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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.
  • A 60-40 Portfolio Could Return Less Than A Savings Account
    FYI: Over the next decade, the traditional 60-40 portfolio will post average lower annual returns than many online bank accounts do today, according to a web tool from Newport Beach, Calif.-based Research Affiliates.
    A portfolio consisting of 60 percent equities and 40 percent bonds will post average annual real returns of just 50 basis points over the next decade, said Jim Masturzo, Research Affiliates’ senior vice president, asset allocation, on a Wednesday webcast.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.fa-mag.com/news/over-the-next-decade--a-60-40-portfolio-could-return-less-than-a-savings-account-33535.html?print
  • Grand Prix Investors Fund to liquidate
    @MFO Members: For a couple of years, 1998-1999, Grand Prix Mutual Fund was the hottest thing since sliced bread, and investors were willing to pay a front-load of 5.5% and an expense ratio of 2.5%. Bob Zuccaro's fund returned 111.8% in 1998, followed up with a 147.8% return in 1999. The fund was up 70% until March of 2000 when the Nasdaq crashed and died
    Regards,
    Ted
    Grand Prix's Big Mo:
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2000-05-28/grand-prixs-big-mo
    Bob Wins The Bobby Prize:
    https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/0920/246.html:
    NY Times Article: (Roy Weitz, FundAlarm Founder, comments.)
    http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/business/mutfund/for-a-few-tech-stars-time-for-a-second-act.html
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    Funds often have multiple share classes designed with additional fees to be sold NTF.
    T. Rowe Price has "advisor class" shares, e.g. PAVLX (the 12b-1 version of TRVLX). Years ago I purchased $5K of an advisor class fund (costing me an extra $12.50/year, pre-tax) from a bank's brokerage in order to qualify for some service I wanted. I figured $9 bucks/year wouldn't break me. It still sells this share class.
    This time, TRP is offering its "normal" retail shares NTF. ISTM that TRP might choose to absorb the platform costs because: (a) it may give them more AUM (could still be profitable, though less so than selling directly), (b) larger fund companies cut special deals with brokerages to reduce platform fees, and (c) there is some small cost savings for TRP by servicing a single omnibus account from each brokerage as opposed to servicing all the underlying accounts separately.
    If you haven't seen Fidelity charge more than Schwab for the same fund, you haven't looked at N&B funds. Fidelity offers N&B "trust" shares NTF. These shares have an extra 10 basis point 12b-1 fee (and may add extra expenses on top of that), vs. the investor shares you'd buy directly from N&B or from Schwab NTF. For example, NBSSX is NTF at Schwab. If you want to avoid a transaction fee, at Fidelity you'll have to buy NBFCX; NBSSX carries a transaction fee.
  • Part Trois, Not many friends today anywhere in investment land, eh?
    JUNE 29
    No, not an everything list and the same list from the 27th of June.
    Gonna need some Preparation H if this continues.
    Hey, ask someone you know who has the inside track; as to where the money is flowing.
    Thank you.
    chg | %
    ITOT -0.82%
    FREL -1.18%
    HEDJ -2.38%
    FHLC -0.91%
    LQD -0.31%
    IEF -0.37%
    EDV -1.07%
    HYG -0.25%

  • Grand Prix Investors Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1496315/000116204417000567/grandprixfundsupplement.htm
    497 1 grandprixfundsupplement.htm
    GRAND PRIX INVESTORS TRUST
    (the “Trust”)
    566 West Lancaster Blvd., Suite #1
    Lancaster, CA 93534
    GRAND PRIX INVESTORS FUND
    Supplement dated June 29, 2017 to the Grand Prix Investors Fund’s Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated December 1, 2017
    ______________________________________________________________________
    The Board of Trustees of Grand Prix Investors Trust (the “Trust”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Grand Prix Investors Fund (the “Fund”) and its shareholders to close the Fund effective July 28, 2017 (“Liquidation Date”).
    Effective immediately, the Grand Prix Investors Fund will not accept any new investments, and will no longer pursue its stated investment objective. The Grand Prix Investors Fund will begin liquidating its portfolio and will invest in cash equivalents until all shares have been redeemed. Any capital gains will be distributed as soon as practicable to shareholders and reinvested in additional shares, unless you have previously requested payment in cash. Shares of the Fund are otherwise not available for purchase.
    Accordingly, the prospectus has been amended:
    References to Grand Prix Investors Fund. All references to the Fund in the Trust’s Registration Statement are deleted effective as of June 29, 2017.
    Suspension of Sales. Effective immediately, the Fund will no longer accept orders to buy shares of the Fund from any new investors or existing shareholders.
    Prior to July 28, 2017, you may redeem your investment in the Fund, including reinvested distributions, in accordance with the “How to Redeem Shares” section in the Prospectus. Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, a redemption is subject to tax on any taxable gains. Please refer to the “Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions” section in the Prospectus for general information. You may wish to consult your tax advisor about your particular situation.
    ANY SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT EXCHANGED OR REDEEMED THEIR SHARES OF THE GRAND PRIX INVESTORS FUND PRIOR TO JULY 28, 2017 WILL HAVE THEIR SHARES AUTOMATICALLY REDEEMED AS OF THAT DATE, AND PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS OF RECORD. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your financial advisor or the Fund at 1‐800‐453-6556.
    IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTORS
    If you are a retirement plan investor, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of a 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.
    You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated December 1, 2016, which provides information that you should know about the Grand Prix Investors Fund, and should be retained for future reference. These documents are available upon request and without charge by calling the Fund at 1‐ 800‐453-6556.
    ______________________________________________________________________
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
    #
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    @BobC,
    hmm, are you saying that fund ERs rise inevitably from when they are in-house-available only? I wonder. I suppose it makes sense. I will try and track the history of D&C fund ERs from when I bought them 35y ago direct, although not sure I can do that, or know how, really.
    In any case, what you (flatly) wrote was
    >> they will raise expense ratios for funds on the platform
    and I am saying I do not think that is the case, or have not seen it to be the case. My inference from what you say is that the ER would gradually increase with platform spread, and I know (limited experience) that not to be true with many funds, to the contrary, with some ERs decline (slightly) with growth of AUM. Right?
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    >> Unless TRP is willing to absorb that cost,
    Is this not invariably the case? In 45y I have never seen an NTF fund on Fido (or elsewhere) whose ER was not the same as buying directly from the fund family. OAKBX (say) through Fido same cost to me as OAKBX through Oakmark. Maybe I am missing something?
    No, you are not missing a thing. When a fund increases their expenses to get on an NTF platform, the expense ratio increases no matter where it is purchased. ALL buyers share in the higher costs.
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    >> Unless TRP is willing to absorb that cost,
    Is this not invariably the case? In 45y I have never seen an NTF fund on Fido (or elsewhere) whose ER was not the same as buying directly from the fund family. OAKBX (say) through Fido same cost to me as OAKBX through Oakmark. Maybe I am missing something?
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    TRP is paying them to get on their NTF platform, probably in the neighborhood of 30-35 BPs, which is the standard cost to get on brokerage NTF platforms. Unless TRP is willing to absorb that cost, they will raise expense ratios for funds on the platform
    @BobC, I agree that there is no free lunch. Added cost will pose performance drag. Probably won't see it in the near term, but the impact will be more obvious in the mid-long term.
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    Just understand that Fidelity did not make this change out of altruism. TRP is paying them to get on their NTF platform, probably in the neighborhood of 30-35 BPs, which is the standard cost to get on brokerage NTF platforms. Unless TRP is willing to absorb that cost, they will raise expense ratios for funds on the platform. I am not saying this is a bad thing, since I really like TRP, but this does carry a cost.
  • Fidelity now offers T Rowe NTF?
    401k/403b accounts likely have other available allowances included.
    When attempting a test "buy" via a Fido IRA, the select function box doesn't display any choices; which would normally be buy, sell, trade, etc.
    This page link still indicates "closed to new investors".
    https://fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/77954M105?type=sq-NavBar
  • Economists Forecasts Tend To Be To Optimismic
    FYI: The Fed’s Survey of Professional Forecasters for 2017 Q2 shows that 10-year rates are expected to rise to 2.9% over the coming 12 months. The problem is that Wall Street economists have been consistently too optimistic for the past 15 years, see chart below. To correct for the excessive optimism among forecasters, one can subtract the average forecast error, i.e. the average mistake made for the past 15 years by the forecasting community, which is 0.6%-points. Doing that gives a 12-month forecast for 10-year rates of 2.3%.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://ritholtz.com/2017/06/excess-optimism/
  • HBLAX at Fido
    Hi @Maurice,
    This is a good 1st page to visit when viewing funds, etf's and what ever other ticker you choose to enter at the top right in the "search". The search box is pretty much available at all Fido pages and one doesn't need to be signed in to use many of the functions. You will see under the ticker symbol (top left) the "info" note about the load waive. The 5.5% load is still shown in the listing info. You may also click onto "composition" or the other tabs for other info.
    https://fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/416648244?type=o-NavBar
  • HBLAX at Fido
    My quick look at HBLAX at the Fidelity website still shows a load of 5.50%. Perhaps you can purchase it load-waived, but that is not yet reflected on the website.
    But let me point out one other thing at Fidelity with respect to this fund. With a transaction fee, you can invest in HBLYX, which is the Y shares version of the same fund without the 12b-1 fee of a 0.25% annual fee.

    Maurice,
    HBLAX appears to be offered LOAD WAIVED and NTF at Fido.
    The Hartford Balanced Income Fund Class A
    "This fund is now available NTF (No Transaction Fee) and offered load-waived through Fidelity."
    -Joe
  • Arrow Commodity Strategy Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527428/000158064217003629/arrowcommodity_497e.htm
    497 1 arrowcommodity_497e.htm 497
    ARROW COMMODITY STRATEGY FUND
    CLASS A SHARES: CSFFX
    CLASS C SHARES: CSFTX
    INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES: CSFNX
    (a series of Arrow Investments Trust)
    Supplement dated June 27, 2017 to
    the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated December 1, 2016
    The Board of Trustees of Arrow Investments Trust (the “Board”) has determined, based on the recommendation of the Fund’s adviser, that, with respect to the Arrow Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Arrow Investments Trust, it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders that the Fund cease operations. The Board has determined to close the Fund and redeem all outstanding shares on July 28, 2017.
    Effective June 28, 2017, the Fund will not accept any purchases and will no longer pursue its stated investment objective. The Fund may begin liquidating its portfolio and may invest in cash equivalents such as money market funds until all shares have been redeemed. Any capital gains will be distributed as soon as practicable to shareholders. Shares of the Fund are otherwise not available for purchase.
    After June 28, 2017 and prior to July 28, 2017, you may redeem your shares, including reinvested distributions, in accordance with the “How to Redeem Shares” section in the Prospectus. No redemption fee or contingent deferred sales load will be charged on any redemption or exchange. Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, a redemption is subject to tax on any taxable gains. Please refer to the “Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions” section in the Prospectus for general information. You may wish to consult your tax advisor about your particular situation.
    Arrow Investment Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, serves as investment adviser to several other mutual funds in the Trust. As discussed in the Fund’s prospectus, you may exchange your Fund shares for shares of the same Class of another fund in the fund complex advised by Arrow Investment Advisors, LLC (an “Arrow Fund”). Exchanges are made at net asset value. Except as stated herein, exchanges are subject to the terms applicable to purchases of an Arrow Fund’s shares as set forth in the applicable fund’s prospectus. An exchange of Fund shares to another Arrow Fund will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes.
    ANY SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT REDEEMED THEIR SHARES OF THE FUND PRIOR TO JULY 28, 2017 WILL HAVE THEIR SHARES AUTOMATICALLY REDEEMED AS OF THAT DATE, AND PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS OF RECORD. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR DIRECTLY OR THE FUNDS AT 1-877-277-6933.
    IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTORS
    If you are a retirement plan investor, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of a 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 Summary Prospectus, Prospectus, and Statement of Additional Information dated December 1, 2016, provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. The Summary Prospectus, Prospectus, and Statement of Additional Information dated December 1, 2016, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference and can be obtained without charge by calling the Fund at 1-877-277-6933.
  • Part Trois, Not many friends today anywhere in investment land, eh?
    JUNE 27
    Okay, so the investment world titans; being the machine algos, the humans and the human controlled machine algos are at money wars in the background. One can see them at the roulette wheel placing the bets. Must be a mismatch somewhere, eh?
    Guaranteed, that traders tipping a few after work today will be asking the same questions.
    Hey, take care,
    Catch
    chg | %
    ITOT domestic equity blend-0.64%
    FREL domestic real estate-0.37%
    HEDJ Europe hedged-1.38%
    FHLC domestic health-1.13%
    LQD investment grade corp. bonds-0.43%
    IEF gov't. bonds -0.50%
    EDV long term gov't bonds -1.33%
    HYG domestic high yield bonds -.31%

  • Another Cyberattack Hits: Time To Consider HACK?
    FYI: Thematic exchange-traded funds may have gotten short-changed for their cleverness. One ETF strategist explains why he's bullish on their future. A global cyberattack puts HACK in the spotlight.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.barrons.com/articles/another-cyberattack-hits-time-to-consider-hack-1498581066
    M* Snapshot HACK:
    http://www.morningstar.com/etfs/arcx/hack/quote.html
  • John Waggoner: 10 Funds With Largest 3-Year Outflows
    FYI: Ivestors have been more open to a clown inviting them into the woods than they have been to buying actively managed mutual funds.
    And that’s understandable, given how poorly many managers have fared against passively managed index funds. But even well-managed funds that have beaten the S&P 500’s 10.1% average annual gain in the past three years have watched investors run away.
    The outflows are staggering: The 10 funds with the largest outflows have lost an estimated $160 billion in the past three years. InvestmentNews, using data provided by Morningstar, looked at the funds with the biggest outflows, in order from the least amount to the largest. The carnage begins on the next slide.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH
    1. Fidelity Contrafund:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=11
    2. American Funds Growth Fund Of America:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=10
    3. Coumbia Acorn:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=9
    4. T. Rowe Price Equity Income:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=8
    5. Davis New York Venture:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=7
    6. Vanguard Windsor II:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=6
    7. Artisan Mid-Cap Growth:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=5
    8. T. Rowe Price Growth Stock:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=4
    9. Dodge & Cox Stock:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=3
    10. Fairholme Fund:
    http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20170626/FREE/626009999/PH/10-funds-with-largest-3-year-outflows&Params=Itemnr=2
  • HBLAX at Fido
    @JoeD & MFO Members: HBLIX Is ranked #11 in the (30%-50% E) fund category By U.S. News & World, and has a 5-yr. performance record that puts it in the 3rd percentile by M*. Thanks JoeD for bringing this excellent fund to the Boards attention.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://money.usnews.com/funds/mutual-funds/allocation-30-to-50-equity/hartford-balanced-income-fund/hblax
    M* Snapshot HBLIX:
    http://www.morningstar.com/funds/XNAS/HBLIX/quote.html
  • New Century Portfolios to liquidate
    New Century Capital Portfolio
    New Century Balanced Portfolio
    New Century International Portfolio
    New Century Alternative Strategies Portfolio
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/838802/000139834417007945/fp0026390_497.htm
    497 1 fp0026390_497.htm NEW CENTURY PORTFOLIOS - 497E
    Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(e)
    1933 Act File No. 33-24041
    1940 Act File No. 811-5646
    NEW CENTURY PORTFOLIOS
    (the “Trust”)
    Supplement dated June 26, 2017 to the Trust’s
    Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated March 1, 2017
    On June 15, 2017, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust, based upon the recommendation of Weston Financial Group, Inc. (the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Trust, and having considered the interests of the shareholders of the Trust, voted to recommend that the shareholders adopt an Agreement and Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) to close and liquidate the Trust. The Board concluded that it would be in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders that the Trust be closed and liquidated effective as of the close of business on September 29, 2017. The Trust has called a special meeting of shareholders to be held in the offices of the Trust at 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, to vote on the proposed Plan.
    The Board recommends approval of the proposed Plan, which determines the manner in which the Trust will be liquidated. Pursuant to the Plan and in anticipation of the Trust’s liquidation, the Trust will be closed to new purchases effective as of the close of business on June 30, 2017. However, (i) any dividends or distributions declared to shareholders of the Trust after June 30, 2017, and until the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on September 29, 2017 will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Trust unless a shareholder has requested that such distributions be paid in cash, and (ii) investments received from existing Automatic Investment Programs (an “AIP”) will be accepted by the Trust through September 1, 2017. If the Plan is approved at the special shareholders meeting, shareholders with an AIP should arrange to direct their contributions to another investment alternative of their choosing. Results of the special meeting of shareholders will be posted on the Trust’s website on August 23, 2017 at www.newcenturyportfolios.com.
    Although the Trust will be closed to new purchases as of June 30, 2017, you may redeem your shares of the Trust at any time as provided in the Prospectus. Please note, however, that if the Plan is approved, the Trust will be liquidating and distributing its assets no later than the close of business on September 29, 2017. Redemption requests received immediately preceding the September 29th liquidation may be honored by the delivery of the liquidation proceeds to the shareholder.
    Pursuant to the Plan, if the Trust has not received your redemption request or other instruction prior to the close of business on September 29, 2017, the effective time of the liquidation, your shares will be redeemed, and you will receive proceeds representing your proportionate interest in the net assets of the Trust as of September 29, 2017, subject to any required withholdings. As is the case with any redemption of Trust shares, liquidation proceeds will generally be subject to federal and, as applicable, state and local income taxes if the redeemed shares are held in a taxable account and the liquidation proceeds exceed your adjusted basis in the shares redeemed. If the redeemed shares are held in a qualified retirement account such as an IRA, the liquidation proceeds may not be subject to current income taxation under certain conditions. You should consult with your tax adviser for further information regarding the federal, state and/or local income tax consequences of this liquidation that are relevant to your specific situation.
    All routine expenses incurred in connection with the usual and customary operations of the Trust (including brokerage commissions associated with the sale of portfolio securities) will be charged to the Trust, however, expenses incurred in connection with the consideration and approval of the proposed Plan and expenses outstanding on and after the time of liquidation will be paid by the Adviser.
    Please retain this supplement with your Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.