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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.
  • Time is your friend.
    @Crash. Good points. My comment was directed more at young and middle aged investors. I don’t think either of the following is inconsistent with the advice @Bobpa shared: (1) gradually shifting to a more conservative allocation over the years commensurate with age or (2) allocating a small % of one’s holdings to tactical / speculative gambits - if so inclined. In addition, gradually adjusting one’s portfolio positioning relative to the highly unusual interest rate environment that has evolved in recent years (as many here have done) would seem wise. Even Dodge and Cox is in the process of reviewing / modifying their highly successful Balanced fund (DODBX) - I suspect due to that rate environment.
  • Buffered ETFs: A Comprehensive Guide
    As noted in the excerpted text ("long the province of structured products"), this sounds a bit like old wine in new bottles.
    Buffered ETFs vs Index-Linked Annuities
    There are differences including ETF-specific risks of "suboptimal [management] decisions" and difficulty in handling large cashflows (in or out). On the positive side, these are ETFs, not ETNs. So while they suffer those risks, unlike ETNs (or notes generally) they don't have the same counterparty risks as ETNs or annuities.
    There are investments comparable to index-linked annuities without the annuity wrapper: market-linked CDs and market-linked securities. They come in a wide variety of target indexes and risk profiles.
    https://www.morganstanley.com/structuredinvestments/docs/marketingmaterials/Introduction_to_Structured_Investments.pdf
  • Time is your friend.
    “for most people, most of the time, is to construct a sensible, diversified portfolio, and then to give it time to compound.”
    +1 and Thanks. Convincing people to view it this way would seem near impossible. That’s due largely I suspect to human nature, but to a lesser extent to the intensity of the information flow today plus the potential for “instant gratification” in today’s markets.
    One of my favorite quotes: “Then tell Wind and Fire where to stop, but don’t tell me.”
    - Madame Defarge, A Tale of Two Cities - Dickens
  • Pelosi bought lots chips techs last few days
    @FD1000 Sure, and while we're at it, why don't we get corporate money, lobbying and influence out of politics altogether: https://washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/31/business-lobbying-democrats-reconciliation/
    Oh, wait.
    ding. ring that bell.
  • God Bless America ETF in registration
    @Observant
    Trump fund raising for the pretext of fighting alleged election fraud...
    I thought fine print may be involved!
    Just because it's legal and a common practice doesn't make it right.

    absolutely.
  • God Bless America ETF in registration
    @Observant
    Trump fund raising for the pretext of fighting alleged election fraud but not actually using most of the funds for said fraud was fully legal because the fund raise page stated this in the fine print. It's amazing how much one can legally get away in this country by putting the main headline in size 16 font and all the fine print in size 10 font.
    Certainly Trump isn't the only one who does it, this is a widely prevalent practice.
    I thought fine print may be involved!
    Just because it's legal and a common practice doesn't make it right.
  • God Bless America ETF in registration
    Yet somehow in 2022 it seems possible. You should insist on crypto for all prepayments.
    Probable, even. There has got to be money made in period tracking! My adult daughter asked if women now could (or should) wear cute service-animal vests, so I am thinking of a startup as part of these ETFs.
    I love your crypto idea but was thinking more of silver dollars, as my grandpa used to give us kids 70y ago.
    The POB for my funds' registration is going to be the one nearest to our fetal-remains-powered streetlamps on Beacon Hill downtown, for luck.
    https://www.newsweek.com/anti-abortion-activist-says-under-oath-abortions-power-street-lights-1708361
    Shorting and options are part of each fund's strategy. I assume Planned Parenthood will be public by then.
    POB location will in addition be as close as I can get to Kenneth Heebner's home office, again for luck.
  • God Bless America ETF in registration
    @Observant
    Trump fund raising for the pretext of fighting alleged election fraud but not actually using most of the funds for said fraud was fully legal because the fund raise page stated this in the fine print. It's amazing how much one can legally get away in this country by putting the main headline in size 16 font and all the fine print in size 10 font.
    Certainly Trump isn't the only one who does it, this is a widely prevalent practice.
  • Funds in Barron's, 7/25/22
    @Observant1, my concern with noninsurance company SVs is different. There are usually no guarantees by any entity. There are also no reserves held by sponsors for any contingencies. Rates offered may also be low. Sponsors just claim to invest cautiously, mostly in GICs and BICs and other fixed-income instruments. All it takes is one large holding to tank or freeze. So, buyer beware fully applies. BTW, I once wrote to a very large fund family that offers SVs asking what would happen in case of trouble or run on its SV? Its answer was only that it was highly unlikely because it was very careful and cautious, and that was it.
    On the other hand, insurance company SVs are guaranteed by insurance co capital & surplus, something that is tangible. These offer better SV rates. Of course, one has to watch insurance co ratings closely, and never to buy SVs offered by low-rated insurance co. A widely known such SV is TIAA Traditional that is guaranteed by TIAA, and if it goes under, there are probably lots of other problems. The same can be said about SVs from large, highly-rated insurers. If insurance co does fail, then the state insurance guaranty programs may handle the messy situation. So, there are 2 lines of defense.
    Federal TSP G Fund is a unique SV that is neither of the above. It is backed by none other than Uncle Sam (the US Treasury Secretary), and if Uncle Sam cannot keep its promise to pay, then things have probably worsened unimaginably.
  • M* screwing everything up again
    In the left panel, there is a Charting tab (#6 of 12). Add ticker there to create chart(s).
  • M* screwing everything up again
    Does investor.morningstar.com still has "chart"?
    I don't see it, can't find it--- apart from their pre-formed 10-year performance chart.
    https://investor.morningstar.com/quotes/0P00002RQ4
    ...Nor can I find it, looking at their snapshot presentation for single-stocks.
    https://investor.morningstar.com/quotes/0P000000PV
  • Funds in Barron's, 7/25/22
    Multiple managers departed from WWIAX in 2019 before Adrian Helfert took the helm.
    Four others joined the fund team with or after Mr. Helfert.
    The fund's three year returns are ok with a 37% fund category ranking.
    The downside capture ratio of 89.61% and the standard deviation of 11.58% were
    higher than the corresponding category averages of 76.48% and 9.58% respectively.
    WWIAX sports a high expense ratio of 1.09%.
    Surely, Barron's could have chosen a better allocation fund to profile.
  • Funds in Barron's, 7/25/22
    That is correct.
    HDV had 17% of its assets in energy as of July 15.
  • God Bless America ETF in registration
    When exactly in U.S. history did folks who believe this hijack patriotism? From the prospectus:
    The Sub-Adviser analyzes an initial universe of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion. The Sub-Adviser then screens out companies that, in the Sub-Adviser’s assessment, have emphasized political activism and social agendas at the expense of maximizing shareholder returns in the Sub-Adviser’s assessment. For example, the Sub-Adviser will generally exclude companies that make public statements about a then-current political hot button item unrelated to their business (e.g., companies that issue press releases in response to U.S. Supreme Court rulings).
    Consider that the nation itself was founded on political activism, celebrates political discourse and the freedom to have it in its first amendment and its founders generally wanted “god” out of our politics. Moreover, I imagine the folks who owned the tea companies weren’t too happy about all that tea dumped in the water and it was “destructive to shareholder value,” yet I doubt many Americans would’ve thought it unpatriotic to do so.
  • Funds in Barron's, 7/25/22
    There are several fund stories in Barron's this weekend.
    https://www.barrons.com/magazine?mod=BOL_TOPNAV
    https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/thread/317/barron-july-25-2022-2
    FUNDS. Recommended are I-Bonds (9.62%; limit $10K/yr/TD account), individual TIPS (at Treasury Direct or brokerages), TIPS funds (short-term – TRBFX, STIP, VTIP; IT/LT – SCHP, VIPSX, TIP). Beware of confusing reporting of 30-day SEC yields for TIPS funds (some simply add current CPI to real 30-day SEC yield).
    FUNDS. Co-manager and Westwood CIO Adrian HELFERT of allocation/flexible-income WWIAX (30-50% equities; ER 1.09%) looks for companies with dividends, cash flows, durable competitive advantages, and strong managements. He increased exposure to energy and real estate. Fund does some call-writing. In fixed income, he has reduced duration and watches for default risks (debt/EBITDA, etc). He expects the Fed to flip at some point. Westwood recently acquired the multi-asset fund business of Salient Partners.
    FUNDS (online only). STABLE-VALUE (SV) funds within 401k/403b are complex products under insurance company or bank contracts. With high market volatility and rising rates, SVs have become very popular and record 85% of 401k/403b inflows in May went into SVs (that looks strange). But there are risks (lack of transparency; insurance company strength) and plan restrictions (equity-wash rules; flexible to limited redemptions). There was a recent lawsuit against AutoZone/AZO 401k-SV from Prudential/PRU (PRU recently dumped its retirement business including SVs on Empire).
    FUNDS. Sammy SIMNEGAR of LC-growth FMAGX and international LC-growth FIVFX (unusual for a manager to run 2 major Fido funds) has soured on big techs (but likes other techs). He thinks that the Fed will be on tightening course until it achieves its +2% inflation target. To prepare for economic slowdown, he is avoiding housing (but owns selected REITs) and low-end retail stocks. He has reduced China exposure; he doesn’t take China-Taiwan risk seriously and owns TSM.
    ETFs. Big DIVIDEND ETFs got bigger – SCHD, VYM, HDV, JEPI, SPYD, DVY, DGRO, RDVY, VIG, SDY, NOBL, DHS (listed by $inflows). Most had low exposure to energy except HDV and DHS.
  • Buffered ETFs: A Comprehensive Guide
    When Innovator launched the first defined outcome or “buffered” ETFs in August of 2018, I will admit I was a bit skeptical. Historically, ETFs that mirrored the kinds of outcomes long the province of structured products hadn’t been very successful at gathering assets. But I was hopeful: I believed then, and I believe now, that ETFs that shape the pattern of returns available in the risk markets are incredibly useful tools.
    With over $4 billion in assets (half of that coming just this year), I think it’s safe to say my skepticism was unnecessary, and my enthusiasm rewarded. But with over 50 buffered ETFs available in the market now, we thought it would be useful to put together a guide to how the products work, how you might use them, and what’s available.
    https://etftrends.com/buffered-etfs-a-comprehensive-guide/
    Also,
    Mentioned in this weeks Wealthtrack episode:
    Linked Here