Old_Skeet's Twelve Month Income Area Game Plan
When the US 10 Yr gets to a yield of 3.0% I may do a little buying in my income sleeve. Currently, my fixed income sleeve is at about 90% of its targeted allocation while my hybrid income sleeve is at 100% of its targeted allocation. This puts my income area, within my portfolio, at about 97% of its targeted allocation as the hybrid income sleeve is twice the size of the fixed income sleeve. My goal is to have my income area towards full allocation by yearend should interest rates be at 3% or greater. I am pretty much still with my cash build mode as my money market fund (year-to-date) is currently out performing a good number of my fixed income funds. As interest rates continue to rise so does its yield. In addition, I'm thinking that the FOMC will raise interest rates (in steps) a full percent over the next twelve months, or so, putting the US 10 Yr at a yield of about four percent. And, with the Fed raising rates most existing bonds will decline in value to compete with the higher yield of newly issued bonds. Thus, I am also striving at keeping my average bond duration back of three years.
The rolling 12 month total return on my fixed income sleeve is about 1.9% while on my hybrid income sleeve it is about 4.5%. And, for the income area (as a whole) its average total return is better than 3.6% which is also about it's average yield. With this, I have been maintaining my income area's valuation while also enjoying the yield benefit as there has been no loss to principal. In looking back over a five year period I've grown principal by a couple percent per year plus the enjoyment of the income.

FYI: For many investors, 2008 must seem like ancient history, but for those who recall that terrible year it was a nightmare. Stocks in the S&P 500 fell 37% and nothing but Treasury bonds was safe. Now, almost 10 years into the second-longest bull market in history, it may be time to prepare for the next downturn. That doesn’t mean you should sell your stocks, but that it’s worth shifting to more defensive equity funds.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.barrons.com/articles/stock-funds-with-brakes-and-airbags-1536357068?mod=hp_RTA

@Ted: As I mentioned in another thread, thanks to you I'm ahead $61 so far. Of course we both know that this is not going to end well. :)

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/want-to-invest-in-cannabis-companies-watch-out-for-rogue-players-2018-09-07
Related to mj
Want to invest in cannabis companies? Watch out for rogue players

Hi sir... Old Joe... Individuals bonds are my more risks than mf or etf... But if buy large companies like Macy's att Verizon Ford chance Bankruptcy maybe much lower... Also set up Google.com/alerts 'att bankrupt' to your gmail acct you be first to know regarding companies may go bankruptcy and decide to sell if needed... I bought hca Healthcare bonds9 months ago and got bunch of junk mail regarding hca gobbling up bankruptcy hospitals in large junks... You can also Google for the bond cusip and see how many etf or mf hold that bond, the more number mf holding that bond the safer and good performance that bond is and everyone want to owe that bond...I.e. Bunch of etf and mf holding Ford bonds because Ford is good and always average around 130 cents

Related
https://mutualfundinvestorguide.com/blog/market-perspective-for-september-7-2018/

What would be the case for investing in SEMPX when you have IOFAX?

Here's the latest fact sheet; see holdings info on p. 2. SEMPX is also a mortgage fund, but as you can see, it's a lot more diversified than IOFIX ... which is almost entirely legacy non-agency RMBS.

FYI: U.S. stocks had a weekly loss with all benchmarks lower Friday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. had tariffs ready to go on another $267 billion in Chinese goods, on top of tariffs on $200 billion in goods the administration is now preparing.
Regards,
Ted
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/asian-stocks-face-more-losses-treasuries-climb-markets-wrap?srnd=premium
Bloomberg Evening Briefing:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/your-evening-briefing
Barron's After The Bell:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/stock-mark-trump-tariffs-1536355638
WSJ:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-pause-ahead-of-jobs-report-1536306717
Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks/wall-street-drops-after-trump-threatens-further-china-tariffs-idUSKCN1LN1F2
IBD:
https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/stocks-close-lower-leading-stocks-outperform/
MarketWatch:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-futures-point-to-lower-open-after-jobs-report-sp-500-could-have-4th-down-day-2018-09-07/print
CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/us-markets-jobs-report-and-data-in-focus.html
Europe:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-stocks/european-shares-suffer-worst-week-since-march-on-trade-woes-idUSKCN1LN0SK
Asia:
https://www.reuters.com/article/japan-stocks-close/nikkei-continues-slide-into-6th-session-on-trade-worries-chip-equipment-makers-dive-idUSL3N1VT2ZS
Bonds:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/bonds-and-fixed-income-nonfarm-payrolls-in-focus.html
Currencies:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/forex-markets-dollar-yen-us-japan-trade-in-focus.html
Oil:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/oil-markets-us-crude-inventories-diesel-gasoline-in-focus.html
Gold
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/gold-markets-dollar-yen-trade-in-focus.html
WSJ: Markets At A Glance:
http://markets.wsj.com/us
Major ETFs % Change:
https://www.barchart.com/etfs-funds/etf-monitor
SPDR's Sector Tracker:
http://www.sectorspdr.com/sectorspdr/tools/sector-tracker
SPDR's Bloomberg Sector Performance Pie Chart:
https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/sectors
Current Futures: Negative
https://finviz.com/futures.ashx

FYI: Last week, we reported that the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) was on a tear—and it's showing no signs of slowing down.
Over the past month, MJ has surged 31%, making it the best-performing ETF in the U.S by far. In comparison, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is only up 2% over the same period:
Regards,
Ted
https://www.etf.com/sections/features-and-news/etf-week-marijuana-etfs-meteoric-rise
Bloomberg Article On MJ:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/canadian-weed-etf-passes-billion-dollar-mark-as-pot-stocks-surge

@ Junkster: I stand corrected. Cumulative 1 yr. IOFAX (-.38) That included sales charge.
Derf

IOFAX ( 1 yr 7.10 YTD 4.76) is NTF ( no load/sales charge) at a few firms ala Schwab, JPMorgan, etc. IOFIX the institutional shares ( 1 yr 7.44 YTD 4.92) are available at almost all firms for a small transaction fee. $17 at TD Ameritrade for former Scottrade customers such as myself.

@ Junkster: I stand corrected. Cumulative 1 yr. IOFAX (-.38) That included sales charge.
Derf

Monthly Fund/ETF Newsletter
http://funds-newsletter.com/sept18-newsletter/sept18.htm

RPGAX

(RPGAX) Not global "equity"

I agree with both of you. T. Rowe classifies RPGAX as an "allocation fund". They offer a great many diverse funds under that category - and I've owned a few, including RPGAX which I purchased almost at inception.
But one could certainly view it as a very conservative global fund. I'm not sure what @ep1 is really looking for, or what his/her needs and expectations are. But, possibly he's interested in something with global exposure that won't give too wild a ride. As badly as the U.S. domestic funds performed in '07-'09, the global and international funds did about 10% worse on average - many falling more than 50% peak to bottom.
Here's Fidelity's take on the terms "global" and "international: "... international stock funds primarily invest in companies outside of the U.S. Global stock funds have the ability to search for investments in both U.S. and non-U.S. companies". https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/investment-products/mutual-funds/what-are-international-global-stock-funds
That said, the two terms are often used interchangeably by many here (and probably in the press). My motto is to read the annual and semi-annual fund reports and make your determination based on what the fund typically invests in. I'm not recommending RPGAX (perhaps best described as a "balanced fund with international and domestic exposure") because it doesn't fit the strict definition of global fund. But, I wouldn't be too hard on @Crash for throwing it out there for consideration.
Maybe @ep1 would clarify what his/her purpose is in seeking out a global fund. Does he own another one that has not met expectations? Is he a new investor and very young individual seeking maximum growth potential over a 30-40 year time horizon? Is he frightened by the U.S. markets for some reason and seeking to invest outside the U.S.? Or, perhaps, is he seeking advise to pass on to a family member? (These things do matter.)

.....finance timelines below.
2007 Financial Markets Timeline

2008 Financial Markets Timeline
2009 Financial Markets Timeline
I may add a bit more; but have other appointments today, in my timeline.
Take care,
Catch

@ Crash: Just my 2 cents FWIW. Sept. historically is not one of the better months for Equity. Monthly would work for me more than weekly. Take total amount you want to move to bonds & do a 40% Sept.,30%Oct., 20% Nov., 10% Dec. or something of your own thinking.
I'll tell you I cashed in two 401-k's toward the 3/rd quarter of 2017. I was a little blue as market continued to climb, then retreated & then hit a new high lately. Currently sitting in MM at Vanguard awaiting a correction.
As I've said before, different strokes for different folks.
Derf

@catch22: I don't believe that anyone on the MFO Discussion Board has more invested in the Q's than myself. The (-1.34%) loss so far today means nothing when you consider the 16.05% annual return over the last ten years the Q's have provided me.
Regards,
Ted

FYI: Most target-date funds are either actively managed or passively track indexes. Fidelity Investments is betting that investors will want both in one wrapper.
The firm launched a suite of 13 Fidelity Freedom Blend Funds on Tuesday. Each fund holds an underlying mix of actively managed and index funds run by Fidelity. The target dates range from 2005—featuring the most conservative mix of socks and bonds—to 2060, with the highest equity exposure. The funds hold an average of 40% in underlying index funds, with expense ratios ranging from 0.26% to 0.54%, depending on the share class.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.barrons.com/articles/fidelitys-latest-gambit-for-your-retirement-savings-1536247498
Fidelity Website: Fidelity Freedom Blend Funds:
https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/institutional-investment-management/fidelity-investments-launches-target-date-blend-funds

The title of this article should be changed to "Are High Fee Mutual Funds Fading Away?". It is not so much active or passive that determines better returns. Lower fees are a big advantage regardless of whether the strategy used is active or passive. An active fund with an expense ratio of 30 basis points should do better over the long term than an index fund charging 100 basis points.
The active fund companies try to keep the active/passive debate going but it is really a distraction. They should just lower their fees to help shareholders get better returns.

Themes that were positive in Old_Skeet's portfolio today with the S&P 500 Index being down -0.28% along with most global markets. My two dividend strategy funds were up (SVAAX +0.87%) & (FDSAX +0,49%), my infrastructure fund (PGUAX +0.34%), and my real estate fund (FRINX +0.16%) plus a good number of others were also up. In checking some of @hank's funds that he noted that were currently struggling and that he has been building positions in were his real estate fund TRREX which was up +0.70% and his infrustructure fund OQGAX which was up +0.09%.
Anybody else have funds that were up today that they would like to comment on?

We should be thanking you for peeking our interest @Crash. (msf picked up on the short sales which I missed.) Yikes! I've got maybe 6-8 funds with those guys. I 've held all of them for 10 years or longer - with the exception of TMSRX which just opened. Sure makes me wonder why they need to offer so many different funds - and whether they're spreading themselves too thin.