@hank a 1.34% (no matter the history of lower) - would not get me out of bed. I just can't subscribe to it. It's tough. I now own 1 bond fund FXNAX and it's painful. I divested Intermediate and Long Term bonds last year. I just think... these days - with interest rates so low, it makes no sense for bonds. I know there are many that rely on them for income but I'd rather play the equity side long term. Own bonds for "diversification benefits?" - it hasn't panned out for me in a very long time. Here's CNBC's take ... it's got to be 1.75% but it will take more for me. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/19/the-10-year-treasury-still-has-higher-to-go-before-it-threatens-the-stock-market-strategists-say.html

+1 aikiron ntf at Schwab and Fidelity. I owned this fund at Schwab and just opened position in my Fidelity taxable and IRA accounts($1,000 minimum) Much better fund than GATEX .

+1 Wonder how much the Mantle and Nolan Ryan(Koosman on same card) rookie cards are worth now?

Oh, dear. Good question. SHORT-term debt? Nope. Just, no. I'd rather buy a 10-year "zero" and hold it. Last one I had, I redeemed in 2013, almost doubled my original investment. Can a 5-plus percent rate be found anywhere on a 10-year "zero" today?

+1. That's good info. Thank you. Still not my cup of meat. Someone else may benefit.

5.25% front-load. Nope. This method sounds too complicated for ME. (I had to edit this down just a bit. Straight from the Morningstar report.)
...will close to new investors starting March 12, 2021. The fund will no longer be able to receive subscriptions from new investors from that date; however, existing investors will continue to have the ability to make additional investments or to reinvest distributions. Assets under management have swelled to $15.6 billion as of Jan. 31, 2021, following a rush of inflows in 2020. Soft-closing the fund is a prudent decision aimed at preserving the strategy’s ability to effectively execute options trading, and further reinforces its Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver for the cheapest share classes.
Attractive fees, a transparent and consistent process, and an experienced manager elevate JPMorgan Hedged Equity ahead of its peers... Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.
...aims to provide smoother equity returns by a systematically implemented options strategy. (T)he team purchases puts 5% below the S&P 500’s value. To offset the cost of the puts, the team first sells puts 20% out-of-the-money ...to protect the fund from quarterly losses in the 5%-20% range; if markets fall less than 5%, the fund should fall in line with the market, and if the market falls more than 20%, the fund should incur the same incremental losses beyond negative 5%. The team also sells call options to generate enough option premium income to cover remaining cost of the hedges. The systematic options overlay structure has led to a dependable outcome even in the most volatile markets, such as in the first quarter of 2020, when it contained losses to less than 5%.
Hamilton Reiner is the lead manager and architect of the strategy. Reiner joined JPMorgan in 2009 and has over three decades of equity and options trading experience.
Assets have grown at a staggering rate, but the strategy should be able absorb the influx relatively easily as it uses liquid securities. In the past three years through August 2020, assets have grown from just over $1 billion to nearly $9.7 billion thanks to solid performance and low fees. Institutional and retirement share classes, in particular, are a lot cheaper than the options-based Morningstar Category average. These low fees coupled with JPMorgan’s transparent process make it an interesting option.
This fund uses a well-defined and thoughtful approach to options trading. Its transparent and repeatable process should deliver predictable results over the long term. The strategy earns an Above Average Process rating.
The strategy aims to provide a smoother ride to equity investing by purchasing 5% out-of-the-money put options and selling 20% out-of-the-money put options over a U.S. equity portfolio. This structure, called a put-spread, is designed to protect capital when markets sell off 5%-20% in a given quarter but also has a lower cost compared with outright put protection. However, since the short option position is so far out-of-the-money, management also sells a call option to cover the price of the long put position. The call options are usually sold 3.5%-5.5% out-of-the-money, depending on the amount of income needed to cover the cost of the long put, but periods of heightened volatility can move that target higher. The level at which the call strikes are written will determine the strategy’s upside cap for the quarter.
The team intends to generate a small level of alpha in the equity portfolio by slightly overweighting attractively priced stocks and slightly underweighting expensive stocks based on fundamental analysis. Since the constitution of the equity portfolio closely replicates the S&P 500, the use of the index options is not problematic from a hedging perspective.
The core long equity portfolio should track the S&P 500 closely as it constrains tracking error to 1.5% annually. It aims to outperform that index by tweaking the individual stock exposure within a 1-percentage-point range using a dividend discount model that ranks stocks from most attractive to least attractive based on forecast earnings and company-specific growth catalysts. The team creates a well-diversified portfolio that mitigates risk associated with individual holdings, with the resulting portfolio holding around 200 stocks. Sector weightings resemble the S&P 500 with modest underweightings in real estate and consumer staples and a small overweighting in consumer discretionary.
The team constructs a zero-cost option overlay at the beginning of each calendar quarter and resets it at the end of the quarter. Call premiums received should improve with persistently high market volatility and higher interest rates, thus improving the strategy’s upside in such a market environment. This was the case at the beginning of 2020’s second quarter when the call options had a strike price closer to 7% out-of-the-money following a period of extremely high volatility. However, in periods of serious market stress (such as Black Monday in 1987, where the S&P 500 dropped 23% in a single day), the short out-of-the-money put leg of the spread may expose the fund to additional losses.
An experienced and dedicated manager and access to JPMorgan’s ample resources earn this strategy an Above Average People rating.
The core team tasked with managing this strategy is small, but concerns about its size are assuaged by the options overlay’s systematic implementation and access to a strong support team. Lead portfolio manager and strategy architect Hamilton Reiner joined the firm in 2009 and has extensive experience trading derivatives, with a career dating back more than three decades. Prior to joining JPMorgan, Reiner held senior positions at Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers, and Deutsche Bank, and he spent the first 10 years of his career at O’Connor and Associates, an options specialist firm. It was announced last year that Reiner would be responsible for leading JPMorgan’s U.S. structured equity team, although this new responsibility should not interfere with his portfolio management duties on the option-based strategies. Raffaele Zingone, the other named portfolio manager, joined the firm in 1991 and is responsible for the equity portfolio implementation. He directs JPMorgan's deep bench of 26 equity analysts, who average 20 years of industry experience.
Reiner has more than $1 million invested alongside investors, signaling a strong alignment of interest between management and shareholders. Zingone has between $500,000 and $1 million invested in the fund.
Parent |
Above Average Jun 2, 2020
J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s strong investment culture, which shows through its long-tenured, well-aligned portfolio managers and deep analytical resources, supports a renewed Above Average Parent rating.
Across asset classes and regions, the firm's diverse lineup features many Morningstar Medalists, such as its highly regarded U.S. equity income strategy that’s available globally. There's been some turnover in the multi-asset team recently, but it remains deeply resourced and experienced. Manager retention and tenure rates, and degree of alignment for U.S. mutual funds compare favorably among the competition. Managers' compensation emphasizes fund ownership over stock ownership, which is distinctive for a public company.
The firm continues to streamline its lineup and integrate its resources further. For instance, in late 2019, the multi-asset solutions division combined with the passive capabilities. The firm hasn’t launched trendy offerings as it’s mostly expanded its passive business lately, but acquisition-related redundancies and more hazardous launches in the past weigh on its success ratio, which measures the percentage of funds that have both survived and outperformed peers. Fees are regularly reviewed downward globally; they're relatively cheaper in the U.S. than abroad. Also, the firm is building its ESG capabilities and supports distinctive initiatives on diversity.
Performance
This strategy has consistently met performance expectations.
Since its December 2013 inception, the strategy has returned 7.8% annualized through August 2020, beating the options-based category average by nearly 4.7 percentage points annualized. It has also outperformed on a risk-adjusted basis. Its Sharpe ratio of 1.0 since January 2014 trounces the category average of 0.3.
The options overlay is designed to protect capital when the S&P 500 drops 5%-20% in a given quarter. This means investors will be exposed to losses if the S&P 500 loses less than 5% in a three-month period. However, this hasn’t stopped the strategy from achieving its goal of lower volatility relative to the S&P 500. Since December 2013, it has had a 6.7% monthly standard deviation compared with the S&P 500's 13.8%. Moreover, the maximum drawdown (based on monthly data) has been limited to negative 7.9% relative to the S&P 500’s negative 19.6%.
Investors should note that the intraquarter experience will vary given that option pricing is dynamic until expiration. Options’ values are marked to market daily, which often results in intraquarter deviations from the quarter-end return. For example, the strategy was down nearly 19% at one point in the first quarter of 2020 but ended the period down 4.9%.
Price
It’s critical to evaluate expenses, as they come directly out of returns. The share class on this report levies a fee that ranks in its Morningstar category’s second-cheapest quintile. Based on our assessment of the fund’s People, Process and Parent pillars in the context of these fees, we think this share class will be able to deliver positive alpha relative to the category benchmark index, explaining its Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze.

Hi all... not trying to spam the thread - I think Telehealth will continue to grow and be extremely important to the Health Sector. My thinking has nothing to do with Covid - its what the Millennial/Gen Z expect: Convenience! So, I found this story on Mutual Funds with Telehealth. Note: Its from April 2020. Guess which fund is mentioned? (answer below)
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-funds-to-gain-from-rising-trends-in-telehealth-2020-04-14
FSMEX

Interesting Article:
The 27-Year-Old Who Became a Covid-19 Data Superstar:
covid-pandemic-how-youyang-gu-used-ai-and-data-to-make-most-accurate-prediction
His Website:
https://covid19-projections.com/

A couple of months ago jhqax was mentioned in a thread about alternatives to low bond yields. If you go to M*star their analyst reports shows that it it closing on Mar. 12 but you have to be a premium member to access the whole story and I am not.

"To be clear, I am not an investor, I am an engineer. I don't own any publicly-traded stock besides Tesla ... However, when fiat [regular] currency has negative real interest, only a fool wouldn't look elsewhere. Bitcoin is almost as BS as fiat money. The key word is 'almost'." Newsweek
Related - Earlier Story from USA Today Tesla buys $1.5 billion in bitcoin
Also related ... Another bump up for the 10 year treasury yield today. 1.34% at last glance. Seem low? Consider around 0.60% less than a year ago.
Question What rate on short term debt or cash would entice you to unload some of your equity holdings (if any) ?

Hi @Mark
This is a reply to Derf from Jan. 18, which includes some info about Fido select trading. A bit of other not related chat, too.
I don't recall the start date for phone trading of select funds, but did use this feature for a pencil performance chart I kept for each week ending pricing. I still have the darn papers.
___@Derf You try'in to overload an oldtimers brain cells....??? :)
I recall reading a few articles in Barron's or WSJ about the Beardstown Ladies investment club.
About the coworker investment club: the life span was a portion of 1985 through a portion of 1991. As most funds required $2,500 to invest (exception was FCNTX); we had to get to that point for a purchase of a fund. The goal was met in short fashion. The initial monies went into a MM Cash Reserves fund that had a 1988, 7 day yield of 7.2%.
Additionally for the funds of this time period, is that many had a 3% (one time) front load and some had redemption fees up 1.5% within the first 12 months of purchase. This was still better than many of the prominent big houses at the time.....a Merrill Lynch, etc. The E.R. range was from .83 through 2%. The Select funds might also have a $75 trading fee. Select funds at the time could be bought and sold on the hour throughout the business day. Transactions were performed through F.A.S.T. (Fidelity Automated Service Telephone) using a touch-tone phone.
All investments were through a Fidelity account and only used their mutual funds.
I can offer a few trinkets about this period (1985-1991) and investing. As noted previous, Fidelity had already established numerous "select" funds; the front runners of sector funds or what are named thematic today.
To the best of my recall, we used the following funds during this period:
---Cash Reserves, MM
---Select American Gold (later merged in Precious Metals)
---Select Computers
---Select Health Care
---Contra... FCNTX
---Captial & Income, (junk bonds and related) FAGIX
We didn't trade often, mostly due to the fees. We also escaped, without harm, during the Oct., 1987 market melt, as we did not sell anything, and our position in American Gold provided a +40 in 1987 to provide a balance.
My recall for the time frame of the club is 10-12% annualized. As members of the club placed different amounts each month, each member had a percentage of ownership when the club was dissolved; and the total profits were dispatched to each member, along with their tax form for the year.
I'm sure I've missed something I thought about previously, but a fun flashback.
Take care,
Catch

I have owned VHT for at least 10 years and never looked for an other. I think it covers health well.

Fasten your seatbelts' — The case for a roaring economic recovery: Morning Brief
https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/fasten-your-seatbelts-case-for-roaring-economic-recovery-morning-brief-110049254.html
***
The U.S. economy is in a reasonably good place right now.
Consumer spending is robust and activity in the service and manufacturing sectors is increasing at a faster rate. The labor market stabilized in January, though as Thursday's report on initial jobless claims showed there is still considerable pressure for workers.***
Maybe more good times ahead...multiple yrs bulls?
Anyone seeing risks double dip ??

I just received the 19a for IOFIX showing the estimated FY-2020 source of distributions to consist of 50% ROC. As others have mentioned however these are not the final figures.
From the 19a notice:
"Not Tax Reporting. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates in order to comply with SEC regulations and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon each Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV in early 2022 for the 2021 calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes (e.g., ordinary income, long-term capital gain or return of capital)."

Huh, silly markets. The Monday night (link,1st post) for Global Markets now reflects this Thursday night (Feb. 18) and at 11pm, EST. 'Course, the Monday night link was "green" for the vast majority of the markets. Tonight is vast majority "red".
Global Markets Overview
The only valid takeaway for me, is that there is a lot money traveling about.
Well, anyway; take a peek if you choose.
Good evening,
Catch

Not only can direct investors continue to invest in the funds, but direct investors can begin investing in new accounts. Not exactly what one usually means by closing a fund, whether soft or hard. Which is why these terms were footnoted in the shareholder letter.
Thank you Lewis Carroll.
The footnotes say the same thing that you were told. M* supposedly tags such funds as "limited" access, i.e. "limited to certain classes of investors", neither open nor closed.

From what I've read 19a's mean nothing... it's just a guess. You have to wait for the official 1099 for accurate numbers.

See link for table of affected funds:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/810893/000119312521047719/d125452d497.htm
Here is the other change as noted by @msf :
...In addition, effective March 1, 2021, the second paragraph of the “Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges — Eligibility” section of the Prospectus is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:
In order to protect the interests of shareholders, PIMCO may find it necessary to limit new purchases of shares of each of the PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund when PIMCO determines that allowing additional inflows into those Funds could negatively affect a Fund’s ability to meet the applicable Fund’s investment objective. PIMCO may close the PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and/or the PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund to (i) initial purchases by new investors or (ii) initial purchases by new investors and subsequent purchases by existing shareholders, in PIMCO’s sole discretion. Such a closure will not affect the rights of existing shareholders with respect to shares of the Funds held as of the date of the closure. In addition, during such a closure, the purchase of additional shares of the applicable Fund through dividend reinvestments will continue to be permitted. If the PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and/or the PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund is closed, PIMCO may re-open the applicable Fund(s) to (i) subsequent purchases by existing shareholders or (ii) initial purchases by new investors and subsequent purchases by existing shareholders, as appropriate in light of market conditions, as determined by PIMCO in its sole discretion. Notice will be provided regarding such closures or re-openings.
In addition, effective March 1, 2021, the final paragraph of the “Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges” section of the SAI is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:
In order to protect the interests of shareholders, PIMCO may find it necessary to limit new purchases of shares of each of the PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund when PIMCO determines that allowing additional inflows into those Funds could negatively affect a Fund’s ability to meet the applicable Fund’s investment objective. PIMCO may close the
PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and/or the PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund to (i) initial purchases by new investors or (ii) initial purchases by new investors and subsequent purchases by existing shareholders, in PIMCO’s sole discretion. Such a closure will not affect the rights of existing shareholders with respect to shares of the Funds held as of the date of the closure. In addition, during such a closure, the purchase of additional shares of the applicable Fund through dividend reinvestments will continue to be permitted. If the PIMCO California Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund and/or the PIMCO National Municipal Opportunistic Value Fund is closed, PIMCO may re-open the applicable Fund(s) to (i) subsequent purchases by existing shareholders or (ii) initial purchases by new investors and subsequent purchases by existing shareholders, as appropriate in light of market conditions, as determined by PIMCO in its sole discretion. Notice will be provided regarding such closures or re-openings.

Same I called Vanguard yesterday waiting was 130 mins
So hanged up and will try another day
It's like calling IRS