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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.
  • Mutual Funds Get Crushed By Brazil: Text & Video
    Time reported this on Wednesday:
    "Ladbrokes, one of the largest betting sites in the world, announced today that it has tweaked the odds that Trump leaves office early via impeachment or resignation to 4/5, or 55 percent."
    Make of it what ye will ...
  • Mutual Funds Get Crushed By Brazil: Text & Video
    A rare day as of late, when I actually had some sit time and watched this report on tv. The words I highlighted from the article.....well, to me; could be from a well written movie screenwriter/book or Saturday Night Live; a kinda "Man, I'd like to take your money; but I'm full up". 'Course, bribes have been human nature since day one, ya think?
    From the article:
    Agriculture Ministry
    "As part of their plea agreement, the brothers submitted to prosecutors a recording that allegedly shows Temer approving a payment to Eduardo Cunha, the former head of the lower house who was jailed as part of Carwash, newspaper O Globo reported. The Batistas and other JBS executives also agreed to pay 225 million reais ($69 million) in fines, the company said in a statement Thursday.
    The video testimony sheds light on alleged deals with state bank BNDES that involved a mandatory bribe of 4 percent, allegedly paid to an associate of former Finance Minister Guido Mantega. When it came to dealing with the pension funds, the Batistas skipped intermediaries and paid the top executives directly, according to the testimony. There were also bribes for representatives of the agriculture ministry. The brothers said they even advised Cunha, the disgraced lawmaker, against trying to start his own corruption scheme at the ministry because too many bribes were being paid already."
  • Mutual Funds Get Crushed By Brazil: Text & Video
    FYI: Funds with large holdings of Brazilian assets tumbled yesterday as allegations against the country’s president sparked a selloff.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-19/brazil-heavy-funds-get-crushed-by-political-chaos-rocking-market
  • Americans' Savings Make Wealth Managers Rich
    http://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/32897/what-s-my-investing-fee-a-frustrating-quest-how-to-get-a-straight-answer
    (No follow up discussion, just Ted's links including link to original WSJ article.)
    I agree that the article was lame. More column inches to fill. Fuller complained that she couldn't get an "all in" figure (including underlying fund fees) from her adviser. I guess looking up these figures (as David suggested), computing a dollar-weighted average, and adding them to 0.85% exceeded her ability as a specialist in data analysis.
    The Bloomberg piece is disingenuous. It states that the fees are "quasi" hidden (e.g. in plain sight if one looks at prospectuses rather than at brokerage statements). Yet it accepts without question that even this "hiding" is too much for a professional to deal with: "If even a seasoned financial reporter has to spend hours just to find out the price that she’s paying ..."
  • Drone ETF Takes Off After Court Decides Users Don’t Have To Register Under FAA Rule
    FYI: An exchange-traded fund that tracks the done industry spiked on Friday, hitting a record after an appeals court struck down a controversial requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration that users must register their devices.
    The PureFunds Drone Economy Strategy ETF IFLY, +1.98% climbed 1.9% on more than triple its average daily volume, according to FactSet. Nearly 11,000 shares exchanged hands, 280% above its 30-day average of just 3,900.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/drone-etf-takes-off-after-court-decides-users-dont-have-to-register-under-faa-rule-2017-05-19/print
    M* Snapshot IFLY:
    http://www.morningstar.com/etfs/ARCX/IFLY/quote.html
  • Americans' Savings Make Wealth Managers Rich
    What a complete nonstory this is, and she's a data investigator?? And yet another misleading hed.
    Her management fee is low. Her fund fees are low. Her total is lowish.
    Not to defend this sort of thing, but seriously.
    And she coulda found all this out with only a little work. The first c/s person screwed up. But I bet she could've found out online that this firm has a low client fee, 0.85%.
    Some people in my family are like 1.1% now. And fund fees are readily available at M* and everywhere else.
    Lame, lame journalism.
    Whether there should be any such fees at this level, and what they should be if not, well, that's a story. But not this one. Opaque? Hardly.
    She comes off as a bit of a snowflake. Should handholding and guidance and judgment and execution be free?
  • GLRBX
    I have adopted as a strategy to keep regularly adding to ICMAX and PVFIX in the current phase of the market. But most of all, to resist the temptation to add to PRWCX. I am considering instead establishing a new position on WHGIX - which had a shallow draw-down in 2008 10-year Downside Capture ratio of 52.76, but still reluctant given that the decision would be based on a single full-cycle (my assumption is that each cycle is different, and have tried to use the discipline of having more than one.)
  • Man Who Called Dow 20,000 Says Stock Market Could See 1,000-Point Surge If Trump Resigns Text &Video
    FYI: Life without President Donald Trump? On Wall Street, that idea is being bandied about increasingly of late, as the commander-in-chief has seen his credibility as leader of the free world assailed relentless over the past weeks, ultimately spurring Wall Street stocks into their worst tailspin in months.
    On Wednesday, Jeremy Siegel — a prominent stock-market bull — said equity markets, specifically the Dow, would spike by 1,000 points if Trump announced his resignation from the U.S. presidency.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/man-who-called-dow-20000-says-stock-market-could-see-1000-point-jump-if-trump-resigns-2017-05-17/print
  • The Closing Bell: Wall Street Tumbles As Investors Flee Latest Trump Crisis: Dow Down 372
    GLRBX down 1.06% yesterday. Eh, not impressed for a 50/50 equity/bond split fund.
    Kind of makes sense. I believe small and mid caps were down about 2x that amount.
    Unfortunately, the fund managers' decision to stress small and mid cap value equities has not served it well over the past three to five years. In addition, It's upside/downside capture ratio has been pretty poor during that time period as well.
  • AIG Introduces New Environmental, Social And Governance Fund
    FYI: Allowing investors to make a positive social impact while participating in one of the fastest growing investment categories.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518005335/en
  • The Closing Bell: Wall Street Tumbles As Investors Flee Latest Trump Crisis: Dow Down 372
    DSENX down the same as SP500, half that (0.9%) when 50-50 w/ PONDX, my homebrew balanced fund.
  • Mak'in a 65/35 portfolio into a 50/50 or less.....
    Hi Catch,
    Indeed, the markets might move in the direction that you suggested. Then again, it just might generate results in the opposite direction. It's just statistics, but statistics do yield the probability likelihoods, and these offer decision making guidance.
    The odds are important and I would never make an investment without some estimate of the payoff probabilities. "The future is uncertain, so investors should always think in terms of probabilities, never guarantees.". There is terrific wisdom in that single sentence. I copied it from an article referenced immediately below:
    http://awealthofcommonsense.com/2015/11/playing-the-probabilities/
    The historical odds summarized in the opening table of this article provide the encouragement to stay in the market for the long term. On a daily basis, it's only slightly more positive for a rewarding day than a fair coin toss. But as the timeframe increases those odds become more and more attractive.
    Stay strong, Catch. I will.
    Best Wishes
  • Sovereign Funds Pull $18.4 Billion From Global Markets In First Quarter 2017
    FYI: Sovereign wealth funds pulled $18.4 billion from global stock and bond markets in the first quarter of 2017, notwithstanding robust equity gains in this period, data from research firm eVestment showed on Thursday,
    Oil-backed sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have been under pressure since oil prices LCOc1 tumbled from their mid-2014 highs of $115 to around $52 a barrel, with governments tapping state funds to close budget gaps
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-swf-flows-idUSKCN18E14U
  • The Closing Bell: Wall Street Tumbles As Investors Flee Latest Trump Crisis: Dow Down 372
    GLRBX down 1.06% yesterday. Eh, not impressed for a 50/50 equity/bond split fund.
  • The Closing Bell: Wall Street Tumbles As Investors Flee Latest Trump Crisis: Dow Down 372
    On a separate note:
    Defensive funds showed themselves yesterday.
    Bruce Fund (BRUFX) showed a small gain of .16%,
    a high yield fund (AGDYX) was off .3%,
    VWINX dropped .2%.
    Bond fund PTIAX had a up day gaining .35%.
  • Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund to close to new investors
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1081400/000108140017001077/smallcompanygrowthPROsupp.htm
    497 1 smallcompanygrowthPROsupp.htm SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND SUPPLEMENT
    SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUSES
    and SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES
    OF WELLS FARGO EQUITY GATEWAY FUNDS
    Wells Fargo Small Company Growth Fund(the “Fund”)
    Effective July 31, 2017, the Fund is closed to most new investors. For further information, please see the section entitled "Additional Purchase and Redemption Information" in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC reserves the right to reject any purchase order into the Fund if it believes that acceptance of such order would interfere with its ability to effectively manage the Fund.
    May 18, 2017 EGIT057/P904SP
    OR
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1081400/000108140017001078/smallcompanygrowthSAIsupp.htm
    497 1 smallcompanygrowthSAIsupp.htm SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND SAI SUPPLEMENT
    SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (“SAI”)
    OF
    WELLS FARGO EQUITY GATEWAY FUNDS
    Effective at the close of business on July 31, 2017, the following information is added to the section titled “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION – Investors Eligible to Purchase Closed Funds” in the SAI.
    All classes of the Small Company Growth Fund (the “Closed Fund”) are closed to new investors, except in connection with the closing of a reorganization or as outlined below. Additional investments will not be accepted in the Closed Fund unless the investment falls within one of the below referenced categories. If you believe you are eligible to purchase shares of the Closed Fund, Funds Management may require you to provide appropriate proof of eligibility. Funds Management reserves the right to reject any purchase order into the Closed Fund if it believes that acceptance of such order would interfere with its ability to effectively manage the Closed Fund.
    Existing Shareholders. You may continue to purchase shares of the Closed Fund if:
    You are an existing shareholder of the Closed Fund (either directly or through a financial intermediary), with an open and funded account, and you wish to:
    add to your existing account through the purchase of additional shares of the Closed Fund, including the reinvestment of dividends and cash distributions from shares owned in the Closed Fund; or
    open a new account that is registered in your name or has the same primary taxpayer identification or social security number (this includes accounts where you serve as custodian, such as UGMA/UTMA accounts). Please note: Selling agents who transact in the Closed Fund through an omnibus account are not permitted to purchase shares of the Closed Fund on behalf of clients that do not currently own shares of the Closed Fund.
    You are the beneficiary of shares of the Closed Fund (i.e., through an IRA or transfer on death account) or are the recipient of shares of the Closed Fund through a transfer and wish to utilize the proceeds of such account to open up a new account in your name in the Closed Fund.
    You sponsor a retirement plan, benefit plan or retirement plan platform (collectively, “Retirement Plans”) that currently offers the Closed Fund as an investment option. Each such Retirement Plan may add new participants, and the sponsor may also offer the Closed Fund as an investment option in other retirement or benefit plans offered by the same company, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
    New Investors. Certain new investors who meet the conditions and/or criteria outlined below may qualify to purchase the Fund:
    New Retirement Plans;
    For centrally managed (home office) model portfolios, new accounts may be opened, and additional investment for current accounts may be made, in the Closed Fund if they are made through existing fee-based investment products and/or existing mutual fund wrap programs (e.g. through a broker, dealer, private bank and trust company or consultant) that currently use the Closed Fund; however, new model portfolios introduced in existing products and platforms must be preapproved by Funds Management;
    Separately managed account clients of, or investors in a pooled vehicle advised by, the Closed Fund’s sub-adviser and whose assets are managed by the sub-adviser in a style similar to that of the Closed Fund (either presently or within the last 60 days of their request to open a new account) are allowed to open a new account;
    Registered investment advisers who currently utilize the Closed Fund in their asset allocation programs will be able to open new accounts and/or continue to invest in the Closed Fund;
    Private bank and trust platforms that currently offer shares of the Closed Fund are eligible to add new accounts if approved by Funds Management;
    Non-centrally managed discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio programs that currently offer shares of the Closed Fund or share the same operational infrastructure as programs that currently offer shares of the Closed Fund if approved by Funds Management; and
    Funds of Funds advised by Funds Management may purchase shares of the Closed Fund.
    May 18, 2017
  • The Closing Bell: Wall Street Tumbles As Investors Flee Latest Trump Crisis: Dow Down 372
    Investors "flee"? NO, it was program trading, and the president's troubles, real or fantasy, had little to do with the small loss. Most here have been expecting a 5-10% or more pullback. Nothing surprising yesterday, except for news people trying to attach political connotations.
  • Mak'in a 65/35 portfolio into a 50/50 or less.....
    65/35 equity/bond right now, but the market may attempt to make this a 50/50 or a 35/65 mix by dollar value, eh?
    All bonds are investment grade (corp. and gov't.) with the exception of a sprinkle of HY from active managers.
    Strange Days Have Found Us.........Jim Morrison, The Doors
    Grand Illusion by Styx (partial lyric)
    Welcome to the Grand illusion
    Come on in and see what's happening
    Pay the price, get your tickets for the show
    The stage is set, the band starts playing
    Suddenly your heart is pounding
    Wishing secretly you were a star.
    But don't be fooled by the radio
    The TV or the magazines
    They show you photographs of how your life should be
    But they're just someone else's fantasy
    So if you think your life is complete confusion
    Because you never win the game
    Just remember that it's a Grand illusion
    And deep inside we're all the same.
    We're all the same
    Enjoy your good life,
    Catch