia, an online guide to food, wine, entertainment and the arts in Asia. Prior to that, she was an editor at Weekend Journal, the Friday lifestyle section of the Wall Street Journal Asia. Kiplinger isn't Nellie's first foray into personal finance: She has also worked at SmartMoney (rising from fact-checker to senior writer), and she was a senior editor at Money.