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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.
  • RAFI Index Deletion ETF web call
    image
    They're doing a call on the new fund. You can register to join in, if you'd like.
  • Follow up to my Schwab discussion
    @linter If your fill happens in the last minute, can you sell the next day & all is good? Or do you check brokerage every day, say in the last 10 minutes? Or do you receive confirmation via text or e-mail when your order gets filled?
    Thank you, Derf
    I would think this is another good reason to use cash-like ETFs that do trade in the aftermarket, just in case you missed selling your MMF during the regular session?
  • Follow up to my Schwab discussion
    @linter If your fill happens in the last minute, can you sell the next day & all is good? Or do you check brokerage every day, say in the last 10 minutes? Or do you receive confirmation via text or e-mail when your order gets filled?
    Thank you, Derf
  • Do you hold gold mutual funds in your portfolio?
    @Derf - Good question. I was aware collectibles like rare coins and precious metals are subject to a higher (28%) tax. I hadn’t considered what happens when those assets appreciate within a fund. So I did a quick read.
    Relevant excerpt #1: The final category of capital gains is collectibles. Collectible gains, the focus of this article, are subject to a maximum rate of 28%.
    Relevant excerpt #2: Sec. 408(m)(2) defines a collectible as:
    Any work of art;
    Any rug or antique;
    Any metal or gem;
    Any stamp or coin;
    Any alcoholic beverage; or
    Any other tangible personal property specified by Treasury.
    Prop. Regs. Sec. 1.408-10(b)5 expands the Sec. 408(m)(2) definition of a collectible to also include:
    Any musical instrument; and
    Any historical objects (documents, clothes, etc.).6

    Relevant Excerpt #3: While it is clear that gold and silver coins are collectibles, what about bullion-backed precious metal exchange-traded funds (precious metal ETFs)? Are they also considered collectibles? Because precious metal ETFs (e.g., gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) are physically backed by precious metals such that each precious metal ETF share represents ownership in the underlying precious metal, precious metal ETF shares are considered to be collectibles. Examples of common gold ETFs include SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares (SGOL).
    In brief, the article appears to say that yes, if held inside an etf (gains on) collectibles / precious metals would be taxed at 28%. There is a direct proportional relationship between a share of an etf and an underlying asset.
    But PRPFX is a mutual fund (OEF) and that direct proportional relationship between fund shares and underlying assets does not exist. So shares of PRPFX should not be subject to any of the 28% tax on collectibles / precious metals. Of course, if held inside an IRA it shouldn’t make any difference anyway. In that case, a gold backed etf would not be taxed any differently.
    Warning: I am not a competent tax advisor. Be sure to consult one when doing your taxes.
  • multisearch seems stuck
    Multisearch working find for me with W-10 Chrome.
    Try RESET in the 2nd Menu bar or cleaning MFO Premium cookies.
  • Follow up to my Schwab discussion
    It works w/o margin. I placed a test order (not entered, just reviewed) in my Schwab IRA (no margin with IRA accounts). I got a warning about potential freeriding:
    1. Caution: This buy order was accepted without sufficient settled funds to trade in your account. If you subsequently sell this security without first delivering sufficient cash by settlement date, you may incur a trading restriction requiring settled cash up front for future purchases. (AC176)
  • The Week in Charts | Charlie Bilello
    https://bilello.blog/2024/the-state-of-the-markets-october-2024
    "High Yield Spreads are now at their tightest levels since June 2007 (2.89%) and Investment Grade Spreads at their tightest levels since March 2005 (0.83%). Bond investors are reaching for yield and behaving as if there will never be a default cycle again."
    "Rents have been held down by a multi-family construction boom that significantly increased supply and is leading to the highest vacancy rates (6.7%) since 2020."
    "And wage growth of close to 4% over the past year was 1.5% higher than the increase in CPI inflation. That was the 17th straight month in which wages outpaced inflation over the prior year, a great trend for the American worker that hopefully continues."
  • Tax Rates for 2025 - IRS
    Thanks @yogibearbull.
    I'd like to add (since I just turned 65):
    2025 standard deduction over 65
    There's an additional standard deduction for taxpayers 65 and older and those who are blind. For 2025 that additional amount is $1,600 ($2,000 if unmarried and not a surviving spouse).
    Those eligible can add the extra standard deduction to the regular amount for their filing status. So, a single taxpayer 65 or older (or who is blind) can claim a total standard deduction of $17,000 on their 2025 federal tax return.
    Source:
    https://kiplinger.com/taxes/the-new-standard-deduction-is-here
    Also, found these contribution limits for 2025:
    "Remember there are catch-up provisions that increase some of these limits"
    -I noticed they missed the $1K catch-up provision for HSA
    image
  • Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund will be liquidated
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1396092/000199937124013654/clifford-497_102124.htm
    497 1 clifford-497_102124.htm SUPPLEMENT DATED OCTOBER 21, 2024
    Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund
    Investor Class (FSVRX)
    Institutional Class (FSVVX)
    Super Institutional Class (FSVQX)
    Supplement dated October 21, 2024
    to the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information,
    each dated January 31, 2024
    The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of World Funds Trust (the “Trust”) has approved a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) for the Clifford Capital Focused Small Value Fund (the “Fund”), which became effective on October 21, 2024. Clifford Capital Partners LLC (the “Adviser”) recommended that the Board approve the Plan due to a diminished asset base and correspondingly rising expenses of the Fund, which the Adviser has indicated that it is no longer willing to continue to subsidize. As a result, the Board concluded that it is in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders to liquidate the Fund. The Fund is expected to liquidate on or about November 20, 2024 (the “Liquidation Date”).
    Effective October 21, 2024, the Fund was closed to new and subsequent investments. Until the Liquidation Date, Fund shareholders may continue to reinvest dividends and distributions in the Fund or redeem their shares. Any remaining shareholders on the Liquidation Date will receive a distribution of their remaining investment value in the Fund based on the instructions listed on your account. The sale or liquidation of your shares will generally be a taxable event. You should consult your tax advisor about your tax situation.
    As shareholders redeem shares of the Fund between October 21, 2024 and the Liquidation Date, the Fund may not be able to maintain its stated investment goal and other investment policies. Accordingly, the Fund may deviate from its stated investment goal and other investment policies during the period between October 21, 2024 and the Liquidation Date.
    If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your financial advisor directly or the Fund toll-free at 1-800-673-0550.
    This Supplement, the Fund’s Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. The Fund’s Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference, and can be obtained without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-800-673-0550.
  • Follow up to my Schwab discussion
    for me at schwab, i can place an order for anything even if i don't have the funds to pay for it immediately. i am told, before placing the order, that i'll need to have the necessary funds in my account within two or three days (can't remember which). never have to sell MM funds before buying or anything like that. same thing doesn't work at fidelity, at least not for me.

    Years ago it was 3 days (T+3). Until recently it was 2 days (T+2). Now it's just a day (
    T+1).
    Fidelity automatically sells your MMFs as needed, as though they were your core (transaction) account. Or you could think of them as "overdraft protection". AFAIK, no one else does this.
    Sweep is the term, right? Fidelity lets MMF etc. be so used, yes. ML otoh specifically says 'this is not a sweep fund.' However, and this appears to be new, if you do the 'buy stock before MMF sale' thing, they do NOT hit your margin account but let everything go through normally and settle belatedly. When I called to ask (apologetically) about that, the nice c/s person said it was a courtesy to (certain) customers, please don't do it again or at least don't make a habit of it, but no prob this time yada yada. I believe this was not the case say a year ago.
  • Fidelity Small Cap Growth Fund closure
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/754510/000075451024000276/filing8195.htm
    497 1 filing8195.htm PRIMARY DOCUMENT
    Supplement to the
    Fidelity® Small Cap Growth Fund
    Class A, Class M, Class C, Class I, and Class Z
    September 28, 2024
    Prospectus
    The following information supplements information found in the "Fund Summary" section under the "Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    The fund is currently closed to new investors. For more information, see the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" section of the prospectus. Remember to keep shares in your fund position to be eligible to purchase additional shares of the fund.
    The following information supplements information found in the "Shareholder Information" section under the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    Effective the close of business on October 16, 2024, new positions in Fidelity® Small Cap Growth Fund (the fund) may no longer be opened. Shareholders of the fund on that date may continue to add to their fund positions existing on that date. Investors who did not own shares of the fund on October 16, 2024, generally will not be allowed to buy shares of the fund except that new fund positions may be opened: 1) by participants in most group employer retirement plans (and their successor plans) if a qualifying fund is already established as an investment option under the plans (or under another plan sponsored by the same employer), 2) by participants in a 401(a) plan covered by a master record keeping services agreement between Fidelity and a national federation of employers that included a qualifying fund as a core investment option, 3) for accounts managed on a discretionary basis by certain registered investment advisers that have discretionary assets of at least $500 million invested in mutual funds and already included the fund in their discretionary account program, 4) by a mutual fund or a qualified tuition program for which Fidelity serves as investment manager, 5) by a portfolio manager of the fund, 6) by a fee deferral plan offered to trustees of certain Fidelity® funds, if the fund is an investment option under the plan, 7) by qualified intermediaries to facilitate in-kind redemption activity when deemed by the Adviser to be in the best interests of the fund, and 8) by certain asset pools associated with an organization that already offers a qualifying fund as an investment option in its retirement plan(s). These restrictions generally will apply to investments made directly with Fidelity and investments made through intermediaries. Investors may be required to demonstrate eligibility to buy shares of the fund before an investment is accepted.
    ASCP-PSTK-1024-138
    1.808092.138
    October 16, 2024
    Supplement to the
    Fidelity® Small Cap Growth K6 Fund
    September 28, 2024
    Prospectus
    The following information supplements information found in the "Fund Summary" section under the "Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    The fund is currently closed to new investors. For more information, see the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" section of the prospectus. Remember to keep shares in your fund position to be eligible to purchase additional shares of the fund.
    The following information supplements information found in the "Shareholder Information" section under the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    Effective the close of business on October 16, 2024, new positions in Fidelity® Small Cap Growth K6 Fund (the fund) may no longer be opened. Shareholders of the fund on that date may continue to add to their fund positions existing on that date. Investors who did not own shares of the fund on October 16, 2024, generally will not be allowed to buy shares of the fund except that new fund positions may be opened: 1) by participants in most group employer retirement plans (and their successor plans) if a qualifying fund is already established as an investment option under the plans (or under another plan sponsored by the same employer), 2) by participants in a 401(a) plan covered by a master record keeping services agreement between Fidelity and a national federation of employers that included a qualifying fund as a core investment option, 3) for accounts managed on a discretionary basis by certain registered investment advisers that have discretionary assets of at least $500 million invested in mutual funds and already included the fund in their discretionary account program, 4) by a mutual fund or a qualified tuition program for which Fidelity serves as investment manager, 5) by a portfolio manager of the fund, 6) by a fee deferral plan offered to trustees of certain Fidelity® funds, if the fund is an investment option under the plan, 7) by qualified intermediaries to facilitate in-kind redemption activity when deemed by the Adviser to be in the best interests of the fund, and 8) by certain asset pools associated with an organization that already offers a qualifying fund as an investment option in its retirement plan(s). These restrictions generally will apply to investments made directly with Fidelity and investments made through intermediaries. Investors may be required to demonstrate eligibility to buy shares of the fund before an investment is accepted.
    SCPK6-PSTK-1024-104
    1.9886693.104
    October 16, 2024
    Supplement to the
    Fidelity® Small Cap Growth Fund and Fidelity® Small Cap Value Fund
    September 28, 2024
    Prospectus
    The following information supplements information for Fidelity® Small Cap Growth Fund found in the "Fund Summary" section under the "Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    The fund is currently closed to new investors. For more information, see the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" section of the prospectus. Remember to keep shares in your fund position to be eligible to purchase additional shares of the fund.
    The following information supplements information found in the "Shareholder Information" section under the "Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares" heading.
    Effective the close of business on October 16, 2024, new positions in Fidelity® Small Cap Growth Fund (the fund) may no longer be opened. Shareholders of the fund on that date may continue to add to their fund positions existing on that date. Investors who did not own shares of the fund on October 16, 2024, generally will not be allowed to buy shares of the fund except that new fund positions may be opened: 1) by participants in most group employer retirement plans (and their successor plans) if a qualifying fund is already established as an investment option under the plans (or under another plan sponsored by the same employer), 2) by participants in a 401(a) plan covered by a master record keeping services agreement between Fidelity and a national federation of employers that included a qualifying fund as a core investment option, 3) for accounts managed on a discretionary basis by certain registered investment advisers that have discretionary assets of at least $500 million invested in mutual funds and already included the fund in their discretionary account program, 4) by a mutual fund or a qualified tuition program for which Fidelity serves as investment manager, 5) by a portfolio manager of the fund, 6) by a fee deferral plan offered to trustees of certain Fidelity® funds, if the fund is an investment option under the plan, 7) by qualified intermediaries to facilitate in-kind redemption activity when deemed by the Adviser to be in the best interests of the fund, and 8) by certain asset pools associated with an organization that already offers a qualifying fund as an investment option in its retirement plan(s). These restrictions generally will apply to investments made directly with Fidelity and investments made through intermediaries. Investors may be required to demonstrate eligibility to buy shares of the fund before an investment is accepted.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    Not that I am looking for an excuse for my lapse in my Friday reporting of EMPIX' one day performance, Artemis (incorrectly) reported today -
    "[T]he Ambassador cat bond fund was marked more heavily on Friday 18th October, by -0.77% which now leaves it at -0.87% since before hurricane Milton first threatened."
    I guess do not take everything you read at Artemis as a fact.
    https://www.artemis.bm/news/mutual-cat-bond-and-ils-funds-mostly-reduce-post-milton-decline-at-fridays-pricing/
  • Morningstar not updating OEF's?
    Maybe it's just me, but the OEF's in my tracking and watch portfolios are still stuck on last Thursday the 17th.
  • August MFO Ratings Posted
    FirstHand SVVC is a closed-end business development company (BDC) on pink sheets (OTC). It doesn't show up in the CEFConnect database, but has quotes at M*, Yahoo Finance.
    AUM $551K, Price 6c
    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SVVC/key-statistics/
    It seems that is has slipped in 2-20 hedge-fund type fees under BDC/CEF structure that isn't allowed for listed funds. Typically, incentives for listed funds are tiny %. Next, I will check its prospectus history. Not sure about rules for pink sheet/OTC funds.
    Edgar/SEC 10-Q https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1495584/000143774924026819/sccv20240630d_10q.htm
    Edit/Add. 10/2023 notice of withdrawal as a BDC & liquidation. So, whatever is going on in OTC trading of SVVC isn't significant for typical fund investors.
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495584/000139834423019276/fp0085668-1_ex991.htm
    https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1495584/000139834423019276/fp0085668-1_8kixbrl.htm
  • August MFO Ratings Posted
    One of the stunning numbers in the Score Card is the FirstHand fund family. Its three funds have an average ER of -1.12.
    The culprit is a CEF Firsthand Technology Value Fund SVVC with an ER of -7.21.
    I checked with Lipper and their folks say it's correct, referencing this 10K filing.
    To my knowledge, the fund appears to have lost nearly all its AUM since launching in 2011.
    Still can't quite get my head around this.
    Here's an excerpt:

    NOTE 4. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE
    The Company has entered into an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”) with FCM pursuant to which the Company will pay FCM a fee for providing investment management services consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee.
    The base management fee will be calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of our gross assets. For services rendered under the Investment Management Agreement, the base management fee will be payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee will be calculated based on the average of (1) the value of our gross assets at the end of the current calendar quarter and (2) the value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and will be appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base management fees for any partial month or quarter will be pro-rated.
    The incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on April 15, 2011, and equals 20% of the Company’s realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fees, provided that the incentive fee determined as of December 31, 2023, will be calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take into account any realized gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation from inception. For the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no Incentive fee adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no incentive fee adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no incentive fee adjustments.
    Effective September 30, 2023, the Company has entered into a fee waiver agreement with FCM (the “Fee Waiver Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Fee Waiver Agreement, FCM agrees to (1) waive future accruals of the base management fee starting October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, with future recoupment to the extent permitted by the Investment Management Agreement, and (2) waive $2.5 million of base management fee that has been accrued but unpaid prior to but unpaid as of September 30, 2023. Any accrued base management fee waived under section (2) may be recouped by FCM within ten years.
  • ⇒ All Things Boeing ... Machinist Union Accepts Latest Boeing Contract Offer
    I do not think I was thick skinned when I was unemployed a few years at a time or when I was employed for that matter. If I were thick skinned, perhaps, I would not have been as unemployed as I was. Once I decided I am not going to look for a job anymore, which effectively means once I retired, I was able to look back and see where I went wrong in not being able to optimize my effort or maximize the output to input ratio in my work life. It turns out, when it comes to life, I am a slow learner! I do have fond memories of people who went out of their way to be helpful with my career. I had tones of help outside my family - I wish I made the most of it and was not so thin skinned.
    +1.
    I very much respect such candor. Thank you. My own career started late. I preferred school, for as long as it did not require actual work. I enjoyed what I was studying. The jobs I took lasted a few years each, with 12-18 month interruptions. I suppose I was aiming for 20 years "in," but lasted 19. I got the Big Fish in the Small Pond angry at me. Then, I said, "forget this! Not again!"
  • ⇒ All Things Boeing ... Machinist Union Accepts Latest Boeing Contract Offer
    Yep. I added more last week. I am probably down about 5% in the current foray into this stock - third time in four years. I started the first time during Covid at near $100. I will hate to give back any profits I already took on BA stock. Each time I buy, I think it is a forever holding but I end up selling for one reason or the other. This time I bought it in a taxable account.
    P.s.: corporate wide layoffs are a nice event to get rid of a lot of fat (e.g., redundant management) in the system. Some managers also relish these events to get rid of employees who produce less but take up too much of team resources, including management time, but which employees are otherwise pain to get rid of because of various entrenched corporate idiosyncrasies (e.g., power hogging HR). In all my work, for sometime after each mass layoff, the productivity of my group increased. Some tech companies layoff 5% of their work force every year - does not mean they do not grow. I know it sucks to be unemployed but I can be objective about it because I was unemployed as many years as I was employed.
    I wish I'd been as thick-skinned as you, about being unemployed. Only a prostate exam is worse.