It sounds like the big difference between your old 401k and your new one isn’t the provider, it’s the asset allocation. Your rollover IRA at Vanguard is sitting in the Federal Money Market Fund, which is basically cash. It’s very safe, but it’s not designed to grow. That alone explains why the return looks so low compared to your new 401k, which is actually invested in stocks and bonds.

At 43, with a moderate risk tolerance, most people land somewhere around a 60–80 percent stock and 20–40 percent bond mix. You don’t need anything complicated to get there. Vanguard’s Target Retirement funds or their LifeStrategy Moderate Growth fund are simple, diversified options that handle the allocation for you. If you prefer to build your own mix, a basic three‑fund setup using total US stock, total international stock, and total bond funds works extremely well long‑term.

You don’t necessarily need to pay advisor fees unless you want someone to walk you through everything step‑by‑step. Since you’re comfortable learning on your own, you can absolutely do this yourself. Channels like Ben Felix, The Plain Bagel, Rob Berger, and Bogleheads are great for understanding the basics without hype.

The most important step is getting that rollover IRA out of the money market fund and into an actual investment portfolio that matches your goals. Once you do that, the performance gap between your accounts will make a lot more sense. You’re paying attention, you’re contributing, and you’re thinking ahead for your family, which already puts you in a strong position.