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Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
  • Advisers love bonds, cash and value stocks, shun growth and gold - BofA survey
    Well to be fair the survey was taken to assess how managers 'intend' to invest moving forward and not how they were positioned. The part FD left off from Yahoo:
    "Defensiveness is in style among financial advisers, according to the BofA Securities annual Global Wealth & Investment Management Survey.
    Equity allocation (NYSEARCA:SPY) (QQQ) (DIA) (IWM) fell to 57% from 62% in 2022, the lowest level in the short six-year history of the survey. This time around, 372 Merrill financial advisers from around the country responded.
    Exposure to bonds (TBT) (TLT) (SHY) (IEI) (HYG) (LQD) rose 3 percentage points to 27%, the highest recorded.
    "These shifts may continue: 39% said they are moving more into bonds, vs. 18% for equities, consistent with the average bond allocation from sell-side strategists hitting a 10-year high," strategist Savita Subramanian wrote in the survey note Wednesday. "We see long duration bonds (and long duration growth stocks) as risky given rate sensitivity."
    Cash (VMFXX) (SPAXX) allocation rose to 10% from 7%.
    "Just 26% plan to buy stocks with excess cash (v. 42% last year), while 29% plan to buy bonds," Subramanian said. "30% are happy to remain in cash. Cash return/dividend strategies are most frequently requested by clients (82%). We concur. We also prefer companies with self-funded growth (cash flow generators) to those that need to borrow to grow.""
    FWIW.
    All you got to do is listen to dozens of "experts' on CNBC and read many articles in the last 3 months where they said the same thing. No, it didn't start this week, it's been going on for awhile now.
  • Advisers love bonds, cash and value stocks, shun growth and gold - BofA survey
    Pretty sloppy for a guy who is always not only on top of everything, but actually well ahead of everything... he didn't bother to check his link response, which seems pretty odd considering that he has such superior financial systems. Makes you wonder a bit.
    I have been posting for years, and rarely my links don't work. Because the link didn't work I am sloppy?...mmm...it tells me a lot about you.
    BTW, how about discussing the topic?
  • Advisers love bonds, cash and value stocks, shun growth and gold - BofA survey
    Pretty sloppy for a guy who is always not only on top of everything, but actually well ahead of everything... he didn't bother to check his link response, which seems pretty odd considering that he has such superior financial systems. Makes you wonder a bit.
  • Advisers love bonds, cash and value stocks, shun growth and gold - BofA survey
    Well to be fair the survey was taken to assess how managers 'intend' to invest moving forward and not how they were positioned. The part FD left off from Yahoo:
    "Defensiveness is in style among financial advisers, according to the BofA Securities annual Global Wealth & Investment Management Survey.
    Equity allocation (NYSEARCA:SPY) (QQQ) (DIA) (IWM) fell to 57% from 62% in 2022, the lowest level in the short six-year history of the survey. This time around, 372 Merrill financial advisers from around the country responded.
    Exposure to bonds (TBT) (TLT) (SHY) (IEI) (HYG) (LQD) rose 3 percentage points to 27%, the highest recorded.
    "These shifts may continue: 39% said they are moving more into bonds, vs. 18% for equities, consistent with the average bond allocation from sell-side strategists hitting a 10-year high," strategist Savita Subramanian wrote in the survey note Wednesday. "We see long duration bonds (and long duration growth stocks) as risky given rate sensitivity."
    Cash (VMFXX) (SPAXX) allocation rose to 10% from 7%.
    "Just 26% plan to buy stocks with excess cash (v. 42% last year), while 29% plan to buy bonds," Subramanian said. "30% are happy to remain in cash. Cash return/dividend strategies are most frequently requested by clients (82%). We concur. We also prefer companies with self-funded growth (cash flow generators) to those that need to borrow to grow.""
    FWIW.
  • BNY Mellon Diversified Emerging Markets Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/799295/000172967823000013/prosai-stkr6919_0323.htm
    497 1 prosai-stkr6919_0323.htm SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS AND SAI
    March 8, 2023
    BNY Mellon Investment Funds I
    -BNY Mellon Diversified Emerging Markets Fund
    Supplement to Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
    The Board of Trustees of BNY Mellon Investment Funds I (the "Trust") has approved the liquidation of BNY Mellon Diversified Emerging Markets Fund (the "Fund"), a series of the Trust, effective on or about May 12, 2023 (the "Liquidation Date"). Before the Liquidation Date, and at the discretion of Fund management, the Fund's portfolio securities will be sold and shares held of underlying funds will be redeemed, and the Fund may cease to pursue its investment objective and policies. The liquidation of the Fund may result in one or more taxable events for shareholders subject to federal income tax.
    Accordingly, effective on or about April 11, 2023 (the "Closing Date"), the Fund will be closed to any investments for new accounts, except that new accounts may be established by participants in group retirement plans if the Fund is established as an investment option under the plans before the Closing Date. The Fund will continue to accept subsequent investments until the Liquidation Date, except that subsequent investments made by check or pursuant to TeleTransfer or Automatic Asset Builder no longer will be accepted after May 2, 2023. However, subsequent investments by Individual Retirement Accounts and retirement plans sponsored by BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. or its affiliates (together, "BNYM Adviser Retirement Plans") pursuant to TeleTransfer or Automatic Asset Builder (but not by check) will be accepted after May 2, 2023.
    Effective on the Closing Date, the front-end sales load applicable to purchases of the Fund's Class A shares will be waived on investments made in the Fund's Class A shares. In addition, as of that date, the contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") applicable to redemptions of Class C shares and Class A shares of the Fund will be waived on any redemption of such Fund shares.
    To the extent subsequent investments are made in the Fund on or after the Closing Date, the Fund's distributor will not compensate financial institutions (which may include banks, securities dealers and other industry professionals) for selling Class C shares or Class A shares subject to a CDSC at the time of purchase.
    Fund shares held on the Liquidation Date in BNYM Adviser Retirement Plans will be exchanged for Wealth shares of Dreyfus Government Cash Management ("DGCM"). Investors may obtain a copy of the Prospectus of DGCM by calling 1-800-373-9387.
    6919STK0323
  • BNY Mellon Alternative Diversifier Strategies Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1591556/000159155623000015/stk62530323.htm
    497 1 stk62530323.htm SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS AND SAI
    March 8, 2023
    BNY Mellon Investment Funds II, Inc.
    - BNY Mellon Alternative Diversifier Strategies Fund
    Supplement to Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
    The Board of Directors of BNY Mellon Investment Funds II, Inc. (the "Company") has approved the liquidation of BNY Mellon Alternative Diversifier Strategies Fund (the "Fund"), a series of the Company, effective on or about May 12, 2023 (the "Liquidation Date"). Before the Liquidation Date, and at the discretion of Fund management, the Fund's portfolio securities will be sold and shares held of underlying funds will be redeemed, and the Fund may cease to pursue its investment objective and policies. The liquidation of the Fund may result in one or more taxable events for shareholders subject to federal income tax.
    Accordingly, effective on or about April 11, 2023 (the "Closing Date"), the Fund will be closed to any investments for new accounts, except that new accounts may be established by participants in group retirement plans if the Fund is established as an investment option under the plans before the Closing Date. The Fund will continue to accept subsequent investments until the Liquidation Date, except that subsequent investments made by check or pursuant to TeleTransfer or Automatic Asset Builder no longer will be accepted after May 2, 2023. However, subsequent investments by Individual Retirement Accounts and retirement plans sponsored by BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. or its affiliates (together, "BNYM Adviser Retirement Plans") pursuant to TeleTransfer or Automatic Asset Builder (but not by check) will be accepted after May 2, 2023.
    Effective on the Closing Date, the front-end sales load applicable to purchases of the Fund's Class A shares will be waived on investments made in the Fund's Class A shares. In addition, as of that date, the contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") applicable to redemptions of Class C shares and Class A shares of the Fund will be waived on any redemption of such Fund shares.
    To the extent subsequent investments are made in the Fund on or after the Closing Date, the Fund's distributor will not compensate financial institutions (which may include banks, securities dealers and other industry professionals) for selling Class C shares or Class A shares subject to a CDSC at the time of purchase.
    Fund shares held on the Liquidation Date in BNYM Adviser Retirement Plans will be exchanged for Wealth shares of Dreyfus Government Cash Management ("DGCM"). Investors may obtain a copy of the Prospectus of DGCM by calling 1-800-373-9387.
    6253STK0323
  • another argument for an EM ex-China fund
    Now you guys have me worried.
    At the start of 2022, I started my position in EM fund RNWOX, the Rondure New World fund. This fund, I believe, has been neck and neck with SFGIX for risk adjusted returns. In fact, if you put their trends on top of each other, there is little difference in return and volatility. At the time I was looking for an EM fund, the manager, Laura Geritz, spoke more positively about increasing positions in India more than China. China was about 20% of the fund when I bought, lower than the avg EM fund. Now, China has increased to about 27% as @sma3 states. I assume the change is based on stock value given this fund has a value tilt.
    I still think this is one of the better EM funds to own, low risk, above avg returns, a 5* fund. I don't plan any changes. I think if China starts to renege on financial obligations, they will destroy their own economy and disrupt all markets. So, I don't plan any changes... yet.
  • Barron's and ESG
    Barron's has hit a double ( two weeks) ESG covers
    Two weeks ago it was plastic waste and recycling
    https://www.barrons.com/articles/cheap-new-plastic-choking-the-world-9b318936?mod=past_editions
    This week Agriculture and fertilizer emphasizing new technology to deal with drought and changing climate.
    https://www.barrons.com/articles/economy-farmers-deere-agco-stocks-c4ca8e8c?mod=past_editions
    Unfortunately, neither is as precise and insightful as they could have been, with only few investment ideas.
    But it does show how the financial press is still thinking about pollution, climate change and ESG
    And "100 best Sustainable Companies" in this week's edition.
    https://www.barrons.com/articles/most-sustainable-esg-us-companies-1b5f70fd?mod=past_editions
    They point out that "The top 100 returned an average negative 9.5% in 2022 versus negative 18.1% for the S&P 500 index. Moreover, 63% outperformed the index, up from 47% in 2021. "
    I would hope this message gets around and will convince our lawmakers to stay out of investment decisions or their constituents will suffer.
    Apologies to anyone who can't open the articles. Who knows how to post the entire article?
  • Crypto Crash. 11/8/22
    Silvergate/SI is an FDIC insured bank. It runs an interface SEN (exchange) that connects its clients with the crypto world - it claims to be only a middleman. It is one of the handful of banks still providing some banking services to the crypto world. Last year, it had to tap the FHLB for a large liquidity loan when it had a bank-run - surprising because the FHLB mission is to support housing (not cryptos) - I wasn't the only one making this observation. Many banks in such situation tap the Fed Discount Window but the Fed is more strict. It seems that as Silvergate financial situation worsened, the FHLB called its loan and that is one of the reasons causing its current difficulties.
    Silvergate failure will cause some ripples in banking and cryptos (that were already in an ice-age).
    The US Government right now is choking the cryptos of "oxygen" via regulations and stricter banking oversight.
  • BONDS, HIATUS ..... March 24, 2023
    Jason Zweig had an article in WSJ describing what @hank wrote above. It is about making lemonade out of lemon from treasuries.
    Until last year, the Fed had kept interest rates near zero for most of the past decade-and-a-half. Investors became desperate for something, anything, that yielded more than 1%. Wall Street spewed forth high-yield debt, energy partnerships, emerging-market bonds, private credit funds, private real-estate trusts, business-development companies, floating-rate bank-loan funds—all sold on the premise that you needed to take extra risk (and pay extra fees) to get extra income.
    But a 5% yield on short-term Treasurys is like kryptonite for the purveyors of that propaganda. “Why chase yield if you’re getting decent returns on a diversified, high-quality fixed-income portfolio?” says Julie Virta, a senior financial adviser at Vanguard Personal Advisor Services in Malvern, Pa.
    https://wsj.com/articles/welcome-to-the-5-world-where-yield-chases-you-af3df384
    At 4% treasury yield, how does that compete with stocks in general? In just 2 months, the 60/40 portfolio has rollbacked all the gain since the beginning of this year.
  • Your tax dollars at work - US Treasury/Savings Bonds
    I don't think we were listed as beneficiaries, just as her heirs. We could have each taken one bond but the bank might have insisted the proceeds go to each of us in thirds. My sisters tend to not like anything financial and there were other issues to sort out like nominee interest etc.
    I did all the research on how to handle it and knew far more about it than the bank officer
  • Franklin K2 Long Short Credit Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1535538/000174177323000598/c497.htm
    497 1 c497.htm
    948 P1 03/23
    SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 1, 2023
    TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 1, 2022
    OF
    K2 LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND
    (a series of Franklin Alternative Strategies Funds)
    The prospectus is amended as follows:
    The following paragraphs are added to the beginning of the “Fund Summary” and “Fund Details” sections of the prospectus:
    On February 28, 2023, the Board of Trustees of Franklin Alternative Strategies Funds, on behalf of K2 Long Short Credit Fund (the “Fund”), approved a proposal to liquidate and dissolve the Fund. The liquidation is anticipated to occur on or about May 12, 2023 (Liquidation Date); however, the liquidation may occur sooner if at any time before the Liquidation Date there are no shares outstanding in the Fund. The liquidation may also be delayed if unforeseen circumstances arise. The Fund may deviate from its investment objective and investment strategies at any time prior to the Liquidation Date.
    At the close of market on April 3, 2023, the Fund will be closed to new investors, except as noted below. Existing investors who had an open and funded account on April 3, 2023, can continue to invest in the Fund through exchanges and additional purchases after such date. The following categories of investors may continue to open new accounts in the Fund after the close of market on April 3, 2023: (1) clients of discretionary investment allocation programs where such programs had investments in the Fund prior to the close of market on April 3, 2023, and (2) Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans or benefit plans and their participants where the Fund was available to participants prior to the close of market on April 3, 2023. The Fund will not accept any additional purchases after the close of market on or about May 9, 2023. The Fund reserves the right to change this policy at any time.
    Shareholders of the Fund on the Liquidation Date will have their accounts liquidated and the proceeds will be delivered to them. For those shareholders with taxable accounts and for Federal, state and local income tax purposes: (a) any liquidation proceeds paid to such shareholder should generally be treated as received by such shareholder in exchange for the shareholder’s shares and the shareholder will therefore generally recognize a taxable gain or loss; (b) in connection with the liquidation, the Fund may declare taxable distributions of its income and/or capital gain; and (c) an exchange out of the Fund prior to the Liquidation Date may be considered a taxable transaction and such shareholders may recognize a gain or loss. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect of the Fund’s liquidation in light of their individual circumstances. Participants in an Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan that is a Fund shareholder should consult with their plan sponsor for further information regarding the impact of the liquidation. In considering new purchases or exchanges, shareholders may want to consult with their financial advisors to consider their investment options.
    Please keep this supplement with your prospectus for future reference.
  • Low-Road Capitalism 3: How Environmentally Conscious Investing Became a Target of Conservatives
    The hypocrisy of "freedom loving, little government" conservatives using state governments to force companies to do their bidding is jaw dropping. DeSantis and Disney is the worst example, but the "ban-ESG" movement has bigger financial implications for most Americans.
    There is some rationality being brought to the fight however. I turns out bankers do not like being told what to do
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/02/28/climate-change-wall-street-investments/
    There are already documented instances of bond proposals costing towns and cities millions of dollars more in Florida and Texas because sales were delayed or postponed because of anti-ESG laws and the number of underwriters is much less.
    There was also another article today ( which now I can't find, of course) that illustrates how "anti-ESG" conservative Governors are more than happy to take money for their states from renewable energy subsidies. I think Texas has the largest solar and wind farm footprint in the country.
  • Low-Road Capitalism 3: How Environmentally Conscious Investing Became a Target of Conservatives
    @msf The problem is images have their own reality in 2023. Fake news can lead to real election results, so ESG becomes a prop in the culture wars. And those results matter a great deal to the oil lobby.
    There is also long-term climate risk assessment done by those relativist ESG funds that still hold XOM and those assessments make the fossil fuel industry nervous. They do not want there to be any acknowledgment that climate change is a material financial risk to their businesses which requires either divestment or changes to their business policies such as leaving certain assets in the ground.
    In the short term there is much greenwashing and saber rattling. In the long term these matters are of grave importance, and retirement plans must think both short and long term about risk. For the sixty year old employee there is perhaps little financial risk in holding fossil fuel companies and perhaps rewards, but for the thirty year old employee in a retirement plan the risks are substantial.
    What the DOL rule is about on a more granular level is allowing plan sponsors to consider climate risk as a material financial risk in their selection of funds and those funds investment strategies. That makes the fossil fuel industry uncomfortable.
  • Low-Road Capitalism 3: How Environmentally Conscious Investing Became a Target of Conservatives
    The fossil fuel lobbyist limiting consumer choice edition:
    https://nytimes.com/2023/02/28/climate/esg-climate-backlash.html
    It’s been a widely accepted trend in financial circles for nearly two decades. But suddenly, Republicans have launched an assault on a philosophy that says that companies should be concerned with not just profits but also how their businesses affect the environment and society.
    More than $18 trillion is held in investment funds that follow the investing principle known as E.S.G. — shorthand for prioritizing environmental, social and governance factors — a strategy that has been adopted by major corporations around the globe.
    Now, Republicans around the country say Wall Street has taken a sharp left turn, attacking what they term “woke capitalism” and dragging businesses, their onetime allies, into the culture wars.
    The rancor escalated on Tuesday as Republicans in Congress used their new majority in the House to vote by a margin of 216 to 204 to repeal a Department of Labor rule that allows retirement funds to consider climate change and other factors when choosing companies in which to invest. In the Senate, Republicans are lining up behind a similar effort that has been joined by Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia.
    ….It is unclear whether applying environmental and social principles to investing is actually good for business. Some studies have shown that companies that embrace environmental and social goals outperform their peers in the long run. But other studies show the opposite. And as the stock market slumped last year, oil and gas stock prices rose sharply.

    Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, said he believed the Republican position on E.S.G. was more about ginning up outrage than about just how much of a financial risk climate change posed to long term investments.
    “They invent culture-war provocations that drive clicks, and woke capitalism is part of that,” he said.
    Mr. Whitehouse added that he believed the fossil fuel industry was responsible for funding much of the pushback. Groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which has been opposing climate action around the country, are supported by oil and gas companies. And the oil and gas industry continues to donate to Republicans at a far greater rate than it does to Democrats, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets.
    Of course, having a rule that merely allows retirement plan investors the choice of buying an ESG fund is a terrible threat that will destroy America in the lobbyists view. There is no definitive evidence that ESG criteria or funds either outperform or underperform in the aggregate. There are strong ESG fund performers, too, as well as low cost ones. So, why not let investors decide for themselves by giving them the option to buy one? Somehow this is allowed in the rest of the world and a hell mouth hasn’t opened.
  • Reorganization at Rondure Global Advisors
    Can anyone please explain what does reorganizing a mutual fund into a mutual fund trust accomplish? Layman's terms please if you can. Also, is this move good for the shareholders? TIA
    The first is an interesting question, and one that Yogi has addressed, but not the right question for these funds. They are already in a trust - the second line in Shadow's transcription reads: FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST.
    A more focused question would be: what does reorganizing mutual funds from one trust into a different trust accomplish? Check for changes (infrequent) in fees, waivers, clawbacks, management firms. Also shareholder voting rights (see below).
    Rondure Global Advisors has been using a trust (Financial Investors Trust) and will be moving to Northern Lights Trust III. They are both Delaware statutory trusts, so the laws governing them are the same (Delaware).
    But because they are different trusts, they have different trustees (those are the fiduciaries you vote for to represent your interests in the funds). Also, since the size of the two trusts are almost surely different, a shareholder vote will have more (or less) weight than before.
    Yogi wrote that large fund firms use trusts (aggregating their funds) for efficiency. Boutiques do the same, except that instead of aggregating their funds together in a trust they run, they join together with other boutiques in a trust they don't run. So you find funds from multiple families in a single trust.
    Here's a list of some of the funds in Financial Investors Trust. I've underlined some funds/families that have appeared in posts here:
    JCRAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/CoreCommodity Management CompleteCommodities Strategy Fund Investor Shares
    INDAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/Kotak India Growth Fund Investor Shares
    LPEFX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/Red Rocks Listed Private Equity Fund Investor Shares
    ALIBX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS | Smith Balanced Opportunity Fund Investor Class
    SMCVX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS | Smith Credit Opportunities Fund Investor Class
    FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/Smith Short Duration Bond Fund Class A
    FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/Smith Total Return Bond Fund Class A
    AMWYX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - ALPS/WMC Research Value Fund Investor Shares
    CHNAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Clough China Fund Investor Shares
    HSSAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Class A
    HSPGX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Emerald Growth Fund Class A
    EFCAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Emerald Insights Fund Class A
    ESTAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Emerald Select trueLiberty Income Fund Class A
    ELASX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Class A
    GPEOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Investor Class
    FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Contrarian Fund Institutional Class
    FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Explorer Fund Institutional Class
    GPMCX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Institutional Class
    GPGOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Investor Class
    GPROX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Investor Class
    GGSOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Investor Class
    GPIOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Investor Class
    GISOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Investor Class
    FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Grandeur Peak US Stalwarts Fund Institutional Class
    RMRGX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Highland Resolute Fund Class I
    RLTAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - RiverFront Asset Allocation Aggressive Investor Shares
    RLGAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - RiverFront Asset Allocation Growth & Income Investor Shares
    RMIAX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - RiverFront Asset Allocation Moderate Investor Shares
    RNWOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - RONDURE NEW WORLD FUND Investor Class
    ROSOX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - RONDURE OVERSEAS FUND Investor Class
    SFGIX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Investor
    SFVLX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Investor Class
    DGIFX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund
    VVPLX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Vulcan Value Partners Fund Investor Class Shares
    VVPSX - FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST - Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund Investor Class Shares
    Source: https://fintel.io/ff/915802
    Here are some of the funds/families in the new trust, Northern Lights Trust III. Nothing pops out at me:
    AAMAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Absolute Capital Asset Allocator Fund Class A Shares
    ACMAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Absolute Capital Defender Fund Class A Shares
    ADOAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - ACM Dynamic Opportunity Fund Class A Shares
    TINIX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - ACM Tactical Income Fund Class I
    BWDAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Boyd Watterson Limited Duration Enhanced Income Fund Class A Shares
    CINTX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Centerstone International Fund Class I
    CENTX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Centerstone Investors Fund Class I
    CPQAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Counterpoint Long-Short Equity Fund Class A Shares
    CPAEX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Counterpoint Tactical Equity Fund Class A Shares
    CPATX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Counterpoint Tactical Income Fund Class A Shares
    TMNAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Counterpoint Tactical Municipal Fund Class A
    HYTR - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - CP High Yield Trend ETF
    FPAG - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - FPA Global Equity ETF
    GHSIX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Good Harbor Tactical Select Fund Class I Shares
    QQH - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Defender 100 Index ETF
    LGH - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Defender 500 Index ETF
    HCMNX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Dividend Sector Plus Fund Class A Shares
    HCMFX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Dynamic Income Fund Investor Class Shares
    HCMEX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Income Plus Fund Class A Shares
    HCMGX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - HCM Tactical Growth Fund Class A Shares
    LIONX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Issachar Fund Class N Shares
    GHTAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Leland Real Asset Opportunities Fund Class A Shares
    LDPAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Leland Thomson Reuters Private Equity Buyout Index Fund Class A
    LDVAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Leland Thomson Reuters Venture Capital Index Fund Class A Shares
    MVPFX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Marathon Value Portfolio
    NFMAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Newfound Multi-Asset Income Fund Class A
    NFGAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Newfound Risk Managed Global Sectors Fund Class A Shares
    NFDIX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Newfound Risk Managed U.S. Growth Fund Class I Shares
    NFDAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Newfound Risk Managed U.S. Sectors Fund Class A Shares
    LSEIX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Persimmon Long/Short Fund Class I Shares
    APSHX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Pinnacle Sherman Multi-Strategy Core Fund Class A
    IPTRX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Pinnacle TrendRating Innovative Equity Fund Class I
    RQEAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - RESQ Dynamic Allocation Fund RESQ Dynamic Allocation Class A Shares
    RQIAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - RESQ Strategic Income Fund Class A Shares
    SDFAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk Emerging Markets Fund Class A Shares
    SDJAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk Foreign Developed Fund Class A Shares
    SDRAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk Fund Class A Shares
    SDAAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk Growth Fund Class A Shares
    SDAYX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk Growth Fund Class Y Shares
    SDCAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - Swan Defined Risk U.S. Small Cap Fund Class A Shares
    TCBAX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - The Covered Bridge Fund Class A Shares
    TEBRX - NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST III - The Teberg Fund
    Source: https://fintel.io/ff/1537140
  • Your tax dollars at work - US Treasury/Savings Bonds
    I spoke with TD. Front line wasn't helpful, but I got transferred to a supervisor who provided a clear explanation and took my feedback to clarify the "never received" savings bond form (FS-3062).
    I was told that it is TD policy to replace paper bonds issued within the previous 12 months with paper bonds. After that, you replacements of paper bonds will be electronic.
    The supervisor drew a distinction between "reissued bonds" (e.g. when a savings bond is retitled due to an owner's death), and "substitute bonds". While I can appreciate that subtle difference, the form's wording muddies the distinction. Still, at least I can articulate the one year paper policy.
    The safest thing to do perhaps is to wait until you receive all tax refund bonds (including "substitute bonds" for any lost in the mail), and only then mail them all in together to get converted to electronic form.
    Alternatively, send in the paper bonds you have, and wait a year to request "substitute bonds" for those lost in the mail. Those should then (and only then?) get automatically registered in electronic form.
    Some things still don't make sense, however. Form 3062 conflates "reissued" and "substitute". It says in one place that "When we reissue a Series EE or Series I savings bond, we no longer provide a paper bond". While in another place it says that "For Series EE and Series I bonds, we no longer issue substitute bonds in paper form."
    Another is that I was told that one can request electronic savings bonds as part of a tax refund. Perhaps so, but I can't find how to do that. All I see is Form 8888 that allows you to request paper savings bonds.
    https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8888.pdf
    Speaking of Form 8888, the TurboTax FAQ "How do I buy savings bonds with my tax refund?" has its own problem. It says that you can use the form to request up to three savings bonds. You have no choice on the savings bonds, but can request refund direct deposits into up to three financial institutions.
    https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/small-business-processes/buy-savings-bonds-tax-refund/L33edmEa2_US_en_US
  • PSTL div 28 Feb '23
    Invests only in Post Office properties. So, it's safe to say the P.O. (half private, half governmental entity) will not default.
    Funny you should bring that up. From OJ's post about the Supreme Court case to determine whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding is unconstitutional:
    The CFPB is not the only agency funded this way. ... The U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Mint, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which protects bank depositors, and more, are also not funded by annual congressional appropriations.
    https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/60734/supreme-court-to-hear-case-that-threatens-consumer-protection-agency-and-other-federal-agencies
  • Supreme Court to hear case that threatens consumer protection agency and other federal agencies
    Following are lightly edited excerpts from a current NPR report:
    The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up a case that could threaten the existence of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and potentially the status of numerous other federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve.
    A panel of three Trump appointees on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last fall that the agency's funding is unconstitutional because the CFPB gets its money from the Federal Reserve, which in turn is funded by bank fees.
    Although the agency reports regularly to Congress and is routinely audited, the Fifth Circuit ruled that is not enough. The CFPB's money has to be appropriated annually by Congress or the agency, and everything it does is unconstitutional, the lower courts said.
    The CFPB is not the only agency funded this way. The Federal Reserve itself is funded not by Congress but by banking fees. The U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Mint, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which protects bank depositors, and more, are also not funded by annual congressional appropriations.
    In its brief to the Supreme Court, the Biden administration noted that even programs like Social Security and Medicare are paid for by mandatory spending, not annual appropriations.
    "This marks the first time in our nation's history that any court has held that Congress violated the Appropriations Clause by enacting a law authorizing spending," wrote the Biden administration's Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar.
    Conservatives who have long opposed the modern administrative state have previously challenged laws that declared heads of agencies can only be fired for cause. In recent years, the Supreme Court has agreed and struck down many of those provisions. The court has held that administrative agencies are essentially creatures of the Executive Branch, so the president has to be able to fire at-will and not just for cause.
    But while those decisions did change the who, in terms of who runs these agencies, they did not take away the agencies' powers. Now comes a lower court decision that essentially invalidates the whole mission of the CFPB.
    The CFPB was the brainchild of then White House aide, and now U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. She issued a statement Monday noting that lower courts have previously and repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of the CFPB.
    "If the Supreme Court follows more than a century of law and historical precedent," she said, "it will strike down the Fifth Circuit's decision before it throws our financial market and economy into chaos."
    The high court will not hear arguments in the case until next term, so a decision is unlikely until 2024.