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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.
  • Old_Skeet's Take & Year-to-Date Results ... A short recap.
    Hi ducrow,
    As you requested … Another look under the hood on my conservative allocation portfolio which consists of about 20% cash, 25% Income, 45% Equity and 10% Alternatives as recently analyzed by Morningtar’s Instant Xray. I have listed it below by area and sleeve. The portfolio consists of four major areas. The Cash Area which consists of two sleeves ... a cash investment sleeve which holds time deposits and a demand cash sleeve which holds demand cash. An Income Area which consist of two sleeves a fixed income sleeve and the other one is the hybrid income sleeve. The Growth & Income Area consists of four sleeves. They are a global equity sleeve, a global hybrid sleeve, a domestic equity sleeve and the fourth one is the domestic hybrid sleeve. The final area is the Growth Area and it also holds four sleeves. They are the global, international and emerging market sleeve, a domestic large/mid cap sleeve, a domestic small/mid cap sleeve and the final sleeve is a specialty sleeve that can hold just about anything. Each sleeve holds between three to six funds with the exception being the cash sleeves which hold cash investments only. Generally no fund is more than sixty percent of its sleeve nor less than five percent. To adjust the sleeve’s weighting within the portfolio can easily be done by adjusting the number and the size of each position held within the sleeve. Should one of the funds within its sleeve falter then there are the others that can provide support and continue to propel the sleeve. A recent example of this was in 2013 as PASAX was the laggard within its sleeve. The other five funds performed well and with this the sleeve as a whole turned out to be a good performer.
    MASTER PORTFOLIO … Currently consists of 51 funds. Looking for number 52.
    CASH AREA …
    Investment Cash Sleeve … Time Deposits
    Demand Cash Sleeve … Demand Cash
    INCOME AREA … Currently consists of 12 funds.
    The Fixed Income Sleeve holds six funds. They are as follows: ITAAX, LALDX, THIFX, LBNDX, NEFZX and TSIAX.
    The Hybrid Income Sleeve holds six funds. They are as follows: AZNAX, CAPAX, FKINX, ISFAX, PASAX and PGBAX.
    GROWTH & INCOME AREA … Currently consists of 18 funds.
    The Global Equity Sleeve holds three funds. They are as follows: CWGIX, DEQAX and EADIX.
    The Global Hybrid Sleeve holds three funds. They are as follows: CAIBX, IGPAX and TIBAX.
    The Domestic Equity Sleeve holds six funds. They are as follows: ANCFX, FDSAX, INUTX, NBHAX, SPQAX and SVAAX.
    The Domestic Hybrid Sleeve holds six funds. They are as follows: AMECX, CFIAX, DDIAX, FRINX, HWIAX and LABFX.
    GROWTH AREA … Currently consists of 21 funds.
    Global, International & Emerging Market Sleeve holds six funds. They are as follows: ANWPX, PGROX, THOAX, DEMAX, NEWFX and THDAX.
    The Domestic Large/Mid Cap Sleeve holds five funds. They are as follows: AGTHX, HWAAX, IACLX, SPECX and VADAX.
    The Domestic Small/Mid Cap Sleeve holds five funds. They are a follows: IIVAX, KSDVX, PCVAX, PMDAX and SEVAX.
    The Specialty Sleeve holds five funds. They are as follows: CCMAX, JCRAX, LPEFX, MFADX and TOLLX.
    I am by no means saying this portfolio is a model portfolio that one should follow as a good bit of it was accumulated over time through a taxable account, a self directed ira account and a couple 401k accounts, a health savings account plus an inheritance. It is combined for management purposes into one and is know by me as my Master Portfolio. At times, I will change a position out for another … but, not often. Its oldest holding is FKINX which I have owned for the past fifty plus years since about the age of twelve and was purchased from money I received years ago as a gift (not a lot) from my late great grandfather.
    I hope in some way this helps you.
    Old_Skeet
  • Old_Skeet's Take & Year-to-Date Results ... A short recap.
    To my surprize, the best fund/etf ytd is VNQ + 9.18%, after being flat most of 2013. Next best are my two utility funds FRUAX + 7.68% and MMUIX + 5.75% and coming in third is PHSZX + 4.14%. My other funds vary from -1.16% to 3.91% with overall + 2.2%, including individual muni bonds and stocks.
  • Old_Skeet's Take & Year-to-Date Results ... A short recap.
    "In addition, my reference sources are indicating that the market as a whole to be at about a two percent premium with the S&P 500 Index trading on a Forward Estimated P/E Ratio of 15.6 and a Trailing P/E Ratio of 17.7"
    --------------
    @Old_Skeet: What are your reference sources, preferably with a URL?
    Thanks! And congratulations.
  • The Case Against This Stock Market

    Are Stocks Pricey or Cheap?
    by Barry Ritholtz - March 29th, 2014, 9:30am
    In their book “This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly,” Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff show that after a major credit crisis, recoveries are typically far softer. Weaker GDP, slower growth and mediocre job creation are typical. That sums up our economic experiences since 2009 rather well, don’t you think?
    That has not stopped the guessers from looking at every twitch of the data as the start of something significant. As we discussed last year, economic data are very noisy. This year, a lot of the numbers have been disappointing. Retail sales have been weak, auto sales have missed consensus estimates, and housing has been soft.
    Normally, without some rational explanation, I would be concerned about that sort of data. This year, for a change, the weather is a legitimate excuse. I usually mock the retailers who complain that it is cold in Minnesota in January (Really? Who could have seen that coming!?) But this has been the winter of our discontent. I’ve lived in New York for half a century, and I do not recall ever having this many days where temperatures were in the teens and single digits. We had snow in 49 of 50 states, according to the National Climatic Data Center. At the same time, a drought struck western states, and California had its hottest winter on record.
    I am willing to give the economic data the benefit of the doubt for another month or two. Were the recent data legitimately affected by the whacky winter weather, or is this the start of an economic downturn? We shall find out before the Fourth of July fireworks are upon us.
    http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/03/are-stocks-pricey-or-cheap/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheBigPicture+(The+Big+Picture)
  • Old_Skeet's Take & Year-to-Date Results ... A short recap.
    Hello:
    I close my month out on the last Friday of each month with the exception being in December. With this, my best performing investment sleeve, year-to-date, within my portfolio was my growth & income domestic hybrid fund sleeve with a return of 2.73%. The next best fund sleeve was my hybrid income sleeve with a return of 2.45% followed by my fixed income fund sleeve with a return of 1.87%. Overall my portfolio has returned year-to-date 1.7% while the Lipper Balanced Index has returned 1.3%. In addition, my reference sources are indicating that the market as a whole to be at about a two percent premium with the S&P 500 Index trading on a Forward Estimated P/E Ratio of 15.6 and a Trailing P/E Ratio of 17.7 with the Index at it’s present reading of 1857. My three best perfroming funds were as follows: TOLLX up 5.44%, JCRAX up 5.14% and FRINX up 4.87%. My three worst performing funds were as follows: DEMAX down 2.72%, MFADX down 2.44% and CCMAX down 2.16%. All of these are mostly growth oriented type funds.
    This past quarter I have been buying around the "edges" and have found value in certain emerging markets and have noticed that value has performed better than growth and generally that fixed income has outperformed most equity. In addition, both my commodity and my real estate hybrid funds performed well. My target portfolio asset allocation remains at about 20% cash, 25% income, 45% equity and 10% alternative. The equity side of my portfolio historically has carried an overweight in the defensive sectors of utilities, health care and consumer staples. In times of uncertainty, I have often found that this has been an aid to better performance. In addition, these type holdings are often my higher yielding ones.
    I have also noticed this past quarter that the market has been pushed around a good bit by head line news events and the high frequency trading crowd has been apparently, at times, been keying on this news. Thus the markets have been mostly news driven. Perhaps, they will soon be finding a footing and some upward movement can be achieved. First Quarter 2014 earning season is soon to start … and, with this, it is from my thinking anybody’s guess as to what will transpire during the upcoming reporting season along with the uncertainity that we now find with some global hot spots. I am thinking, things could get worse before they get better.
    Have a good weekend … and, I wish all “Good Investing.”
    Old_Skeet
  • WealthTrack: Q&A With David Winter, Manager, Wintergreen Fund: Video Presentation
    @Scott: Talk is cheap, the funds performance YTD 75 percentile, one year 96 percentile, three years 75 percentile five years 52 percentile doesn't cut it. As I said before this fund is one drumstick away from becoming a turkey.
    Regards,
    Ted
  • WealthTrack: Q&A With David Winter, Manager, Wintergreen Fund: Video Presentation
    I like David Winters in interviews, I agree with what he has to say about long-term (as he notes in the interview, "the most distressed investment today is long-term investing), but again, the title card notes "hedge-fund flexibility" - it hasn't really showed that very much at all. WGRNX has only done a little better than Marketfield (MFLDX, a fund that I think defines a "mutual fund with hedge fund flexibility") over a 5 year term and WGRNX has a lot more risk. He also doesn't really explain the high fees (which she actually asks him about) in a way that I think is going to satisfy those questioning them.
  • Epiphany FFV Global Ecologic Fund to liquidate
    A very young death, inception 2/4/13, for this SRI Fund. May you rest in peace.
    Regards,
    Ted
    Just A Closer Walk:
  • Epiphany FFV Global Ecologic Fund to liquidate
    http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1377031/000116204414000360/ecologicsticker2014328.htm
    497 1 ecologicsticker2014328.htm EPIPHANY FFV GLOBAL ECOLOGIC FUND
    Class A shares: EPEAX
    Class C shares: EPECX
    Class N shares: EPENX
    a series of
    Epiphany Funds
    106 Decker Court, Suite 226
    Irving, Texas 75062
    Supplement dated March 28, 2014 to the Fund’s Class A and C Share Prospectus, Class N Share Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated March 1, 2014
    ____________________________________________________________________
    Effective immediately, the purchase of shares of the Epiphany FFV Global Ecologic Fund (the “Fund”) is suspended. This Fund will be liquidated on April 28, 2014. However, shares are eligible for exchange into another Epiphany Fund.
    Accordingly, the prospectus has been amended:
    References to Epiphany FFV Global Ecologic Fund. All references to the Fund in the prospectus and SAI are deleted effective as of April 28, 2014.
    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.
    After March 28, 2014 and prior to April 28, 2014, you may 1) exchange your shares in the Fund for shares of any other Epiphany Fund, at the respective Epiphany Fund’s current asset value per share; or 2) 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 FUND PRIOR TO APRIL 28, 2014 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 Fund at 1‐800‐320‐2185.
    You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated March 1, 2014, which provide information that you should know about the Fund before investing and should be retained for future reference. These documents are available upon request and without charge by calling the Fund at 1‐ 800‐320‐2185.
    ______________________________________________________________________
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
  • Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund to close to new investors
    http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831114/000110465914023942/a14-9135_1497.htm
    497 1 a14-9135_1497.htm 497
    The RBB Fund, Inc.
    Robeco Investment Funds
    Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund
    Institutional Class
    Investor Class
    (INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OF THE RBB FUND, INC.)
    Supplement dated March 28, 2014
    to the Prospectuses dated December 31, 2013, as supplemented
    THIS SUPPLEMENT CONTAINS NEW AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEYOND THAT CONTAINED IN THE PROSPECTUSES AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUSES.
    THIS SUPPLEMENT SUPERSEDES AND REPLACES THE SUPPLEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2014.
    Effective end-of-day March 31, 2014, the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund (the “Fund”) will be closed due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund’s strategy. The Fund will still be offered to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons (who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts) as follows:
    a. Purchases of Shares by discretionary fee-based advisory model programs or financial advisors who manage discretionary fee-based wrap accounts that systematically trade in and out of a Fund based on model portfolio allocations;
    b. Persons who already hold Shares of the Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company;
    c. Existing and future clients of registered investment advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the Fund on transaction fee and non-transaction fee platforms;
    d. Existing and future clients of consultants whose clients already hold shares of the Fund;
    e. Employees of the investment adviser and their spouses, parents and children;
    f. Directors of the Company; and
    g. Defined contribution retirement plans of private employers and governed by ERISA or of state and local governments.
    Other persons who are shareholders of other Robeco Investment Funds are not permitted to acquire Shares of the Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise.
    Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (“Robeco”), however, reserves the right to reopen the Fund to new investments from time to time at its discretion, should the assets of the Fund decline by more than 5% from the date of the last closing of the Fund. In addition, if Robeco reopens the Fund, Robeco has discretion to close the Fund thereafter should the assets of the Fund increase by more than 5% from the date of the last reopening of the Fund.
    Please retain this Supplement for future reference.
  • Q&A With Brenden Ahern, Managing Director, KaneShares: China ETFs: Video Presentation
    Thanks Ted,
    KWEB vs FXI...since KWEB's inception less than 1 year ago.
    I feel I already have some of KWEB's internet exposure through my Matthews Asia Fund offerings. For those who want a concentrated sector bet this etf might be worth considering. Be prepared for some volitality.
    image
  • Subscribe to a Thread?
    this is a bit dated. A user guide written by OJ for the previous version of software, many of the features are the same but a slightly different look. but it may give you some insight and you should be able to draw inferences from it.
    http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/MFO-UG-v7.5-09-27-12-.pdf
  • Subscribe to a Thread?
    click on the 5 pointed-star to the right of the title. it will bookmark the thread.
    then click on your name in the menu. then click on edit profile. then click edit preferences. then click notification preferences. then check email for
    Notify me when people comment on my bookmarked discussions.
    I am not sure if the feature works (if it does great, if it doesn't work it should be fixed in the next version of software).
  • Bill Miller: How To Make Money In A Changing Market: Text & Video Presentation
    Bill Miller needs to learn a little risk management. I own his Legg Mason Opportunity fund. I'm used to it either performing in the bottom decile or the top decile. Just no way to have a clue which one it will be in a given year. Not an easy fund to own or invest in. I was impressed when he went 15 years in a row beating the S & P 500 in each year, so went with this focused fund. Up 67% in 2013; up 40% in 2012; down 35% in 2011, a year the S & P 500 went up 2%. He either just came out with or will soon come out with a fixed income son co-managed with his son. I'll pass on that.
  • SSSFX (-6.84%) ???
    I own this in my fidelity account, here is what is posted by the ticker for today's ending value: A short-term capital gain of 0.23105 per share and long-term capital gain of 1.4353 per share, declared on 03/27/2014, is pending on this position. Processing this transaction generally takes 1 to 3 business days
  • Rotation Into Emerging Markets
    bee said
    I'll add TGINX for consideration.
    You may also want to add DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Inc N
    DLENX to your list.
    Also as to cman's oil observation:
    Thursday, Mar 27
    11:55 AM Seeking Alpha
    Investors shifting cash into energy ETFs on expectations of oil gains
    Investors are pouring money into energy companies, putting 7x as much into energy sector ETFs as they did last quarter and betting that profits of energy producers rise along with crude oil and natural gas prices.
    Energy collecting new money reflects optimism for a turnaround in companies like Exxon Mobil (XOM), XLE's biggest holding, but the bet may not pay off, as analysts generally foresee lower global oil prices in 2014 and gains in gas.
    ETFs focusing on oil and gas companies have captured 20% of the $10B in net inflows into ETFs this year, after hauling in only 2.5% of fresh money last quarter and 7.7% in all of 2013.
    ETFs: ERX, OIH, VDE, ERY, FCG, XOP, DIG, DUG, GASL, XES, IYE, IEO, IEZ, GASX, PXE, PXJ, PXI, PSCE, FENY, FXN, RYE, DDG