You are Big oil

[dragonrider]

It sounds like you don't know how to manage your mutual fund. Yes you have someone to do that for you but you know what.. if you're losing money multiple years in a row then it's time to change funds or find a new person to manage your mutual fund.

Actually if you look at the overall performance of the stock market, it has been esentially flat since around the begining of the year 2000. It goes up, it comes back down, but overall there have been very little gains for most of the decade. With fees and operating expenses, it is not surpirsing that many people have seen a decline in portfolio value during this time.

If you have actually been actively investing during the whole time, buying on a periodic schedule regardless of the market conditions (like a little each paycheck in a 401k), then you have probably made some money. This is becasue you buy more shares when prices are low, and fewer when prices are high --- so if even if there are a lot of ups and downs, as long as the market still returns to the same value, you generally stand a good chance of still making money. But if you invested a lump sum of 20,000 at the begining, you have probably lost money.

Or do what makes most sense. Take control and invest your own money.

If the money is in a 401k, then there are is little opprtunity to "Take control and invest your own money." The most you can do is choose from among the investment options offered.