FAIRX ranks in the top 1 % percentile for Large Value funds (YTD)...rising from last in class...the fund's bifurcated performance over the last decade has been a very bumpy ride for shareholders. I exited the fund years ago. M* places FAIRX in the LV category yet describes it's investment style as Small Growth.
77% of the fund is one company (St Joe = JOE) which probably was bought at a low in 2008. JOE's weight seems to skew it into the SG investment style while the other holdings (24% of portfolio) appears more LV. 42% of JOE is owned by Fairholme. For that privileged Fairholme shareholders pay a 1% ER. Ouch!
Anyone use this fund in small amounts? Attempt to buy the lows, not the highs when it comes to the fund.

The only munis I follow are the short-intermediate high yield ones. IMHO they are bottoming right now. PRIHX will be off nearly 7% YTD after today’s small drop. Depends on what muni(s) you own. But, generally speaking, states are flush with cash. Pension funds are in the best shape they’ve been in for years. I’d not be selling their bonds at this point. But that 5-7% on I-Bonds sounds nice if you want to lock up a sum for a year. (I knocked a couple % off the advertised rate because there’s a penalty for unloading within 5 years.)
Thanks for adding to the thread @BaluBalu. :)

Not sure if we've hit bottom on the munis, their dip seems to be lagging the taxable space...but definitely moving into excellent buying opportunity. The best market moves I've made in my entire investing life was going big into Vanguard HY corporate on its lows and same with Vanguard HY Tax exempt mainly when people thought that market was going to implode. Just keep buying more and either you will get capital appreciation, higher yield or both. Yes, I know, rates could just keep rising to the sky...but if that happens then all our plans will be laid to waste, not an investing strategy IMO. Just need to be patient, and collect the income while you wait.

With a lot of discussion about folks building up cash %age, note that fund flows into equities have not slowed this year, while flows into bond funds are negative (redemptions, no surprise there!) and to my amazement, flows into money market funds are also negative this year. The latest 3 mo flows out of MM funds is twice as much as the outflows from bond funds. This data is from Fidelity.
(I also wanted to bump up this thread lest folks forget about it when rates start going down for a few days.)
Outflows from MM funds is an interesting phenomenon when total outflows from MM plus bond funds together constitute 50% more than the inflows into equity funds. And working folks are constantly earning new money and so, I expect MM funds to continuously have inflows. Are folks starting to draw down MM funds to fill their online savings accounts + buy (treasury?) bonds directly? or is there a bigger phenomenon such as private equity + venture investing + multiple home / rental real estate + alternate assets investing?
In the last 4+ years, the only time MM funds saw this much (or bigger) outflows is during the last six months of 2020 when folks were buying first bond funds and then equity funds with both hands, drawing down the trillions of $$ of MM funds built up during the first six months of 2020.

It's not unusual for the Primecap team to experience periods of underperformance.
VPMAX trailed the S&P 500 the past three calendar years.
Their funds have always bounced back.
I'm fairly certain that VPMAX will generate good long-term returns for your daughter.
She is fortunate to have this fund available in her 401(k).

The only munis I follow are the short-intermediate high yield ones. IMHO they are bottoming right now. PRIHX will be off nearly 7% YTD after today’s small drop. Depends on what muni(s) you own. But, generally speaking, states are flush with cash. Pension funds are in the best shape they’ve been in for years. I’d not be selling their bonds at this point. But that 5-7% on I-Bonds sounds nice if you want to lock up a sum for a year. (I knocked a couple % off the advertised rate because there’s a penalty for unloading within 5 years.)
Thanks for adding to the thread @BaluBalu. :)

In its 5/24/21 issue, Barron's noted that value had been down for so long that many older value managers died, retired, quit or became GARP managers. But it identified a handful of the "next generation" of value managers who had at least 10+ years of career ahead of them. Ironically, Pierre Py was among those. May be it is just a business setback for him. https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/140/thread

Sorry to see these two go. International Value still has a strong long-term record--3, 5 and 10 years. Key man risk I imagine. As for a pronounceable name, well, isn't that like an American saying at a shop overseas, "What's this in real money?"

Thanks @wxman123. I hope you are right.
The author definitely leaves this open to interpretation. I interpret what this says as we "may" be starting into a prolonged inflationary rising-rate environment like maybe the 60's-70's. I don't take that as a good buying opportunity for total return when what you show is that trends tend to last 10-20 years. As an older guy, I do hope you are right though. It would be nice if bond funds continued to playout as a good diversification role in a portfolio with returns in the 4-6% range again and not a weight that continues to be just a slow(er) money loss than equities.
from the article:

Inflation picked up in the 1960s and rates followed its lead. Prices spiked even higher in the 1970s and inflation didn’t let
up until the Fed raised rates to more than 20% by the early-1980s. That bear market lasted more than 20 years.
Is this the end? Is the four-decade bond bull market over? Should investors prepare for a bear market in bonds?
I’m not smart enough to know these answers, but I thought it would be helpful to look at what happened the last time
bonds were in a sustained rising rate environment.

Any of you help your adult kids with their investments? Sometimes it’s a challenge to put my 72 year old mind in the place of a 30 year old accumulator. Happily my kid can max her 401K and she let me pick the funds. My eyes lit up when I saw she could get PRIMECAP Admiral shares with no minimum and I set that at 90% allocation. The remaining 10% went to Total Bond. Six years later I don’t know that she ever looks at it. So today I sent her a Text message gently suggesting she sell the bond fund and replace it with a stable value fund. I explained that her bond fund was likely to do poorly for the near future. Immediately she called me,,,, something doesn’t happen too often, and she read me the riot act. “ Dad,,,, you taught me I was investing for 35 years from now and not to look at it too much and just keep investing.” She told me she didn’t want to make any change and it would be fine. I was shocked. I had unwittingly raised a BOGLEHEAD. I had no idea until today.

I will tell you for sure @catch22, if I was handed a 1/2 million dollars at 70 years old to supplement my retirement days, I personally would not seek financial opinions from a posting board. I would go straight to a financial advisor.
Obviously there are a few, if not more than a few posters here that are more than capable of giving good fund-investment advice (yes-also known as opinions). That group very much includes yourself. But none can set up an individualized plan for this couple for the rest of their lives. None can tell them how to set up their investments which seems to include both taxable and non-taxable savings, real estate, a business, SS and maybe more. None of us understands their goals and time horizon, how to safely spend down, where to pull income and in what investment order to divest, how to reduce their tax exposure, ect, ect, ect...

"not random opinions from a posting board."

Random opinions can be good advice or bad advice. Time will tell which is which.

@yogibearbull Thank you for the follow-up.
Their investing experience is zero, as far personal knowledge of investing choices available. This is why I mentioned a 30% piece of the monies to be in a U.S. equity etf to allow for a type of conservative allocation mix. A starting point, more or less.
@MikeM
I didn't mention an advisor in the initial write. I know that several years ago they had a "retail" advisor affiliated with a large firm to manage a less than $50K T-IRA. I don't know the status of this relationship at this time.
As to a fee only advisor opinion, yes. At least 3 opinions should be adequate. Not unlike a quote/bid/opinion as to a major expenditure for a home remodel or similar expense, one needs more than just one review.
However, you noted:

"not random opinions from a posting board."

I'm fully disappointed with this, from you; regarding valid investing information one is able to obtain at MFO. At the very least, opinions here about this subject provides more input for their future decisions.
There are a number individuals here, who I would place against any chosen "advisor", as to quality investing knowledge and opinion.
Otherwise, there is not much of value for one to be involved with this board, be that a reader or a poster; and one would be as well suited to use an "electronic robo-advisor", yes?
Remain curious,
Catch

I was sure that there was a MFO piece on FMSDX but I couldn't find it on search. Then I realized that MFO Home is a different site than MFO Discussion, and there I found that piece by @lynnbolin2021 that I was looking for (LINK0). This piece compared 5 funds for 5 years then from 10/2017 using Fido charting. I have updated that for 3 funds, FMSDX, FSRRX, FADMX (FAYZX, FSRIX used for longer PV run) using PV charting (it allows 3 funds only) since 10/2017. LINK1
Looking for FMSDX piece in October 18, 2021 Barron's? Check Summary, Part 2 in LINK2.

Per Fido - FMSDX:
Portfolio Data Portfolio Data Additional Information
30-Day Yield 4
2.62%
3/31/2022
Duration
4.20 Years
3/31/2022

Distribution Yield (Daily)
1.41%
4/7/2022

Thanks, stillers, I should have checked Fidelity first instead of taking M*'s stale data for granted. This changes my outlook significantly.
Much appreciated.
Fred

Per Fido - FMSDX:
Portfolio Data Portfolio Data Additional Information
30-Day Yield 4
2.62%
3/31/2022
Duration
4.20 Years
3/31/2022

Distribution Yield (Daily)
1.41%
4/7/2022

FMSDX is about 50th out of 512 NTF "Allocation" funds offered by Fido, DOWN ~3% YTD. Not bad for an allocation fund this year.
If you sell it, where do you re-deploy to?
US? We sold ALL of our dedicated bond funds earlier this year except a toe-hold in two closed funds. We also sold a few allocation funds but DID hold onto FMSDX due to its strategy and holdings. We however cut its allocation in half. We still think it's a LT keeper and would NOT want to be closed out of it down the road.
Proceeds were immediately used to replace the equivalent stock %'s using dedicated stock funds instead, and the remainder (bond portion proceeds) are being re-deployed throughout the year into 1-2 yr (the sweet spot) CDs and TNotes.
This is a really worthy strategy this year and has been paying off well now, and expected to continue until such time, if ever, that "bond" is no longer akin to a four-letter word for us.

Barron's ... https://www.barrons.com/articles/inflation-is-here-to-stay-how-to-adjust-your-portfolio-51649426800 suggests FLCSX in the stock section. It wasn't on my watch list. Let's see YTD performance / ER:
FLCSX -.45% / .48%
SCHD -1.04% / .06%
TRVLX -1.80% / .77%
FXAIX -5.46% / .015%
PARWX -6.24% / .88%
PRBLX -6.59% / .84%
Parnassus funds previously discussed lack of energy / ESG focus sure affects performance. SCHD has the lowest ER, followed by FXAIX and close behind FLCSX. Any other favorites?
Barron's: "The $3.2 billion Fidelity Large Cap Stock (FLCSX), which returned 13% a year over the past five years, beating 88% of peers, is another core fund with a value bent that has a higher allocation than peers to inflation beneficiaries such as energy. “If you think oil prices will stay high, energy stocks aren’t expensive versus history,” says manager Matthew Fruhan."

Hi stillers,
I think this is the first time I've talked to you but have read your posts on M. Saying that to say this: FSELX I sold last year due to rising rates. This year my point is......are you not early in the buying of it along with FSUTX? I know the market factors in things and one does not want to be late to the party. But I still feel this market could still have a fall ahead of it as rates rise. As for full disclosure, I own FSENX and FARMX, which are inflation-lovers, so to speak. Just looking for your thoughts to help me with my thinking.
God bless
the Pudd

FSELX is DOWN ~22% YTD and FSUTX is UP ~9% YTD. So they are on two very different trajectories.
That said, not sure how an investor would be able think of being too early or too late to BOTH of them. Wouldn't it be one too early (FSELX) and one too late (FSUTX)?
Anyways, thought I explained my thinking previously but will give it another shot.
FSELX:
I posted previously...
(1) We have recently been DCA'ing into the iconic FSELX - Fido Semis, DOWN ~22% YTD. Expecting the eventual semis move UP to be parabolic when it happens, and we can easily wait for that move while DCA'ing into it. Yes, talking heads make a worthy case for NOT buying the whole sector and concentrating on the best names, but that just ain't our style or risk appetite.
Yeah, I KNOW I might be too early on this pup and maybe should try to be more selective than a broad-stroke play like FSELX. BUT I am not interested in a "Which semis?" guessing game (or volatility) and I can easily wait for what will inevitably, over time, be one of the better "explore" plays I can think of, especially given the large hole the sector has dug. Still DCA'ing into it, so any BIG DOWN days are BUYING opportunities under my current strategy for it.
FSUTX:
I posted previously...
(2) Thanks to regular reading of anything uncleharley posts anywhere, we finally "saw the light" (so to speak) and a while back bought utilities, choosing FSUTX - Fido Select Utilities, arguably the best utilities OEF on the planet. Note that uh meanwhile prefers ETFs UTG, MGU and MFD.
While many others I read think otherwise, uh thinks there is a lot of upside left to utes. So if anything, I'd be too late on it given what many others are saying. I've followed uh for a decade. He knows energy, metals, agr and utes FAR better than most, and light years better than me. I'm rolling with him on this one. Either way, utes are looking like a possible LT replacement for my long-since departed dedicated bond funds, and may eventually move to a "core" holding.

The Fed is now talking about significantly accelerating raising interest rates and unwinding its huge balance sheet of Treasuries and MBS.
Last week, for example, FMSDX, an allocation fund with 40% in bond holdings, lost 2.2%. M* still reports that as of 12/31/21 the fund has "extensive interest rate sensitivity" with a duration of 8.5 years.
In light of the Fed's release of the minutes of its March meeting, was last week's poor performance due primarily to the fund's bond holdings? Is it possibly a forerunner of things to come? Is it time to consider selling FMSDX?
Opinions/suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Fred

Pg 16 (Better fit here): There are opportunities after an epic selloff in BONDS. Lot of rate hikes ahead may be in the market as the FED has been talking aggressively. Bonds may also be attractive for those who think that core inflation will come down later. But be careful as actual monetary tightening has barely started.
Munis: VWITX, BTT, NEA
Treasuries: SHY, TLT, TIP; Savings I-Bonds
Corporates: PRCIX, MDFIX (mostly CEFs), VCSH, AGG
HY: PRFRX, HYG, BXSL
Preferreds: PFF; individual JPM-M, Qrate-P
Convertibles: PACIX, CWB
LINK

Yes. Lots of recent pain in the bond market. And, yes, it makes sense to be on the lookout for upping my allotment to bonds (that will be welcome after several years of struggling to locate good options among bond investments). But, inflation is still raging and the Fed's tightening cycle is just beginning. There appears to be a good case to be made for the painfully high rate of inflation not coming to an end soon and for the bond market having further to fall. So, its too soon for me to increase my allocation to bonds.
Here is one short article from this morning's reading about some of the factors that are likely to influence the course of inflation for the balance of the year:
U.S. Inflation May Peak in March, But It’s a Slow Go to Fed’s 2%

@msf - First, thank you for your detailed response and for all the dedicated work you do at MFO. Folks are fortunate for your labors.
I believe that you and others are making lots of assumptions. Nothing wrong with that. So far, over the past 3 or more years the Fed has raised the overnight lending rate by 25 basis points. That’s the fact. The bond markets, however, have gone into hysteria.
If there was an easy way for me to reap that 7% reward on I Bonds (more like 5% if you cash out early) I’d do it. But I’m not willing to upset my “perfectly balanced” apple cart (forgive the exaggeration) by selling a long-term holding just because it’s off 6% this year and something else offers a short term guaranteed return.
I’d never argue that PRIHX is as safe as I-Bonds. Just that it already has a well thought out place in the portfolio. I’ve owned it for several years. It’s run very conservatively (reason it scores poorly by M* standards). I have so much confidence in it I recently took advantage of the (likely overdone) sell-off this year by tossing in a chunk of household cash that won’t be needed for six months or longer.
Frankly, to earn 5% on $10,000 isn’t going to move the needle very much for me. I’d rather dwell on the riskier portions of the portfolio. Those include 3 individual stocks, a gold mining fund, 2 nation specific funds (invested in Japan and Norway), both market neutral and long-short funds, a global bond fund, plus a half dozen broadly based equity funds. That’s where my “investment brain” is normally focused. Those are the investments that move the needle for me and, working together, achieve the balance I desire in the portfolio.
On a lighthearted “sour” note, I do believe the recent clamor by every Tom, Dick & Harry to “scoop up” those hot 7% (err ... 5%) I Bonds is one reason my own PRIHX and most other short - intermediate term bond funds have suffered this year. Yikes - hot money has been fleeing ... :)
Re: “Would you expect bonds of any sort (aside from Treasuries) to go up then, or aside from a possible flight to quality?”
@msf - I suspect your intended inference here is correct. But I don’t want to own only investments I “expect” to do well. I like it when some things rise while others fall. And get nervous when everything is rising all at once. The future is impossible to predict. But there certainly are a few experienced market observers predicting falling rates longer term. That’s not my belief - but it’s out there along with every other possibility.

Savings bonds don't have to be held for years. One can cash them out after a year if one wants. At current rates they'll still net 5%+, which is still "kind of like giving candy away".
"Withdrawals, both the anticipated and the unexpected, come out of the whole investment pot."
The usual expectation is that one won't cash out (withdraw) 100% of one's portfolio within a year. Given that expectation, there's going to be some money, say at least $10K, that will remain in fixed income investments for a year.
For that $10K that we know isn't going to be withdrawn, it's hard to find a better place to keep it than in I-bonds. There's a guaranteed 5%+ rate of return, which is more than one hopes for this year with most fixed income investments. Then there's the guarantee that one won't lose principal (no interest rate risk). And as an added bonus, no credit risk.