Nuclear plants are prob best resources but don't build one in my backyard (maybe most MFOers may feel same way) but perhaps 1000 miles away

OK, well if we're to use clearly biased sources, then:
https://nrdc.org/stories/nuclear-power-101
https://nrdc.org/sites/default/files/plants.pdf

update:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/891079/000119312521065141/d128745d497.htm
497 1 d128745d497.htm HIGHLAND FUNDS II
HIGHLAND FUNDS II
Highland Socially Responsible Equity Fund
Supplement dated March 2, 2021 to the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information (“SAI”) each dated January 31, 2021, as supplemented from time to time
This Supplement provides new and additional information beyond that contained in the Summary Prospectuses, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and should be read in conjunction with the Summary Prospectuses, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The following information supplements and supersedes any information to the contrary contained in the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information of Highland Socially Responsible Equity Fund, a series of Highland Funds II (the “Trust”), each dated and supplemented as noted above.
As previously disclosed on October 28, 2020, and as supplemented on January 31, 2021, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Highland Funds I (the “HFI”) and Highland Funds II (the “HFII”) unanimously approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) for the reorganization of Highland Socially Responsible Fund (the “Acquired Fund”) into NexPoint Merger Arbitrage Fund (the “Acquiring Fund,” and together with the Acquired Fund, the “Funds”).
The shareholders of the Acquired Fund approved the reorganization at a special meeting of shareholders held on February 26, 2021. The reorganization will take effect on March 2, 2021. Effective immediately, the Acquired Fund will be closed to new and existing investors.
Please contact the Adviser at 1-877-665-1287 if you have questions about the Reorganization or your account.
For more information regarding the Acquired or Acquiring Fund please call 1-877-665-1287 or visit the Funds’ Web site at https://www.highlandfundadvisors.com/.
INVESTORS SHOULD RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT WITH THE SUMMARY PROSPECTUS,
PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
HFII-HPE-SUPP-0321

Hi, guys.
Shared a Launch Alert for the Humankind US Equity ETF in your honor. I thought the discussion of it was thoughtful and productive, and so decided to share. Thanks for it!
It also spurred, in part, the article on the fallacies of a "green bubble." It is the panic du jour among those scraping for clickbait articles. At base, the argument is "all of that money flowing into green investments" is creating a bubble. There are a couple problems with the argument. One is that the numbers underlying the bubble argument are sort of invented, which is why I stayed with the conservative $50 billion in inflows angle. The other is that funds are just a vehicle for accessing investments, they aren't the investments themselves. As a result, the funds can't be in a bubble ... though fund managers can choose whether or not to invest in wildly priced stocks.
Part of the question for next month is whether it's even worth mentioning the fallacy of the underlying stats? Depending on what you read, the amount investing in ESG sorts of ways might be $10 trillion ... or $20 trillion, $30 trillion or just north of $40 trillion which does sort of imply some methodological problems in the calculations.
Lots of "A" tier managers retiring, Fuss, Browne and Puglia among them. Much greater shift in the industry away from liquidation and toward M&A activity. You could, I think, make the argument that the mid-market is actually the death zone. Niche managers with distinctive products (Seafarer, Grandeur Peak) have a chance. Mega-firms have a chance. But all of those guys with 20-50 funds seem to be folding, mostly by selling to guys with 50-70 funds.
Wishing you a joyful month,
David

ARKK Bounces Back:
cathie-wood-s-flagship-etf-roars-back-with-near-record-inflow

GreeNews:
Oil Trade Group Is Poised to Endorse Carbon Pricing
oil-trade-group-considers-endorsing-carbon-pricing
Mining magnets: Arctic island finds green power can be a curse
arctic-island-finds-green-power-can-be-a-curse

Report on Energy Transitions (from Fuller Treacy Money):
2021/March/ignoringenergytransitionrealities

We are making a terrible mistake when it comes to future energy policies. In previous letters, we have touched upon the challenges of the so-called “energy transition.” Today, we will explain in detail the imminent harm awaiting investors and policy makers who fail to acknowledge certain realities. Every green energy proposal we have examined relies on the trifecta of wind, solar, and electric vehicles combined with various battery technologies. In recent months, a renewed “hydrogen mania” has broken out as well, which adds a fourth leg to the green energy stool. Unfortunately, based upon our extensive research, these plans, including the current hydrogen craze, are bound to at best severely disappoint and, at worst, outright fail in what they attempt to accomplish.

and,

we believe there is a more straightforward, feasible solution. Nuclear power is the only technology that can provide reliable carbon-free base-load power. Any proposal seeking to seriously address carbon emissions must heavily incorporate nuclear electricity generation. Unfortunately, none of the current proposals include a material nuclear contribution. There is some reason to be optimistic however the Biden administration has acknowledged the need for nuclear power in combating climate change and may signal an important impending change in policy outlook.

Follow up Information:
blog.gorozen.com/blog
Nuclear & Uranium ETF (NLR) pays a 2.31% dividend and has a P&E of 14
Link to Overview:
https://etfdb.com/etf/NLR/#etf-ticker-profile
Vaneck Website:
https://vaneck.com/etf/equity/nlr/overview/
Search word "Nuclear" here at MFO:
https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/search?Search=nuclear

Thankyou
Bonds funds and bonds etf are now among your best choices
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4410372-bond-funds-and-bond-etfs-are-now-among-your-best-choices

It seems like an alternative to a bank for Germans would be a Money Market fund, perhaps in a brokerage account.
Unless the MM will also charge to hold your money.
David

(a) In order to avoid a negative yield, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) may reimburse expenses or waive fees of Fidelity® Government Cash Reserves. Any such waivers or expense reimbursement would be voluntary and could be discontinued at any time. There is no guarantee that Fidelity® Government Cash Reserves will be able to avoid a negative yield.

FDRXX Summary Prospectus
The only reason why most MMFs in the US aren't already charging investors money is that they're being subsidized. What's the motivation to subsidize returns in a country where the banks are charging savers to hold their cash?
Even in the US, I've seen small company 401(k)s offering MMFs with negative yields. These were 401(k) annuities. Though the MMFs themselves had a positive return, once the annuity wrapper fee of the 401(k) was added in (or should I say subtracted out), the net return was negative.

https://www.am.pictet/en/globalwebsite/global-articles/2021/monthly-market-views/fixed-income/green-and-sustainable-bonds-in-emerging-markets#overview
Hello
Friend forward me this email link
Interesting perspectives from overseas investing
Enjoy
Maybe trying hard to get you to invest in their MFs if available in USA

But we're really not discussing the thing that I find most worrisome: if banks in major Western democracies have no use for cash, what does that imply about the viability of cash as a trading medium? I believe that never before in my 81 years has such a situation existed, certainly not here in the US.
Isn't there a distinct danger that at some point other financial entities would begin to feel the same way? And if something like that gets started, wouldn't there be an almost immediate run-for-the-door panic? And actually, where would anyone run to?
It seems to me that the entire financial value system as we have known it is tottering on a very dangerous balance point.
I know that many of you are much more financially astute that me, and I'd really appreciate your comments on all of this.
OJ

https://www.schwab.com/resource-center/insights/content/message-from-recent-bond-market-turmoil
*The late-February spike in U.S. Treasury bond yields sent ripples throughout the global markets. As yields surged to the highest level in a year, stocks and commodities sold off sharply, while the dollar rallied. Some investors called for central banks to step in to calm the markets. The market did eventually settle down without intervention. Ten-year Treasury yields settled at 1.4% after spiking by more than 30 basis points to a peak of 1.6%, the highest level in a year.*
Little old news
Prob keep hanging on for the windy turbulence rates rides...
We are keeping same holdings in our bonds portfolio/... no changes

For some reason how this two-bin basis calculation works is not documented or explained anywhere online, or by any of the fund companies' tax guides

Mutual fund bifurcation
For those accounts in which Average Cost is the disposal method for mutual funds, Fidelity is required to track and report holdings of noncovered and covered shares separately. That is, Fidelity will display separate average cost calculations for fund shares bought before and after January 1, 2012.

https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/cost_basis_legislation.pdf
Numbers in 1099-B form should be accurate

You remain responsible for reporting your cost basis information to the IRS every year on Form 1040, Schedule D, for all shares sold, whether they're covered or noncovered. You should use your own records in addition to the cost basis information we provide.
In addition ... We aren't required to make certain adjustments that are necessary for your tax return.

https://investor.vanguard.com/taxes/cost-basis/covered-noncovered

Note that in general, Germans do not invest heavily in the stock market, rather they invest very little, more like on average 15% of their wealth
Most invest in insurance type products from Allianz etc or regular savings
Stock market is considered very risky and goes against the practical german approac
I believe Lewis B had a recent comment where he stated he found it interesting that many americans put their life savings into the stock market and its unknown, non guarantee return
Best,
Baseball Fan

AVUV has strongly outperformed its benchmark over the past year and in shorter timeframes like 1 and 3 months. It is a new fund -- only has a one year track record.

not sure what your question is. Numbers in 1099-B form should be accurate.

The Mar. 2021 Newsletter is now available.
Note: The March Newsletter can only be accessed at seekingalpha.com.
Click here to read it

I first asked about this in 2011, when the "covered" vs "non-covered" reporting legislation came into effect. It seemed clear that I needed to divide my transactions into two bins, one for "non-covered" and one for "covered" going forward. But, I never did so since I hardly sold anything in a taxable account. Now for 2020 tax season this is biting me big time:
Remember, even if you use the average cost method, the mutual fund companies all seem to calculate two different bases - one for "non-covered" (pre-2012) shares and one for "covered" (2012 and later.) For example:
2010: Buy 100 sh XYZZX at $10 (non-covered)
2015: Buy 100 sh XYZZX at $30 (covered)
2020: Sell 100 sh XYZZX at $50 (will be non-covered shares, the non-covered bin is emptied first)
2021: Sell 100 sh XYZZX at $50 (will be covered shares)
They are going to report your sale from the uncovered bin first - so the basis for your 2020 sale will be $1000, for a $4000 gain. For 2021, the shares are covered; they will report a basis of $3000 to the IRS and a $2000 gain.
If you mistakenly combined both purchases into the same bin and calculated the average basis, you might be tempted to report each of the sales with a $2000 ($20 per share) basis. Since the 2020 sale is not covered, you might report a $2000 basis for it, for a $3000 gain, which the IRS won't know about. But for 2021, you will also need to report a $2000 basis, for a $3000 gain, which is different from what you will get on your 1099-B. This could get you a letter from the IRS.
For some reason how this two-bin basis calculation works is not documented or explained anywhere online, or by any of the fund companies' tax guides. Best bet: just assume that all the numbers on your 1099-B are right, even for non-covered shares you have had a long time. You might want to break out non-covered vs covered bases now, before you exhaust your un-covered shares. Those can probably be fudged a little, as log as all the bases you have used for all the sales in each bin add up to the amount that you paid in to the fund.
Another way is to use FIFO or some other method. In retrospect, that might have been easier than average cost.

@Derf No fishing yet. Wifey wants to go after the big fish. Maybe I'll join her, I dunno. Catfish out of the pond are my speed. But there's just one place on Oahu for freshwater fishing. I looked into it. The requirements and arrangements are silly, ridiculous. I just want to buy a license and GO. But no, that's not enough... ORK! But I sure am enjoying some fabulous sashimi, since getting here. :). Ahi, mostly.
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/hooked-yellow-fin-tuna-fish-underwater-gm173315513-25525805

These-bond-funds-and-bond-etfs-are-now-among-your-best-choices

the most widely owned bond fund category, intermediate term funds, often called "core" funds, have generally averaged more than 6% annualized over the last two years. Not bad, especially as compared to money market funds which barely returned more than 1%.
But just as for stocks, future bond fund performance is very hard to predict. Therefore, rather than trying to guess which way interest rates will now be headed, it makes sense to merely try to invest in the best bond funds one can find based on a variety of important criteria. But searching out such bond funds can be tedious. So, in this article, I have done my best to simply the process for investors.