Oddly, D&C reportedly just added a skootch of international stocks to DODBX to help stabilize returns. Looks like a "skootch" is 15-20%. M* did something on the changes at DODBX a while ago, IIRC.

https://www.mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/comment/191918/#Comment_191918

Oddly, D&C reportedly just added a skootch of international stocks to DODBX to help stabilize returns. Looks like a "skootch" is 15-20%. M* did something on the changes at DODBX a while ago, IIRC.

+1 We all could use more ”stability” at this time!
Off the rails perhaps … but I’ve never worked so hard to diversify. As many have noted, that’s more then just 60/40 or 40/60 or whatever. I like to include one or two “odd-ball” holdings in the portfolio, even if they’ve lagged the markets and even if I couldn’t honestly recommend them to someone else.
Back to D&C - A first class outfit. Sounds like they’ve done a lot to try and stabilize DODBX in recent years. And I never understood why a lot of balanced or allocation funds have such skimpy exposure to non-U.S. holdings. Never made sense. Keeping expenses lower is all I ever figured out.

Oddly, D&C reportedly just added a skootch of international stocks to DODBX to help stabilize returns. Looks like a "skootch" is 15-20%. M* did something on the changes at DODBX a while ago, IIRC.

Hi @WABAC Check this mortgage and other rates discussion link
At the right top you'll see a list of numbers. Click 1 for page one. This will take you to the beginning of the thread, that is August, 2024 started by 'bee'. The title/subject is Preparing Your Portfolio For Rate Cuts
Perhaps this will look familiar as you read through the posts.

Heady days.
By the end I was bumping it out of an abundance of orneriness.
It takes a lot of will power to tame inflation, the kind that's in short supply almost everywhere.

@Crash
You seem to be very fond of T. Rowe Price.
Not that there is anything wrong with that...

:)
It's familiar, and so are those funds, that's all. I've been pleased with them. I sold out of TUHYX and PRCPX to buy the Weitz core-plus offering when it looked like rates were coming down soon. I was early, or wrong. WCPNX behaved like a dead persimmon. Yes, rate cuts may well be coming (again?) soon. I'll still get a better dividend from the TRP Junk funds. (One is much bigger than the other at the moment.)
I keep adding to the portfolio, only about $300-$400/month. Reinvesting dividends. When January arrives, I take a slug from the Trad. IRA, sometimes smaller, sometimes bigger. Currently growing SWVXX to keep it out of the risk pool. 25th wedding anniversary trip with wifey in 2026. Maybe will need to tap some profit from a holding or two, besides. Things to look forward to, eh? It's all her fault.

Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was fiscally irresponsible.
This will just add to our already huge national debt—estimated to be $36.65 T as of 7/18/2025.
Total public debt was 120.87% of GDP in Q1 2025.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/gfdegdq188S

Hi @WABAC Check this mortgage and other rates discussion link
At the right top you'll see a list of numbers. Click 1 for page one. This will take you to the beginning of the thread, that is August, 2024 started by 'bee'. The title/subject is Preparing Your Portfolio For Rate Cuts
Perhaps this will look familiar as you read through the posts.

https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/final-obbba-score-confirms-long-road-fiscal-recovery
Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its final conventional score of the recently-enacted reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). CBO estimates that the legislation will add $3.4 trillion to the primary deficit through 2034. With interest, we estimate it would increase borrowing by $4.1 trillion.
CBO’s score does not account for macroeconomic “dynamic” effects, which would likely result in even more borrowing – as the law’s economic effects are likely to push up interest costs more than revenues. The score also does not account for the fiscal impact of extending various expiring parts of the law; we previously estimated the law would increase borrowing by $5.5 trillion if made permanent.

A potential Fed Chair candidate WARSH has also suggested full review of the Fed/FOMC and revocation of the 1951 Treasury-Fed Accord. That's another way of saying forget about the notion of an independent Fed and that the Fed is no different than other "independent" federal agencies whose heads and members/commissioners have been fired en masse.
Warsh used to be a frontrunner among the potential Fed Chair candidates, but I don't think he is now. If I have to bet on 1 external and 1 internal name, maybe HASSETT or WALLER ? The Fed and FOMC rosters are full now, so there can be various scenarios.
BESSENTT already has an important job as Treasury Secretary. His name is also mentioned, and he may take the Fed Chair job only if pressed hard.
Spellings of Hassett and Bessent can be mixed up easily.

I wonder if the recent outperformance of international stocks can continue and begin to reverse this circumstance?

What is recent?
In the last 3 months, VOO+SPY did much better than VXUS. In fact, QQQ doubled XVUS.
https://schrts.co/SvWkQybv
Early in 2025, XVUS did much better.
===================

gman57; I think I'll stick with just US.

That worked in 2010-2024. In that times I consistently posted about investing in the US.
Is it going to work in the next 10 years?
It stopped working in 2025.
While the SP500 could lag, other US categories might not, like VTV=value.
Why not diversify starting at 10% with VTV+VXUS?
BTW, VGK(Europe) has been doing better than international.

Great Article from T. Rowe Price:
Insights:

— There are alternatives to the conventional strategy of drawing on a taxable
account first, followed by tax-deferred accounts (e.g., Traditional individual retirement
accounts) and then Roth accounts.
— A variety of strategies can be employed at different phases of retirement, such as
filling low tax brackets, taking tax-free capital gains, and executing Roth conversions.
— Coordinating a withdrawal strategy and a Social Security claiming strategy can
drive even more tax efficiency than either approach alone.
— If planning to leave an estate to heirs, consider which assets will ultimately
maximize their after-tax value.

Link to Full Article:
how-to-get-more-out-your-retirement-account-withdrawals.pdf
Video on the subject from Rob Berger:

I wonder if the recent outperformance of international stocks can continue and begin to reverse this circumstance?

To a large extent that’s a result of the dollar falling against foreign currencies over past year or so. But not all is attributable to just that. Stack’s model portfolio (a collection of ETFs plus cash) hasn’t included specific international holdings since I’ve been reading him for 3 or 4 years. But no doubt holdings like XLE (energy sector) do have foreign components.
Re “ I wonder if …” Well, if the U.S. extremes (high valuations) are as bad as some speculate then it would seem like there are better values abroad. I’m not sold on that. Have actually reduced foreign exposure (Europe) over past several months.
This link below to a Meb Faber show might work. Whitney Baker worked alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent until he left to join the Administration. I haven’t heard too many pundits more bearish than Baker. Whether you agree or not, she does present some interesting analysis. I haven’t changed anything in how I invest based on this one interview.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-meb-faber-show-better-investing/id1128955736?i=1000712723958

An article I was reading this morning pointed out that the last time the Fed cut rates, long rates and mortgage rates went up. I haven't verified that. So if anyone has a correction . . . let me know.

The federal funds rate was cut by 100 BPS from September 18, 2024 to December 18, 2024.
However, 10-Year Treasury yields actually increased from 3.65% on September 17, 2024
to 4.57% on December 19, 2024. I didn't investigate the effect on mortgage rates.
Edit/Add:
The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased from 6.09% on Sep. 19, 2024 to 6.72% on Dec. 19, 2024.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MORTGAGE30US/

Per BBG:
US regulators are finalizing plans to replace a controversial rule that would dramatically lower a threshold for retail investors to trade equities and options more often.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is looking to rework the “pattern day trading” rule that limits investors with less than $25,000 in their margin account from borrowing to trade four or more times in a five-day period. In a proposal being prepared for Finra’s board to eventually vote on, retail investors would need to have only $2,000 in their accounts for such trades.
Full archived article @ https://archive.ph/cUNhk

Sold AES for a 35% gain in 3 months. Recent buyout rumors made this thing pop 20% in July and I figure that's a pretty good win right there and as a result probably won't move much higher once any actual buyout news comes out ... plus it's well within or above the herd's consensus price targets. And if any deal falls thru, I'll probably re-enter on the drop....maybe.

Not sure know which “market” the following numbers represent. But I dug them up in Stack’s latest newsletter. Possibly the S&P 500?
From James Stack (July 18): Current Market Price-to-Earnings 28.3 / Average since 1928 17.7
I’ve checked with M* and found that the P/E for the equity holdings of OAKBX which I recently bought at 13, with the average P/E for this class of funds at 20. (Fund has over 40% in fixed income.)
For reference, LCORX (which I don’t own) comes in at a P/E of 16 according to M*, again with its peer group at 20.
I realize P/E can be measured in different ways and that there are several other measures of market valuation besides P/E. Stack notes several other valuation metrics, all indicating an expensive market.
Bottom line: Are there some funds that might hold up well during a market rout, even considering the apparent “bubble” more generally speaking? ISTM after the March 2000 “Tech Wreck” many other markets recovered in a year or two’s time compared to the NASDAQ which remained below its 2000 high for 15 years.

Please find the link for CrossingBridge’s 2Q25 Investor Commentary entitled “United We Stand, Divided We Deal”: https://blog.crossingbridgefunds.com/blog/q2-2025-commentary-united-we-stand-divided-we-deal
Feel free to share widely – it’s not just for financial folks.

There are 4 FOMC meetings left in 2025 - July, September, October, December. Market expectations are for 2 cuts - September & December according to CME FedWatch. That's a total cut of -0.50% (not anywhere close to -3%). July FOMC may have a split decision on rate hold (or unlikely cut). It doesn't look like a big deal so far.

the heineken example is one of a subsector in which , if there are any profits to made, this is the type of company built\aligned to gain them. it appears heineken is the only top 10 holding he has not trimmed in 2025.
also based on russo's public holdings, the only buy above ~2% was uber in 2023, so he is unlikely to buy in a sector that has had tailwinds rather than headwinds (outside of a mkt crash).