401(k)s

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

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

October 9, 2020

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

Getty Images

There's no denying the importance and popularity of 401(k)s for retirement savers. Americans have $6.3 trillion invested in these tax-deferred workplace savings accounts, according to the Investment Company Institute, and there are more than 58 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.

The 25 Best Low-Fee Mutual Funds You Can Buy

Here is the list of the top 100 mutual funds for your 401(k) retirement savings. All figures are as of Oct. 7, 2020.

Rank	Fund Name	Symbol	Fund Type	Annualized Total Return 1-yr	Annualized Total Return 3-yr	Annualized Total Return 5-yr	Annualized Total Return 10-yr	Expense Ratio
1	Vanguard Institutional Index	VINIX	Large Blend	16.02	11.78	13.41	13.52	0.04
2	Fidelity 500 Index	FXAIX	Large Blend	16.03	11.79	13.43		0.02
3	American Funds Europacific Growth	AEPGX	EAFE	16.81	5.45	8.14	6.27	0.84
4	Vanguard Total Bond Market Index	VBTLX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	5.99	5.24	4.10	3.51	0.05
5	Fidelity Contrafund	FCNTX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	34.22	17.59	17.16	15.37	0.85
6	Vanguard 500 Index	VFIAX	Large Blend	16.00	11.76	13.40	13.51	0.04
7	Vanguard PRIMECAP	VPMCX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	16.61	10.72	14.32	14.57	0.38
8	Vanguard Wellington	VWELX	Moderate Allocation	8.44	7.98	9.44	9.46	0.25
9	Vanguard Mid Cap Index	VIMAX	Mid Cap U.S. Equities	10.39	8.29	10.15	12.08	0.05
10	Dodge & Cox Stock	DODGX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	1.20	2.73	8.40	10.94	0.52
11	Vanguard Target Retirement 2025	VTTVX	Conservative Allocation	9.80	6.82	8.16	8.25	0.13
12	Vanguard Target Retirement 2030	VTHRX	Moderate Allocation	10.35	6.97	8.59	8.71	0.14
13	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index	VTIAX	EAFE	5.80	1.45	5.62		0.11
14	Vanguard Small Cap Index	VSMAX	Small Cap U.S. Equities	6.70	5.33	9.09	11.26	0.05
15	American Funds Growth Fund of America	AGTHX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	32.67	16.00	16.25	14.52	0.65
16	PGIM Total Return Bond	PDBAX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	4.71	5.27	4.83	4.62	0.76
17	Vanguard Target Retirement 2035	VTTHX	Moderate Allocation	10.85	7.09	9.00	9.16	0.14
18	Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Index	VTSAX	Large Blend	16.62	11.38	13.11	13.37	0.04
19	Vanguard Target Retirement 2020	VTWNX	Conservative Allocation	9.00	6.48	7.55	7.69	0.13
20	Metropolitan West Total Return Bond	MWTRX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	6.90	5.57	4.16	4.30	0.68
21	Vanguard Extended Market Index	VEXAX	Mid Cap U.S. Equities	18.18	8.82	11.36	12.38	0.06
22	Vanguard Target Retirement 2040	VFORX	Moderate Allocation	11.28	7.19	9.40	9.45	0.14
23	Fidelity Freedom 2030	FFFEX	Moderate Allocation	11.90	6.81	9.05	8.35	0.68
24	T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth	TRBCX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	36.27	19.92	19.47	17.92	0.69
25	Fidelity Growth Company	FDGRX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	67.90	26.79	24.54	20.34	0.83
26	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030	TRRCX	Moderate Allocation	11.07	7.11	9.23	9.38	0.64
27	Vanguard Target Retirement 2045	VTIVX	Aggressive Allocation	11.74	7.24	9.56	9.54	0.15
28	Fidelity Freedom 2025	FFTWX	Conservative Allocation	10.99	6.46	8.20	7.79	0.65
29	Fidelity Freedom 2020	FFFDX	Conservative Allocation	10.27	6.23	7.80	7.20	0.60
30	American Funds American Balanced	ABALX	Moderate Allocation	9.38	7.47	9.01	9.69	0.59
31	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025	TRRHX	Conservative Allocation	10.46	6.85	8.72	8.83	0.61
32	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020	TRRBX	Conservative Allocation	9.51	6.48	8.10	8.20	0.57
33	Vanguard Windsor II	VWNFX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	8.52	6.58	9.07	10.76	0.34
34	Fidelity Freedom 2040	FFFFX	Moderate Allocation	13.58	6.95	9.59	8.90	0.75
35	Harbor Capital Appreciation	HCAIX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	53.40	23.53	20.48	17.70	1.04
36	Fidelity Freedom 2035	FFTHX	Moderate Allocation	13.06	6.98	9.60	8.84	0.72
37	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040	TRRDX	Moderate Allocation	12.21	7.49	9.94	10.02	0.69
38	Dodge & Cox International Stock	DODFX	EAFE	-5.53	-5.36	1.57	2.99	0.63
39	Vanguard Target Retirement 2050	VFIFX	Aggressive Allocation	11.77	7.26	9.56	9.54	0.15
40	Vanguard International Growth	VWIGX	EAFE	50.80	15.78	17.38	10.60	0.43
41	Dodge & Cox Income	DODIX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	7.46	5.56	5.18	4.39	0.42
42	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035	TRRJX	Moderate Allocation	11.68	7.29	9.62	9.75	0.67
43	Vanguard Growth Index	VIGAX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	37.87	20.31	18.44	16.55	0.05
44	T. Rowe Price Growth Stock	PRGFX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	35.09	18.04	17.80	16.68	0.65
45	Fidelity Extended Market Index	FSMAX	Mid Cap U.S. Equities	18.15	8.82	11.37		0.05
46	MFS Value	MEIAX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	0.60	3.89	8.23	10.29	0.82
47	T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth	RPMGX	Mid-Growth U.S. Equities	16.79	12.85	13.79	14.56	0.74
48	Fidelity US Bond Index	FXNAX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	6.08	5.23	4.05		0.03
49	American Funds 2030 Trgt Date Retire	AAETX	Moderate Allocation	12.05	7.45	9.04	9.33	0.71
50	Fidelity Balanced	FBALX	Moderate Allocation	18.70	10.55	10.88	10.28	0.53
51	American Funds Washington Mutual	AWSHX	Large Blend	5.25	7.57	10.81	11.73	0.59
52	Vanguard Developed Markets Index	VTMGX	EAFE	4.46	1.24	5.10	4.74	0.07
53	Vanguard Balanced Index	VBIAX	Moderate Allocation	13.06	9.36	9.75	9.63	0.07
54	Fidelity Freedom 2045	FFFGX	Aggressive Allocation	13.64	6.97	9.60	8.96	0.75
55	Vanguard Equity-Income	VEIPX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	-0.78	4.52	8.87	11.19	0.27
56	Fidelity Diversified International	FDIVX	EAFE	18.42	6.70	7.58	6.85	0.75
57	American Funds New Perspective	ANWPX	World Equity	26.34	13.09	13.66	11.66	0.76
58	Vanguard Instl Ttl Stk Mkt Index	VITNX	Large Blend	16.60	11.40	13.13	13.41	0.03
59	T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Class I	TRLGX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	39.00	20.90	20.20	18.20	0.56
60	Fidelity Low-Priced Stock	FLPSX	Mid-Value U.S. Equities	7.61	3.85	6.56	10.00	0.78
61	Fidelity Freedom 2050	FFFHX	Aggressive Allocation	13.59	6.94	9.60	8.98	0.75
62	Vanguard Value Index	VVIAX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	-1.32	4.18	8.71	10.65	0.05
63	American Funds 2025 Trgt Date Retire	AADTX	Conservative Allocation	10.97	6.86	8.06	8.60	0.69
64	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045	TRRKX	Aggressive Allocation	12.57	7.58	10.08	10.09	0.71
65	Fidelity Blue Chip Growth	FBGRX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	58.44	25.57	22.16	19.05	0.79
66	Vanguard Target Retirement 2015	VTXVX	Conservative Allocation	7.89	6.02	6.69	6.92	0.13
67	PIMCO Total Return	PTTAX	Short/Intermediate Government Bonds	5.94	4.89	4.19	3.51	1.04
68	American Funds 2035 Trgt Date Retire	AAFTX	Moderate Allocation	14.12	8.29	10.08	9.83	0.72
69	T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050	TRRMX	Aggressive Allocation	12.56	7.59	10.07	10.09	0.71
70	Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs	VIPSX	TIPS	8.43	5.46	4.10	3.13	0.20
71	T. Rowe Price New Horizons	PRNHX	Mid-Growth U.S. Equities	50.07	27.21	23.77	21.06	0.76
72	American Funds 2040 Trgt Date Retire	AAGTX	Moderate Allocation	14.86	8.58	10.44	10.06	0.73
73	Fidelity International Index	FSPSX	EAFE	3.18	1.10	4.65		0.04
74	Fidelity Puritan	FPURX	Moderate Allocation	19.35	10.48	10.79	10.35	0.53
75	MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth	MLINX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	35.94	21.25	18.44	15.91	1.10
76	JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2030	JSMAX	Moderate Allocation	7.46	5.41	7.44	7.90	0.86
77	American Funds 2020 Trgt Date Retire	AACTX	Conservative Allocation	8.49	5.89	6.97	7.48	0.66
78	Invesco Developing Markets	ODMAX	Emerging Markets	21.50	4.69	6.71	6.86	1.10
79	Vanguard Target Retirement Income	VTINX	Conservative Allocation	7.42	5.76	5.81	5.49	0.12
80	Vanguard Explorer	VEXPX	Small-Growth U.S. Equities	18.39	12.77	13.71	13.32	0.45
81	Vanguard Target Retirement 2055	VFFVX	Aggressive Allocation	11.75	7.25	9.56	9.56	0.15
82	JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2025	JNSAX	Conservative Allocation	7.02	5.19	6.90	7.41	0.85
83	JPMorgan Mid Cap Value	JAMCX	Mid-Value U.S. Equities	-7.11	-0.31	4.44	9.29	1.24
84	American Funds Fundamental Investors	ANCFX	Large Blend	13.14	8.48	11.90	11.94	0.62
85	iShares S&P 500 Index	BSPAX	Large Blend	15.69	11.45	13.05		0.35
86	American Funds AMCAP	AMCPX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	21.33	12.02	12.94	13.45	0.69
87	Janus Henderson Enterprise	JAENX	Mid-Growth U.S. Equities	9.92	12.42	14.69	14.29	0.91
88	Schwab S&P 500 Index	SWPPX	Large Blend	16.02	11.77	13.38	13.46	0.02
89	JPMorgan Large Cap Growth	OLGAX	Large-Growth U.S. Equities	52.75	27.08	22.41	18.11	0.94
90	American Funds Capital World Growth&Income	CWGIX	World Equity	11.14	5.94	8.63	8.06	0.78
91	Invesco Diversified Dividend	LCEIX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	-4.43	2.03	5.20	8.99	0.75
92	JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2040	SMTAX	Moderate Allocation	9.36	5.63	8.18	8.56	0.88
93	JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2035	SRJAX	Moderate Allocation	8.84	5.51	7.81	8.32	0.87
94	JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2020	JTTAX	Conservative Allocation	6.21	4.85	6.24	6.71	0.81
95	Vanguard Wellesley Income	VWINX	Moderate Allocation	5.26	6.26	7.10	7.25	0.23
96	Vanguard Windsor	VWNDX	Large-Value U.S. Equities	0.21	1.79	6.62	9.86	0.30
97	Dodge & Cox Balanced	DODBX	Moderate Allocation	3.30	3.66	7.36	9.15	0.53
98	Vanguard Real Estate Index	VGSLX	Real Estate	-9.19	3.49	5.40	8.61	0.12
99	American Funds 2045 Trgt Date Retire	AAHTX	Aggressive Allocation	15.09	8.71	10.61	10.15	0.72
100	Neuberger Berman Genesis	NBGNX	Small-Growth U.S. Equities	13.69	10.30	11.99	12.06	1.02

* 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.