Current Commentary
September 1, 2024
Dear friends,
Welcome to the September (aka “back to school”) issue of the Mutual Fund Observer. The joyful tumult of which has slightly delayed our launch.
Despair is easy. If you ever want an antidote, drop by Augie at the beginning of September. As many of you know, in my day job, I am a professor of communication studies and director of the Austin E Knowlton Honors Program at Augustana College. I am also an advisor to first-year students. I’ve spent much of the last week meeting with and learning about my new charges. I am amazed by them, defying as they do all of the hysterical media headlines about Continue reading →
Our Mission
The Mutual Fund Observer writes for the benefit of intellectually curious, serious investors— managers, advisers, and individuals—who need to go beyond marketing fluff, beyond computer- generated recommendations and beyond Morningstar’s coverage universe.
We are non-profit, non-commercial, independent and accessible. Our special focus is on innovative, independent new and smaller funds. MFO’s mission is to provide readers with calm, intelligent arguments and to provide independent fund companies with an opportunity to receive thoughtful attention even though they might not yet have drawn billions in assets. Its coverage universe has been described as “the thousands of funds off Morningstar’s radar,” a description one fund manager echoes as “a Morningstar for the rest of us.”
What the Observer Provides
A monthly commentary, featuring a variety of voices that speak from many different perspectives but who all share the same values: intelligence, respect, civility.
Profiles of funds you ought to know more about. We ask three questions to start:
- Is there any reason this fund should even exist, other than because the manager needs a job?
- Is there any reason to believe that the manager can execute the strategy?
- Is there any reason to believe that the manager will end up sabotaging it?
If we find satisfactory answers to all three, we start digging through the public record, proceed to speak with the managers and end up defending a judgment.
Rich analytics focusing on risk, as well as rosters of distinguished and disastrous funds.
A lively discussion board, whose active members are diverse, lively, passionate …and occasionally hilarious.
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