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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.
  • Vanguard Nudging Customers To Be Better Investors
    new slogan :
    Vanguard proudly offers Agency cost at the lowest cost!
    IVA 2025 review of ~50 managers :
    22 : (more than half): $0 invested in their own funds.
    7 : <$100k—effectively nothing for highly paid managers.
    10 : Between $100k and $500k.
    2 : $500k to $1 million.
    2 —John C. Lanius (Federal Money Market, VMFXX) and Michelle Louie (Total
    Stock Market Index, VTSAX)—have > $1m invested in one of their funds.
    [check out that last high conviction allocation! where do these people actually put their massive salaries for decades @vanguard?]
  • Private-Equity Wants a Piece of Your 401(k)
    Barron's RETIREMENT & WELL BEING (online). The SEC panel on including private-equity/credit (p-e/c) within retail funds and retirement 401k/403b has made several recommendation (28-page report): avoid self-standing p-e/c offerings; include p-e/c within allocation/hybrid funds and TDFs; different restrictions in retirement and nonretirement accounts; any redemption restrictions may be similar to interval-funds but with monthly redemptions at higher %AUM; revision of the definition of “accredited investors”; more disclosures and investor education.
    (Subscription) https://www.barrons.com/articles/sec-private-assets-retail-investors-1d83d3cd
    SEC, 28-pg Report https://www.sec.gov/files/iac-private-markets-091125.pdf
  • Thinking Outside the Box - Income Portfolio
    Seemed worthy of sharing:
    A recent paper by researchers David Blanchett and Michel Finke found that retirees don’t like spending down their wealth (principal). The paper, titled Retirees Spend Lifetime Income, Not Savings, found that retirees spend a much higher percentage of their annuitized income and spend about half the amount that they could safely spend from non-annuitized wealth. It’s actually quite difficult for savers programmed to build a portfolio to suddenly start spending down that portfolio.
    Let’s first examine the typical income portfolio and the associated problems I see with such solutions. Then I’ll propose an income portfolio I built for myself and use for others. Below shows just how different these income portfolios are, both using a 40% stock and 60% fixed income allocation, though this can vary greatly, depending on the client’s situation.
    thinking-outside-box-build-better-income-portfolio
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    I’ve never cared much for plain vanilla bond funds. Rate risk is the most troubling aspect. If you’re investing to stay ahead of inflation, rates are likely to rise if inflation picks up which diminishes a bond’s value. There are work arounds like staying on the short end or buying individual TIPS. PIMCO seems to know how to game the system and stand up reasonably well regardless of rate environment. Not meant to exclude other managers.
    There are rate-hedged investment grade bond funds / etfs which provide the income stream of longer dated maturities without subjecting you to much rate risk. These sell Treasury’s short to offset rising rates in their long term holdings. IGHG and AGZD are a couple I’ve owned. AGZD is higher quality. I’d probably do a 50/50 split. Of course, if inflation and interest rates fall, as they did for much of the past 30 years, you’re better off in conventional bonds.
    And I think that 25+ year period probably distorts a lot of what we perceive when researching funds’ past performance.
  • Vanguard to Offer Crypto ETFs on its Brokerage Platform
    Big crypto ETFs have 25 bps ERs.
    Bitcoin - IBIT (AUM $84 billion), FBTC ($22 billion)
    Ether - ETHA ($15 billion), FETH ($3 billion)
    These can be held in regular brokerage a/c.
  • WealthTrack Show
    @bee: Take a look at FISMX. Similar country allocations to VINEX. Better 5-year performance and about the same 3-year performance. VINEX has better performance over the past 3-years.
  • giroux m* update
    Why would anyone invest with TROW nowadays? This company is not what it used to be in prior decades. Their lineup of funds have lagged. And, PRWCX will not be what it has been in the past. It is hard for the firm to attract top talent. Just buy a super low fee S&P500 index and some BRK.B. Keep your costs low.
  • Starting a new thread: Bloomberg Real Yield. (Begin, 08/08/25) Hiatus starts 21 Nov. '25
    26 Sept, '25.
    Scarlet Fu again.
    High Grade issuance in USA and Europe is at a record, this week. $197B in the States. This week, Junk issuance is at a record, $48B. Busiest week in 5 years. There is a borrowing boom, surely on the heels of the recent FED rate reduction by 0.25%.
    There was an A.I. focused conversation and attention paid to Oracle, which issued a rare 40-year bond. Do you really want to own that? Or flip it?
    Long bond back in favor. There is a reduction in long-end supply. A lot of FED easing is already priced into 2026.
    Inflation is sticky, about 1% above FED target. No recession expected. Labor market cooling, not collapsing.
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-09-26/real-yield-9-26-2025-video
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    I've taken a careful look at CBLDX but like Observant1 don't feel it is good in a core position. Rather, I could use it to stretch risk in my near-cash (0-5 year) sleeve. For that satellite role I find it a close call.
    Core has different meanings to different investors.
    If DODIX is considered core for many, I would invest twice in CBLDX as my core. I rather have a great manager, with small AUM that knows how to select bonds and navigate markets.
    BTW, I have been posting for several years about the following 3 funds managed by Sherman from less risky to more RPHIX(great "sub" MM), CBLDX, and RSIIX.
    3 year Sharpe based on MFO...DODIX=0..........CBLDX=1.8 and...RSIIX=1.25.
    5 year Sharpe based on MFO...DODIX=(-0.3)...CBLDX=1.8 and...RSIIX=1.4.
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    I had fun with the query
    Exactly! That's a big motivator in commenting on some threads.
    I may have a sense of what Observant1 is looking for. As I tried to prune my portfolio I sought a reasonably behaved solid bond fund to anchor the fixed income side of my portfolio. Something that would return more than cash-ish or run of the mill short-ish funds. I don't look at long duration (these funds are more suitable for bets on interest rates than for long term, stable holdings). I'm willing to take on some credit risk but not sink into a junk-heavy portfolio. And preferably a core fund would have a long track record from a well regarded money manager.
    On the one hand, one can stretch boundaries a bit to avoid lagging. OTOH, one tries to avoid taking on fundamental risks regardless of how well behaved the fund appears to be. Performance, even risk adjusted performance is not the end all.
    In the interest of partial disclosure :-) I'll say that I've owned or do own more than one of the funds already mentioned. This is just to suggest that I've been looking around for what I think are similar reasons.
    I've taken a careful look at CBLDX but like Observant1 don't feel it is good in a core position. Rather, I could use it to stretch risk in my near-cash (0-5 year) sleeve. For that satellite role I find it a close call.
  • Time to sell Amazon ?
    @Derf- I just dropped $100 there today. Hang in there- I'll try to keep making up for the missing $2.5.
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    If you are comfortable with the risk, then ICMUX looks better than CBLDX and RCTIX.
    CBLDX=I don't pay too much attention to ratings and a lot more to actual performance,risk,SD. Sherman proved it already.
    TSIIX lags CBLDX for 1-3 years. No go.
    WCPBX made just 10% in 5 years. No go.
    Anything VG bond funds is always a no-go for me, including VCPAX.
    BATPX: too volatile. No go
    LCTIX: higher SD than CBLDX, lower performance for 1 year. Higher for 3-5.
    ENIAX: similar to CBLDX
    ICMUX: more volatility but the best return for 1-3-5 years.
    Now, it depends on your allocation, style, and how long you hold. I always invested in bond funds with good risk/reward but also great performance. Never high-rated bond funds.
  • Time to sell Amazon ?
    My take is that any damage would already have shown up in the stock. It doesn't appear that much selling is occurring.
    A large amount of what I have is in mutual funds, so no selling there. I bought a chunk in late 2022 around $85 share, and am hanging onto that as well. I believe gman57 is correct.
  • Re: the prospect of L. Cook's firing and obliteration of FED independence
    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/26/trump-fed-cook-scotus-markets.html
    Trump's DOJ lawyers told the SCOTUS: "firing her would not create any Market disaster."
    ...Um.... These people passed the Bar Exam? What has any Market reaction got to do with the fact that the firing of Lisa Cook is inappropriate and completely illegal?
    VEXATIOUS LITIGANT.
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    My question starts with why do you need a core bond fund?
    I looked at CBLDX and IMO, it's better than all the funds above.
    I checked from 1-1-2020 and it's number one.
    For one year it's not number 1, but it's still among the top.
    And it's the best risk/reward fund, AKA Sharpe.
    It still pays about 5.3% yearly dist based on last month.
    The manager's track record is known.
    Thanks, FD1000.
    To complement my equity holdings, I'm seeking a primary bond fund with the potential
    for higher future returns than DODIX or BCOIX without assuming too much risk.
    CBLDX is an excellent fund and David Sherman is a talented portfolio manager.
    However, CBLDX has a greater allocation to below investment-grade bonds
    than I'm comfortable holding within my primary bond fund.
    I am considering this fund as a potential satellite position
    with a considerably smaller allocation in a different account.
    I also like RCTIX and ICMUX for this role.
    CBLDX as of 06/30/2025 (M*)
    BB - 10.79%
    B - 24.24%
    Below B - 0.20%
    Not Rated - 26.75%
    RCTIX as of 08/31/2025 (River Canyon)
    BB - 14%
    B - 22%
    Below B - 10%
    Not Rated - 19%
    ICMUX as of 06/30/2025 (Intrepid Capital)
    BB - 30.8%
    B - 30.7%
    Below B - 7.3%
    Not Rated - 20.9%
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    Here are several funds which are/were being considered ... WCPBX
    I was going to ask how you would purchase WCPBX, or in the alternative say wow, I'm impressed, $1M min in most places.
    But upon checking, I see that Vanguard offers it with a $500 min. Any other ways to access it?
    WABAC mentioned possible concerns over large amounts of securitized debt (presumably with its distinctive risk profile). DODIX holds 50% in securitized debt. Perhaps that is why its drawdown 8/1/21 to 10/31/22 (using monthly performance figures) was -15.11% (per M*). And its risk score (again, M*) is 16, which is a little high if one is looking for a moderately conservative bond fund.
    The point is that in stretching constraints a bit one can sometimes turn up an interesting prospect. (Mona made the same point.)
    With that in mind, TSIIX may be worth a look. Taking together both its junk rated (19.31%) and its unrated (5.57%) bonds, its remaining (IG) holdings are a bit under your 80% min target. And its securitized holdings, though less than those of D&C (3/8 vs 4/8) are still substantial.
    Counterbalancing this is its superior stability (3,5,10 yr std devs all around 4) and a max drawdown between 10/1/21 and 10/31/22 (monthly performance) of "just" -8.09% (M*).
    Personally I like the fact that its portfolio allocations can change significantly. But that does mean that you would run the risk of it meandering well outside your guardrails from time to time.
    Yes, I'll have access to WCPBX via Vanguard.
    I'm not aware of any other brokerages which allow access to this fund
    with a low minimum investment but haven't conducted extensive research.
    I'll look into TSIIX.
    Thanks!
  • Time to sell Amazon ?
    With 2.5 billion $ going to settlement, is it time to sell?
    As for myself, I'm waiting to see if I will be included in settlement.
    Read about it here;
    https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/amazon-set-pay-historic-2-5-billion-settlement-customers-able-get-piece
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    When I have responded to the OP in this thread I have tried to keep in mind that he just might know his own druthers better than I do.
    If I was looking to creep out on the duration limb I might look at similar constraints.
    But, you know . . .
    So I tacked CBLDX onto my query.
    I did not put a duration floor on my query, and it should go without saying that the funds mentioned below will have much less of it.
    I'm not making any adjustments in the ranking for multiple share classes.
    At five years CBLDX would have given you the better Sharp, but BATPX would have returned 8.2 vs 6.1
    At four years CBLDX wins on Sharp, but is outperformed by BATPX, LCTIX, and ENIAX.
    At three years CBLDX still leads on Sharp. There are now seven funds ahead in performance one of which is ENIAX only .12 behind in the Sharp race.
    At 2.5 years CBLDX falls to 16th place on Sharp. It ties for 6th place on returns.
    At two years CBLDX drops down to 20th place on Sharp. It ties for 9th place on returns.
    At 1.5 years CBLDX is way down there on Sharp. It's down to 10th place on returns.
    At one year CBLDX falls to 29th place on Sharp. It's now back up to 6th place on returns.
    MFO Premium works on month to month numbers. If you have a way to track daily performance then your results may differ.
    I did the ranks by human-powered eyeball, so let me know if you see an error when you run the query as I have.
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    Here are several funds which are/were being considered ... WCPBX
    I was going to ask how you would purchase WCPBX, or in the alternative say wow, I'm impressed, $1M min in most places.
    But upon checking, I see that Vanguard offers it with a $500 min. Any other ways to access it?
    WABAC mentioned possible concerns over large amounts of securitized debt (presumably with its distinctive risk profile). DODIX holds 50% in securitized debt. Perhaps that is why its drawdown 8/1/21 to 10/31/22 (using monthly performance figures) was -15.11% (per M*). And its risk score (again, M*) is 16, which is a little high if one is looking for a moderately conservative bond fund.
    The point is that in stretching constraints a bit one can sometimes turn up an interesting prospect. (Mona made the same point.)
    With that in mind, TSIIX may be worth a look. Taking together both its junk rated (19.31%) and its unrated (5.57%) bonds, its remaining (IG) holdings are a bit under your 80% min target. And its securitized holdings, though less than those of D&C (3/8 vs 4/8) are still substantial.
    Counterbalancing this is its superior stability (3,5,10 yr std devs all around 4) and a max drawdown between 10/1/21 and 10/31/22 (monthly performance) of "just" -8.09% (M*).
    Personally I like the fact that its portfolio allocations can change significantly. But that does mean that you would run the risk of it meandering well outside your guardrails from time to time.
  • "Core" Bond Fund Replacement
    My question starts with why do you need a core bond fund?
    I looked at CBLDX and IMO, it's better than all the funds above.
    I checked from 1-1-2020 and it's number one.
    For one year it's not number 1, but it's still among the top.
    And it's the best risk/reward fund, AKA Sharpe.
    It still pays about 5.3% yearly dist based on last month.
    The manager's track record is known.