BrightScope has widened its gaze to start ranking mutual funds in terms of 401(k) assets. Mike Alfred and Ryan Alfred (CEO and president, respectively, and also brothers) confirmed that the San Diego-based retirement plan ratings specialist just created a list of the top funds in 401(k)s. Fundsters should keep their eyes peeled for more I-O-related efforts from BrightScope.

The list, based on 2007 and 2008 plan data (not just a survey) from more than 50,000 401(k) plans, includes:

two American Funds offerings -- Growth Fund of America at number one and EuroPacific Growth at number three;

three Fidelity funds -- Contrafund at six, Diversified International at seven and Spartan 500 Index at nine;

two Vanguard funds -- Vanguard 500 Index at five and Vanguard Institutional Index at eight;

Pimco Total Return at two;

State Street Global Advisors S&P 500 Index at four;

and Dodge & Cox Stock at ten.

Yet don't expect those rankings to stay static, as BrightScope will now be integrating the EFAS (i.e. electronically-filed) plan data for 2009 into its databases. The Alfreds hinted at significant potential for the new, I-O-focused data.

"When you have all this data, you can cut and slice it any way you want," Ryan Alfred told The MFWire. 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE