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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.
  • CD
    Has anyone had any CDs called in? When I first started buying CDs, I didn’t realize they could be called unless listed as uncallable. I soon realized my mistake and have only bought noncallable CDs or Treasuries since then.
    However, I initially bought about six callable CDs in my ladders. Some of the shorter issues have matured, but I’ve still got 5 callable CDs with maturities ranging from a few months to 3-4 years. Only one of my CDs has been called in, and ironically it was a shorter maturity issue that I was able to replace at the same rate. I’m assuming the longer term CDs will be called in, but I’m satisfied with the 5% yields in the meantime. I’m surprised that none of these have been called yet because their yields are well above current rates.
    Tarwheel in Other Investing
  • CD
    My Banking Direct (MBD) has among the top rates for high yield savings (5.55%) and CDs. Its parent is NYCB, the former rescuer that is needing a rescue itself.
    This problem has been pointed out before - banks in trouble often offer the highest rates. Be careful. Sure, the FDIC protection is there, but if a troubled bank is taken over or reorganized, then all those high rates will adjust. And you won't get a memo from the FDIC before it moves.
    Twitter LINK
    Edit/Add, 4/10/24. Now read about it at CNBC.
    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/10/nycb-is-paying-the-nations-highest-interest-rate-apy.html
    yogibearbull yogibearbull in Other Investing
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    Using Chinfist's above three fund suggestions, I decided to use Portfolio Visualizer to compare 1/3rd multi-asset fund (AQRNX)), 1/3rd style premia alternative fund (QSPNX), and 1/3rd long-short fund (QLENX) with QDSNX for the available period of July 2020 to March 2024:
    Fund: CAG MAX DD SD SHARPE SORTINO
    QDSNX 13.4% -4.6% 6.9% 1.5 3.1
    CHINFIST 18.5 -13.6 12.2 1.3 2.6
    As a conservative and retired investor I might still go with QDSNX. At this later stage of my life, and quoting a poster from another forum (BBI): " I don't really need a lot more money, but I certainly don't want to lose a lot".
    Good luck,
    Fred
    fred495 in Fund Discussions
  • MRFOX
    This fund may become more popular soon as it is prominently mentioned in Barros's this week in the article "Don’t Put All Your Eggs in the Mag 7 Stocks. These Funds Beat the S&P 500"
    finder in Fund Discussions
  • MetWest Investment Grade Credit Fund will be reorganized
    https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20240408054986/tcw-files-for-new-active-fixed-income-etfs-and-etf-conversions
    BaluBalu in Fund Discussions
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    Mike, you are correct, we don't need ALT funds. Why not go even further, Buffett has been telling us that all you need is the SP500.
    The idea is to discuss all kinds of subjects and let investors decide what to do.
    If I'm not mistaken, Fred is looking at a very risk/reward portfolio, I'm looking for a very low SD portfolio at all times(never lose more than 3% from any last to) + beat 50/50 + make money annually ...and balanced equity/bond/cash can not achieve it...but I did.
    FD1000 in Fund Discussions
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    Dutch, I hear ya.
    And the issue which you cite -- essentially paying a E/R on the whole portfolio, even though you could replicate half the portfolio on a DIY basis -- is a real issue. That issue has existed for decades in the bond fund arena. Where core bond managers are loaded to the gills with Treasurys/Agencies, and then sprinkle in 5% junk bonds. -- We can do Treasurys/Agencies on our own, but given the enormous amounts of AUM in the core bond space, a lot of investors choose to alleviate themselves of DIY management.
    In the case of BLNDX/REMIX, the manager addressed the issue in a YT interview several months back. Specifically, the asset mix is in part, intended to address behavioral finance behavior on the part of individual investors. To the extent the disparate parts of BLNDX decrease volatility, it is hoped investors don't panic and sell at the worst possible moment. That is why they market this fund as an 'all-weather' fund.
    Of course the manager's argument is self-serving. But I find the rationale he offers as reasonably persuasive.
    Edmond in Fund Discussions
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    Only problem I see with REMIX/BLNDX, is that 50% of the portfolio is in ultra cheap ETFs to get market “beta” and the other half is in the actual alternative strategy. The expense ration is 1.5% for the cheaper share class. Most of us have the market exposure already so might as well save the 1.5% and get a fund that just concentrates on the strategy your interested in and doesn’t just charge you an exorbitant fee for 50% exposure to what you most likely already own.
    Dutch in Fund Discussions
  • CD
    I continue to use CDs as long as they keep paying 5% or more. Currently at Schwab, they have a significant number of non-callable CDs. For me in retirement, it is a very comfortable, no risk way, to make the 4 to 6% TR that I seek in retirement. I maintain about a dozen CDs in an 18 month ladder, with a preference for 12 month CDs I also use the Schwab Money Market funds, SNAXX and SWVXX, for those assets I need for liquidity.
    dtconroe in Other Investing
  • ⇒ All Things Boeing ... NASA may send Starliner home without its crew
    https://thehill.com/regulation/transportation/4579944-part-falls-off-boeing-plane-during-takeoff-in-denver/
    SWA. Engine cowling fell off during or after takeoff. Safe return to Denver Airport. Are they using Spirit for maintenance, too? WTF!
    Crash Crash in Other Investing
  • Mid-Year MFO Ratings Posted ... FLOW Thru 4 July
    Just posted all ratings to MFO Premium site through March using Refinitiv's data drop yesterday ... reflecting MTD performance through 5 April.
    Charles Charles in MFO Premium
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    WABAC,
    My plan penalizes rollovers for those under 59 1/2. -- The punishment is 6 months of no contribution (which means I pay more taxes this year) -- which also means 6 months without a 7% company match.
    Thanks. I was jumping the gun. You still need to retire. :)
    WABAC WABAC in Fund Discussions
  • DJT in your portfolio - the first two funds reporting (edited)
    @Baseball_Fan said: ”illegal invaders begging in front of many stores in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the country”.
    I’m absolutely astounded at the wealth disparity in this country. By all accounts it is growing. You do not need to be an immigrant (legal or otherwise) to be living in relative squalor. Where’d all that wealth come from? All clever hard working dudes? Some for sure. But much is inherited generationally and not always from the cleanest hands. Work ethics, legalities or good fortune aside, it still stinks to high heavens.
    Access to food and shelter in the US is rampant. Not only is it a shame it's a crime in one of the richest countries in the world. If you think even for a minute that it's all illegal invaders take a trip to your local food shelf and streets of any city. Here's a report on one group.
    Mark Mark in Fund Discussions
  • Retirement Savings By Age - What to do with your portfolio (T Rowe Price 2024)
    An easy read. Thanks, @hank. Age 70 is coming for me in July. I can afford some more risk with a longer time-horizon---- given that I have a working spouse, much younger, and have heirs in mind, not just myself. Still, everyone should be prudent about taking either not enough risk, or too much.
    I'll switch-out of some of my junk bonds sooner or later. They are still juicy and advantageous at the moment. But yes, they will require me to stay vigilant about their risks in different circumstances. I've just BEGUN a position in FALN: investment-grade bonds which have fallen into "junk" status. The safer side of the junk bond world.
    My allocations are not far off from those offered in the article. I do not include savings in the credit unions; those accounts are always earmarked for some goal or expense we are saving for. And in just several months, the car will be paid-off: the new car we bought, after arriving here in the Aloha State. We got a good deal on that Nissan sedan, though there have been battery issues.
    7 cash.
    48 US stocks
    5 foreign stocks.
    38 bonds of all sorts, including the balanced funds we own. (Soon switching out of BRUFX and into WBALX to counter-balance some of the risk inherent in the single-stocks we now own. Oil/gas midstream and drilling is doing nicely; but financials and Real Estate? Not good at all, yet.)
    3 "other."
    Still reinvesting everything that comes, except with TS, because it's an ADR. I'm unable to reinvest profit from TS at Schwab. So, I'll reinvest the cash manually, myself. Every year in January, I take just a very thin slice from the T-IRA, which does not affect tax return. I deliberately keep that withdrawal amount limited, so that the portfolio can make up the difference through the coming year. Finally: I have been continuing to ADD monthly to the portfolio in tiny bites, too. I'll re-start that habit shortly with the new broker dealer (Schwab.)
    RMDs are coming in a couple of years. I suppose the "good news" is that I'm already accustomed to taking those RMDs unofficially, already. Maybe not quite as big a chunk as the required RMDs will be...
    Crash Crash in Other Investing
  • QDSNX - A Fund for Retirees?
    WABAC,
    My plan penalizes rollovers for those under 59 1/2. -- The punishment is 6 months of no contribution (which means I pay more taxes this year) -- which also means 6 months without a 7% company match.
    Edmond in Fund Discussions
  • Schwab move...Let's retire this thread. Lots of interactions. Food for thought. THNX.
    "RELIABILITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, ACCURACY, DEPENDABILITY"
    You've obviously not tried to talk to anyone on the Customer Rage and Aggravation phone line in the past 30 years.

    "Customer Rage and Aggravation" phone line? Is that for real? Never knew such a thing even existed.
    The only thing Schwab has ever upset me about in 27 years was when they redid all the research pages, and TOOK AWAY a lot of personal portfolio data, in the fall of 2022. I complained about it to the regular people on the phone numerous times, but never went on a rage over it.
    The research pages are much clumsier to find actual data on than they used to be. They look like some 5 year-old kid arranged them -- but they have to keep the nerds busy. I often go to Mstar or Yahoo if I can't find what I"m looking for on Schwab's mess.
    "Change, just for the sake of change, is always good." -- any nerd.
    Just in recent months they brought back (finally) the personal portfolio data and charts.
    So I'm still good with the whole organization.
    Low_Tech Low_Tech in Other Investing
  • Schwab move...Let's retire this thread. Lots of interactions. Food for thought. THNX.
    @FD1000
    Hand-holding, I don't need much. What has gone missing is RELIABILITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, ACCURACY, DEPENDABILITY, and Customer Rage And Aggravation agents who can THINK. I also think it's disgraceful that employers won't ALLOW employees to simply have a pad and pencil to take notes, to assist the process when their help is asked for. I've been told that, explicitly.
    The above are serious accusations...based on what? If this is true Schwab would be shut down. Millions have been using Schwab for years, including several posters who stated they never had any issues for years...maybe it's you?
    Notes with a pencil? again, are you serious? notes are entered into the system so the next customer rep can see them.
    Several days ago you doubted Schwab would give you the $50...and they did...but you didn't report it until I asked you.
    FD1000 in Other Investing
  • Schwab move...Let's retire this thread. Lots of interactions. Food for thought. THNX.
    @Crash, you can fight and complain about the tech revolution that started decades ago...or, join it. It's a choice. I know people in their 50s who refuse to join, but I also know people in their 80s who joined it.
    Example: I'm in several groups who play Bridge, 1-2 don't do well with text and why they miss about half of what is going on, no one wants to call or email them, unless we miss a player.
    Schwab is better than Fidelity. I left VG decades ago but I'm sure Schwab is bette. I never had TRP but from reading posts for decades, I would not expect them to be at the top.
    You can't have hand-holding and very cheap/free services. Schwab still have plenty of offices you can visit.
    Try a generic tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v85mLIx3hJg)
    Try a specific tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf5N6dqfQaNRooD-MN434gIfzDyI71IsK)
    FD1000 in Other Investing
  • Bloomberg Wall Street Week
    The "hot" jobs numbers released by gummint was mentioned by Summers. He's pushing for a rather higher neutral rate. I giggle at the jobs numbers, anymore: most of the hires are part-time. No vacation, no benefits. Because employers can get away with it. Some folks want P/T, ok. And 3.8% unemployment? LOL. How many part-time jobs are in that mix? No one can be a breadwinner working P/T, although many today are forced to try to do it.
    From this weeks Barron's:
    "One other knock on the labor market data has been the strength in part-time employment versus full-time jobs. But there’s nothing wrong with that, if it’s for the right reason, according to RBC Capital Markets economist Michael Reid. The number of part-timers who actually prefer those gigs outnumber those forced to take part-time work for economic reasons by a factor of five, he writes in a client note."
    "With more employers changing work-from-home policies, it isn’t surprising that some workers are preferring more flexible arrangements, he continues. There is also a clear upward trend in the number of over-55 workers opting for part-time gigs instead of full-time, he adds."
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-will-feel-a-tremor-if-payrolls-and-inflation-keep-rising/ar-BB1l9tDM
    Observant1 in Other Investing
  • Schwab move...Let's retire this thread. Lots of interactions. Food for thought. THNX.
    @hank, this T+1 (vs T+2) rule for stocks/ETFs/CEFs was adopted 2 years ago. Brokers were given 2 years to make changes to their systems and 5/28/24 is that final date. So, who wants to deal with a broker who couldn't fix this in the 2 year window?
    yogibearbull yogibearbull in Other Investing