Southwest Airlines CO. 401(k): best low-cost funds
Southwest Airlines CO. Retirement Savings Plan · Plan #004 · Dallas, TX
Suggested simple Boglehead mix
- US stocks (~60%): Vanguard 500 Index Trust
- International stocks (~20-30%): Vanguard Institutional Total International Stock Market Index Trust
- Bonds (~10-20%): Vanguard Institutional Total Bond Market Index Trust
Fund names from the plan's public SEC Form 11-K for plan year 2024 (Schedule H, line 4i schedule of assets / fund list). Confirm they are on your current menu and check expense ratios. Adjust the bond share for your age and risk tolerance.
Know this plan's fund menu? Submit it and we'll add a fund-by-fund pick list.
Pooled funds named in the filing (Schedule D)
These are collective trusts and similar pooled funds the plan reported holding. Names that look like index funds are tagged index by keyword, so check them yourself. Mutual funds are not listed by name in the free data.
| Fund | Manager | Type | Plan's holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor Capital Appreciation CIT | Harbor Trust Company, Inc. | Common/collective trust | $2.8B |
| Vftc Institutional 500 Index Trust index | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $2.2B |
| Master Trust Agreement For Qualifie | Southwest Airlines CO. | Master trust | $1.1B |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $961.9M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $926.1M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $841.4M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $762.1M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $694.0M |
| Capital Group Europacific GR TR US | Capital Bank And Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $543.9M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $501.3M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $497.2M |
| Fiam Small Capitalization Core | Fidelity | Common/collective trust | $358.0M |
| WTC CIF II Core Bond Plus Series 4 | Wellington Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $330.5M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $262.6M |
| Vanguard Target RET Income & Growth | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $247.6M |
| Vanguard Inst Extd MKT IDX TR | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $149.5M |
| Vanguard Inst Bond MKT IDX TR | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $142.5M |
| Vanguard INT Total Inst STK MKT IDX | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $129.6M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $89.7M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2070 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $89.4M |
| Vanguard Target Retirement Income T | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 TRU | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
How plan assets are invested
| Category (Schedule H) | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Registered investment companies (mutual funds) | $2.2B | 12.9% |
| Common/collective trusts | $12.6B | 73.9% |
| Master trusts | $1.1B | 6.4% |
| Employer securities (company stock) | $607.1M | 3.6% |
| Participant loans | $185.8M | 1.1% |
| Other investments | $257.9M | 1.5% |
Fees paid from plan assets
| Investment advisory & management fees | $43,923 |
| Other administrative fees | $30,225 |
| Total administrative expenses | $3.6M |
Reported administrative expenses were about 0.027% of average plan assets, or about $42 per participant with a balance. This usually excludes fund expense ratios netted inside mutual funds and trusts.
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 & Schedules H/D, filing ID 20250924095327NAL0008455920001. EIN 741563240.
FAQ
What are the best low-cost funds in the Southwest Airlines CO. 401(k)?
Based on public filings, index options include Vanguard 500 Index Trust (US stocks), Vanguard Institutional Total International Stock Market Index Trust (international stocks) and Vanguard Institutional Total Bond Market Index Trust (bonds). Confirm them against your current plan menu and fee disclosure.
Can I build a three-fund portfolio in the Southwest Airlines CO. 401(k)?
It appears so: the filing lists a US stock index fund, an international index fund and a bond index fund. The split between them depends on your own goals and risk tolerance.
How big is the Southwest Airlines CO. 401(k) plan?
The plan reported about $17.0B in net assets and 85,318 participants with balances for plan year 2024, according to its DOL Form 5500 filing.
Where does this data come from?
From public U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 filings (EFAST2) and, where noted, the plan's SEC Form 11-K. Data can be outdated or incomplete, and this page is not financial advice.
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