Hi, BaluBalu.
"Specific option strategies" is probably outside of the ambit of a daily newspaper, even a very good financial paper. A bit more likely in its sister publication, Barron's, I'd suspect.
David

Bloomberg had a guest that said advisers (e.g., RIAs) are required to wait 90 days from the launch of a new financial product (e.g., ETF) before adding or recommending the product to their client portfolio. Is that true? I can not find anything related to this on the internet.
(The guest was saying April 9th (90 days from the launch of the BTC ETFs) is a catalyst for more BTC demand.)

Two days ago - to my sadness and delight - I had learned via MFO that Eric Cinnamond, one of my all-time favorite managers with ARIVX/ICMAX was back in the mutual funds world with Palm Valley Capital Fund (PVCMX). ('Sadness' because I have missed almost 5 years of exploiting his financial acumen for a modest management fee and 'delight' because I have now been able to put a sizable investment into his new vehicle.)
This got me thinking, are there any other great/good managers who came back to manage a mutual fund or an ETF after being away for some time in the last, say, 20 years that I might be missing on?
(No knock on Bill Nygren, who's done an admirable job at the Oakmark Fund (OAKMX), but I am still hoping for the day that Robert Sanborn comes back with a publicly available investment offering.)

The DOJ filing against Apple is spot-on and very long overdue.
I especially like how they fantastically torpedo the usual 'security and privacy' justification Apple invokes in such situations.
"Apple wraps itself in a cloak of privacy, security, and consumer preferences to justify its anticompetitive conduct. Indeed, it spends billions on marketing and branding to promote the self-serving premise that only Apple can safeguard consumers’ privacy and security interests. Apple selectively compromises privacy and security interests when doing so is in Apple’s own financial interest—such as degrading the security of text messages, offering governments and certain companies the chance to access more private and secure versions of app stores, or accepting billions of dollars each year for choosing Google as its default search engine when more private options are available. In the end, Apple deploys privacy and security justifications as an elastic shield that can stretch or contract to serve Apple’s financial and business interests."
... yes, I'm a geek and lifelong Apple user & think they do offer some robust and mostly-trusted and reliable products*, but think this is a very good case. (It's also why I'm not all-in on the Apple ecosystem with my data and services.)
* except iCloud. They can't run a stable cloud service to save their lives, and imo the current iteration is held together with duct tape, bubblegum, and incantations uttered weekly by their engineering team.

The notion that because you or I invest in a Blackrock ETF, we give our proxy to Larry Fink is absurd. And its anti-democratic.
The notion that because you or I invest in virtually any mutual fund, we give our proxy to ISS or Glass-Lewis is absurd. That's the elephant in the room, more so because this duopoly advises nearly all (90%) fund sponsors on how they should vote their proxies.
https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2023/01/30/the-controversy-over-proxy-voting-the-role-of-asset-managers-and-proxy-advisors/
Anti-democratic? The corporate world was never democratic. Dollars, not people (dēmos - "common people") hold the power. If you don't like the way Blackrock funds are being run, vote your fund's of directors out of office. See how much sway your paltry dollars have. Or mine.

ESG means different things to different people, in no small part due to the marketing efforts of financial management companies to muddy the waters. On one end of the spectrum is impact investing, where one invests in companies and technologies specifically to improve the state of the environment. On the other end of the spectrum is what Blackrock and others call ESG integration - considering risk factors like increased exposure to flooding due to a changing environment - among all the risk factors considered when deciding whether to invest in a company.
https://www.blackrock.com/lu/intermediaries/themes/sustainable-investing/esg-integration
That's just prudent investing. And good marketing - slapping a label like ESG (popular until recently) onto something that is standard operating procedure. Failure to consider all significant risk factors could be considered investment malpractice.
For example, last year Texas proposed SB 1446 that would have prohibited state pensions from investing with any management company that considered ESG factors.

Despite declaring that [Texas County & District Retirement System] TCDRS “has never had an ESG policy,” and does not intend to have one, [Executive Director] Bishop said that the bill “would keep us from partnering with some of the best investment managers in the world.” Bishop added:
“If we had to adjust our asset allocation, we estimated it could cost us over $6 billion over the next 10 years. And this would cause our employers cost to more than double.”

https://www.esgtoday.com/texas-anti-esg-investing-bill-faces-pushback-over-6-billion-cost-to-pensions/

The last thing Boeing needs is financial restructuring. They need to reinstitute the pre-McDonnell Douglas merger ethos where engineering trumps cost cutting.

+1

The McDonnell Douglas merger precipitated Boeing's descent.
McDonnell Douglas management increased outsourcing which led to declines
in both aircraft quality and employee morale. Various "accidents" (some preventable)
involving Boeing aircraft in recent years have tarnished this once fine company's reputation.

As someone who's seen BA in the intergenerational portfolio for many many decades, agree completely!
(I only hold a toehold for sentimental reasons nowdays - I sold 95% of the position just as the 737 MAX fiasco started to tank the stock, so I thankfully got out quite nicely near the high)

The last thing Boeing needs is financial restructuring. They need to reinstitute the pre-McDonnell Douglas merger ethos where engineering trumps cost cutting.

+1
The McDonnell Douglas merger precipitated Boeing's descent.
McDonnell Douglas management increased outsourcing which led to declines
in both aircraft quality and employee morale. Various "accidents" (some preventable)
involving Boeing aircraft in recent years have tarnished this once fine company's reputation.

Well, you can remove GE from that list, thanks to Culp's triple-vision - GE, GEHC, and soon GEV.
Culp retired at Danaher/DHR, was called to fix GE, and some now say that he should now fix Boeing/BA. Will he ever get rest? (-:)

The last thing Boeing needs is financial restructuring. They need to reinstitute the pre-McDonnell Douglas merger ethos where engineering trumps cost cutting.

@rforno
I seem to remember PRBLX being criticised for this and responding in some way, but it would be hard to locate now.
As far as financial shenanigans are concerned there are several funds that claim to look for it so as to avoid it. The one I remember from years ago was Robert Olstein who made a big deal out of being able "look behind the numbers" focusing on cash flow with a "forensic analysis"
OFAFX has not exactly blown out the lights.

Parnassus told me they still 'had faith' in things and were 'monitoring the situation' but that seemed like a pro-forma response for folks like me/us who questioned things at the time. :(

@rforno
I seem to remember PRBLX being criticised for this and responding in some way, but it would be hard to locate now.
As far as financial shenanigans are concerned there are several funds that claim to look for it so as to avoid it. The one I remember from years ago was Robert Olstein who made a big deal out of being able "look behind the numbers" focusing on cash flow with a "forensic analysis"
OFAFX has not exactly blown out the lights.

I think that "ESG" like bitcoin is just another marketing tool to give the customers what the companies think they want. Fink did a marvelous 180 degree turn on Bitcoin when he realised he could make money on it.
I do not mean to say that "ESG" is hocus or "woke". Far from it. It certainly sounds reasonable well run companies in the "G" column will do better than poorly managed ones, although it is not clear most of the "G" fund managers know how to tell the difference, nor do they report their results.
There are dozens of companies thought to be good "G" selections until they aren't.
GE under Welch is a case in point. GE was a darling of Wall Street, until it wasn't and the financial manipulations were finally understood.
EQIX was just targeted today by Hindenburg Research for accounting irregularities which seem pretty real to me, but the stock is only down 3%
But most of these "G" managers seem not to care if earnings are reported in "non-GAAP" terms, or if the company issues gobs of stock options and then has to use piles of money on buy backs to avoid dilution, (justifying it as "tax efficient"), or when the stock drops below the CEO's option vesting price, repricing the options ( Looking at you Apple).
So maybe "G" managers are just looking for the least dirty shirt!
There are very good reasons to believe that rising sea levels, more intense storms increasing global temperatures etc will be bad for a number of companies. Even the GOP is putting gobs of money into renewable power etc. Texas is the poster child here.
But admitting that to voters would not be good for the brand.
There is also pretty good empirical data that companies that fostering a productive workplace, encouraging teams of people with broad range of skills and backgrounds and bringing people up through the ranks from a diverse variety of backgrounds do better than ones run in an autocratic method by the old guard. Creative managers can use the first methods to increase diversity without being forced to do so.
All of these "ESG" initiatives will be good for the bottom line and are recognised as such by Investment firms. They just don't have to slap a political label on them.

Post Conference Notes by YBB
Rates were maintained - fed funds 5.25-5.50%, bank reserves rate 5.4%, discount rate 5.5%. Rates may be higher for longer; need more confidence in progress towards inflation goal. No specifics provided for June cut. Current policy is restrictive. Financial conditions are tight.
QT continues at -$60 billion/mo for Treasuries, -$35 billion/mo for MBS; total -$95 billion/mo. Cumulative balance sheet reduction -$1.5 trillion. There was some talk of slowing down QT & being monitored are money-markets, bank reserves and liquidity.
Inflation is still too high; there are some sticky areas. Target is +2% average "over time" (mentioned several times).
Labor market remains tight, wages are going up at a slower pace, unemployment rate is near target. Economy is in good shape also.
Housing contribution to CPI, PCE, etc is via OERs (owners' equivalent rent) & that should be lower in due course.
Fed is studying & keeping up with the developments on digital currencies, CBDC, fin tech, but isn't working on a launch of digital-dollar unless Congress approves first.
Fed transparency is good as-is.
There were new SEP data.
https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1397/thread

According to their web page, a defined benefit plan may be one option to get in should your employer offer it.
https://www.virtus.com/products/kar-small-cap-core#shareclass.A/period.quarterly
Once you are able to purchase the fund in a defined benefit plan, you can probably send a copy of your defined benefit account statement exhibiting fund ownership to the transfer agent so can open an account with them, but you need to confirm this with the transfer agent first.
Excerpt:
Effective July 31, 2018, this Fund is closed to new investors, but remains open to Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit plans. Please see the prospectus for these and other exceptions.
From the January 29, 2024 prospectus:
https://www.virtus.com/products/documents/kar-small-cap-core#Statutory+Prospectus_431
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund is no longer available for purchase by new investors (except as described below). The fund continues to be available for purchase by existing investors; however, the fund reserves the right to refuse any order that may disrupt the efficient management of the fund.As of the date of this prospectus, only the following investors may make purchases in the Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund
:▪ Current shareholders of the fund, whether they hold their shares directly or through a financial intermediary, may continue to add to their accounts through the purchase of additional shares and through the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Financial intermediaries may continue to purchase shares on behalf of existing shareholders only.
▪ Exchanges into the fund may only be made by shareholders with an existing account in the fund.
▪ An investor who has previously entered into a letter of intent with the Distributor prior to the closing date may fulfill the obligation.
▪ Trustees of the fund, trustees/directors of affiliated open- and closed-end funds, and directors, officers and employees of Virtus, its affiliates, and their family members, may continue to open new accounts.
▪ New and additional investments may be made through firm or home office discretionary platform models within mutual fund advisory (WRAP) programs and other fee-based programs established with the Distributor prior to July 31, 2018.
▪ The fund will also remain open to Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit retirement plans and will continue to accept payroll contributions and other types of purchase transactions from both existing and new participants in such plans.
Notwithstanding the above exceptions, the fund may discontinue new and subsequent sales through any financial intermediary at its discretion.The fund and the Distributor reserve the right to modify these exceptions at any time, including on a case-by-case basis

Many discussion board logins stop working when VPNs are used. So, I am not surprised that they cause problems with financial institution login where KYC is the law. I once tried a VPN that routed me via Peru that caused a allow connection, & I was concerned about additional country risks. So, I stopped using it.
Major browsers Chrome, Edge, Firefox do lot of tracking via cookies (soon to go away) or other means. But small browsers like GoDuckGo don't do any tracking; so, every time one tries to login to a financial site, 2FA is required because the browser doesn't remember anything. Don't know about Brave, but it could be similar.

My too big to fail, money center bank did not allow me to login to my account when I used McAfee VPN. They claim if they can not see my IP address, they will not allow access to my account and that VPN usage blocks the IP address. When I was working, I routinely used my work VPN but that did not create any problem for my bank. Does anyone have a problem accessing financial institutions while using VPN?

If you like a good story, I suppose the crash and rebirth of GOODX is an interesting one for a magazine that needs subscribers.
If you're looking for a fund that is darn near 50% financial services, here's your ticket.
I just bought AMAGX for the taxable. They don't own financials. I don't seek financials for the IRA. YMMV.
@David_Snowball says:

Drama. Growth. Evolution. Ten of one, half dozen of the other!
Since our July 2023 profile, GOODX has posted top 10 (of our 300+ peers) performance in both total return and risk-adjusted return.

Have you added it to your portfolio?

The Patriot Act and Financial Institutions.
A long list of choices and information for the ACT. Perhaps there is a perceived violation that is outside of Fidelity's control.
@Crash . Please provide real information regarding under staffing at Fidelity. Thank you.

Wonder what led to this situation if you can share with the board ? We never had experience remotely close to yours.
Only we get are credit card offers with 20% interest and cold calls form their financial consultants who want to do business with us.

In spite of the junk I've experienced, it sounds like I ought to feel lucky that I went to Schwab rather than Fido...?

Wonder what led to this situation if you can share with the board ? We never had experience remotely close to yours.
Only we get are credit card offers with 20% interest and cold calls form their financial consultants who want to do business with us.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103243/000141304224000172/castlefocussupp.htm
497 1 castlefocussupp.htm
Castle Focus Fund
A series of PFS Funds
Supplement dated March 11, 2024
to the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
each dated November 1, 2023
The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the PFS Funds (the “Trust”) has approved a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) relating to the Castle Focus Fund (the “Fund”), effective March 7, 2024. Castle Investment Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), has recommended to the Board to approve the Plan based on its representations of its inability to market the Fund and the Adviser’s indication that it does not desire to continue to support the Fund. As a result, the Board has concluded that it is in the best interest of the shareholders to liquidate the Fund.
In connection with the proposed liquidation and dissolution of the Fund called for by the Plan, the Board has directed the Trust’s principal underwriter to cease offering shares of the Fund immediately as of the date of this Supplement. Shareholders may continue to reinvest dividends and distributions in the Fund or redeem their shares until the liquidation. While undergoing an orderly liquidation, the Fund will invest in cash equivalents and will not be pursuing its investment objective.
It is anticipated that the Fund will liquidate on or about March 22, 2024. Any remaining shareholders on the date of liquidation will receive a distribution of their remaining investment value in full liquidation of the Fund. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your financial advisor directly or the Fund toll-free at 1-877-743-7820 or the Adviser at 703-260-1921.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTORS
If you are a retirement plan investor, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of any redemption of Fund shares. If you receive a distribution from an Individual Retirement Account or a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA, you must roll the proceeds into another Individual Retirement Account within sixty (60) days of the date of the distribution in order to avoid having to include the distribution in your taxable income for the year. If you receive a distribution from a 403(b)(7) Custodian Account (Tax-Sheltered account) or a Keogh Account, you must roll the distribution into a similar type of retirement plan within sixty (60) days in order to avoid disqualification of your plan and the severe tax consequences that it can bring. If you are the trustee of a Qualified Retirement Plan, you may reinvest the money in any way permitted by the plan and trust agreement.
This Supplement, and the existing Prospectus dated November 1, 2023, provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. Both the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information dated November 1, 2023 have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference, and can be obtained without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-743-7820.