<prompt> Human: This is probably very stupid. I just skimmed this subreddit and always heard I should get a Roth IRA. So I did just that, after two years I put 11k into it buying into the Vangaurd 2055 Target Retirement fund investor shares. I have since doing this lost 400 is this normal? How do I actually start to see gains in my investment, does it just have to be that the markets grow and hope that the fund is investing in things that grow? I know little about these things sorry for the stupid question.  <response>: Yes, that is normal. remember, target fund is a long-term play so rating it by YOY gains isnt going to be helpful. Youre only anticipated to withdraw it in 2055 and beyond, and contribute throughout the interim. 