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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.
  • Todays’s a good reason why it’s dangerous to short markets …
    NASDAQ up 1.5% as of 1:20 PM
    +1 if you’re riding the wave. Me too old & conservative to partake - though some limited exposure thru funds.
    ADD - Make that 2% at the close (NASDAQ @ 17,188)
  • About the 4% rule
    Rob Berger discusses the 4% rule and how to wrestle with retirement success.

  • Buy Sell Why: ad infinitum.
    Bought 1000s Spire-A shares for income ... callable in October.
    Bought 500s TRP following yesterday's shareholder vote on Southbow spinoff. Not sure I'll keep the spinoff shares but I like TC's pipeline footprint.
    (I may move PBA and TRP over to my new Fido account if they'll let me reinvest Canadian dividends, which Schwab won't.)
  • What allocation do you have to international equities and your favorite funds?
    Strong dollar hurts foreign funds held by the US investors and also the US multinationals' earnings.
    There are global mega-cap ETFs like IOO; note post GFC divergence.
    https://tinyurl.com/495xv6yj
  • What allocation do you have to international equities and your favorite funds?
    Sorry being late to this discussion. Our oversea exposure is about 7-8%, with mostly actively managed funds and ETFs. In taxable account, VEA and DIVI are the only one we use and they are tax efficient.
    1. For large cap developed market, ARTKX and FMIJX are the main vehicles.
    2. Lately CCGO was added to gain exposure to the “growth” stocks in Europe as BF mentioned the “Fantastic Five”. Capital fund does a good job so far managed the downside risk than that of Vanguard Int’l growth (we moved on when Ian Anderson retired).
    3. For EM exposure, we have 2% and it is getting smaller; largely invested in Seafarer funds with Andrew Foster and his teams.
    4. The only stake on int’l small caps we have is Seafarer EM Value.
    5. We continue to seek actively managed funds and ETFs with lower ER; preferable less than 1%.
    6. Back in the 80-90’s when US currency was less dominated to other currencies, many international funds often out-performed the US counter-parts. This has changed in the last 10 years as it reflects in our lowered exposure.
    7. In our 529 plan, Vanguard Total International stock index fund is used as part of the portfolio but we have limited choice there. Preferably, the Total Stock Market index would be better.
  • Excess 529 monies to a ROTH IRA
    Thanks @yogibb. We will have some leftover 529 $.
    One of our kid is thinking about graduate school or others, so the remaining fund will be used up (perhaps we need to invest to help out). As parents we are thankful our kids will not incur debt with student loans when they graduate college.
    We will use up one of the I bond for qualified college expense later this year. I bonds have too many restrictions that we now use treasuries instead.
  • About the 4% rule
    IF one wants to follow Bengen's original paper, then one should (I think) be using large cap domestic stocks and intermediate term Treasuries. (He is clear about intermediate term treasuries but says only "large cap" stocks.)
    These days, many allocation funds invest a significant fraction of their equity sleeve abroad. IMHO that's not a bad thing, but it is different. A related "problem" is that allocation funds often invest some money into small cap stocks. While this is different from Bengen's original work, it could be an improvement:
    Bill Bengen ...has increased the withdrawal rate he uses on his own retirement portfolio to 4.7%, largely because of the upside he’s gained by adding small and microcap asset classes to his portfolio, he told the Bogleheads Live podcast this week. [Dec 2022]
    https://www.fa-mag.com/news/creator-of-4--rule-says-new-withdrawal-target-is-4-7-71026.html
    That page goes on to say that these days, Bengen says that "the optimum stock allocation that allows the highest withdrawal rate over the long term is between 55% and 60% over the long term."
    That suggests that you might look at 60/40 funds, of which there are many. As to what Bengen himself is doing, rather than using his stated static allocation "he uses a third-party service that recommends changes to his asset allocation based on perceived changes in the marketplace."
    In short, consider looking at funds closer to 60/40. VBIAX (0.07% ER) is a good starting point if ER is paramount, or VSMGX (0.12% ER) to add foreign exposure.
    FWIW, here's a portfolio visualizer comparison of three 60/40 funds: AOR, VSMGX, and VBIAX. over roughly ten years (PV limitation). Starts with $10K, $400 (4%) annual withdrawal (inflation adjusted).
  • What allocation do you have to international equities and your favorite funds?
    "Isn't Intl investing really a currency play on a weaker dollar...which might be in our near future, no?"
    Foreign currency weakness / strength against the dollar affects returns but there is more to the story.
    S&P 500 companies derive a significant portion of their revenue overseas.
    However, some excellent companies are domiciled outside of America.
    I would like to own these companies.
    Foreign stocks may provide diversification during longer periods
    where S&P 500 performance is dismal (e.g., 2000 - 2009).
    Of course, diversification works both ways.
    Foreign stocks have lagged U.S. stocks for approximately 15 years.
    This is an unusually long period and U.S. / foreign stock outperformance tends to run in cycles.
  • About the 4% rule
    @larryB,
    You can always combine AOR and AOM and let it sit. Not the highest returns, but it might suit your guideline.
    I myself aim toward 50-50 Fido mm and JQUA (or QLTY, or TCAF, or simply VONG or VONE, and I'm not saying that they are that similar).
    Nonresponsively, when Fido mm declines under ... ? 4% ? ... I might reconsider the above and move toward some combo of FBALX (or FPACX) and FMSDX.
    kiss and all that.
  • About the 4% rule
    William Bengen published Conserving Client Portfolios During Retirement, Part III
    in the Dec. 1997 Journal of Financial Planning. His recommended range for stock allocation
    was between 50% and 75% for a 65 year-old investor.
    "Because withdrawal rates within the recommended range of stocks are essentially equal,
    they are not very useful in selecting stock allocation.
    For another view of the matter, consider Chart 10, which depicts the nominal wealth built up
    in a portfolio after 30 years, for a retiree who began withdrawing four percent the first year.
    The two stock allocations displayed, 50 percent and 75 percent, represent the extreme ends
    of the 'recommended range' for this investor at age-65 retirement."

    PDF1
    Edit/Add: Bengen published Conserving Client Portfolios During Retirement, Part IV
    in the May 2001 Journal of Financial Planning. Two alternative withdrawal strategies are explored.
    PDF2
  • About the 4% rule
    Simplicity? Stable price? Forget 4% withdrawal, how about 5%+ without selling anything? Money market fund.
  • About the 4% rule
    I believe the 1994 paper called for 50/50 and adjust withdrawals for inflation.
  • Stashing cash, Summer 2024
    Thanks for the info. USSH is a new fund, inception date 3/12/24, with $495K asset.
    Pros and cons exist in either ETF or treasury approaches. Once can extend the duration of the ladder % from 6 months to 1 to 3 year treasury. Also keep some in money market.
  • Buy Sell Why: ad infinitum.
    Increased cash from around 12% to 12.65% today. Sold a few shares of NSRGY and FOF. (Anticipating some significant cash withdrawals before year’s end.)
  • Stashing cash, Summer 2024
    For taxable account, you can consider USSH, WisdomTree 1-3 yr Laddered Treasury, ER 0.15. Same as USFR.
    We are shifting to 1 and 2 year treasuries as they are rising in recent weeks.
    With less than $1M AUM and an average daily volume of < 300s that sounds kinda dangerous if you ever want/need to exit it quickly to use the cash elsewhere. UTWO might be a better option if you want more liquidity (and AUM) as a cash substitute --- albeit it wouldn't be laddered.
  • Stashing cash, Summer 2024
    For taxable account, you can consider USSH, WisdomTree 1-3 yr Laddered Treasury, ER 0.15. Same as USFR.
    We are shifting to 1 and 2 year treasuries as they are rising in recent weeks.
  • About the 4% rule
    If I took the 4% rule literally,,,, which I definitely don’t, what would be a low cost 50/ 50 ETF that follows Bengen’s rules? I understand one could use the appropriate equity and bond ETF but let’s say I wanted the ultimate simplicity. As for me I have no interest or need for a 50% equity exposure but the 4 % rule is talked about so often and most of those discussions never mention the exposure that must be maintained. Come to think about it that might an idea: the 4% solution ETF.