OP=Accipiter / FYI - results of older fund poll and Question - the influence on fund purchases.

Accipiter

Also showing option of incorporating Original Poster in message if not implemented in software at a later date

results of poll a few weeks ago, in case anybody missed it or is interested in it.

Has the number of people buying a certain fund (or a particular poster that you respect) in these discussion groups influenced your purchase of a specific fund, especially in the case of new fund startups?

Name Your 3 Favorite Funds

  Ticker| Fund Name           |  Count
  ------------------------------------------
  PRPFX | PERMANENT PT        |   9
  FPACX | FPA FDS TRUST FPA   |   7
  MACSX | MATTHEWS ASIAN GR   |   7
  OAKBX | OAKMARK EQUITY AN   |   7
  IVWIX | IVA WORLDWIDE FUN   |   4
  PRWCX | T. ROWE PRICE CAP   |   4
  ARTKX | ARTISAN INTERNATI   |   2
  DODIX | DODGE  COX INCOME   |   2
  FAIRX | FAIRHOLME FUND      |   2
  MAPIX | MATTHEWS ASIA DIV   |   2
  AGDYX | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN   |   1
  AQMNX | AQR MANAGED FUTUR   |   1
  ARIVX | ASTON/RIVER ROAD    |   1
  AVEDX | AVE MARIA RISING    |   1
  BERIX | BERWYN INCOME FUN   |   1
  CLVFX | CROFT-LEOMINSTER    |   1
  DEFIX | THE DELAFIELD FUN   |   1
  DODFX | DODGE  COX INTERN   |   1
  DRSLX | DRIEHAUS SELECT C   |   1
  EIGMX | EATON VANCE GLOBA   |   1
  FPNIX | FPA NEW INCOME      |   1
  GRTVX | GRT VALUE FUND AD   |   1
  HLMSX | HARDING LOEVNER I   |   1
  HSTRX | HUSSMAN STRATEGIC   |   1
  INCMX | FUNDX FLEXIBLE IN   |   1
  JAOSX | JANUS OVERSEAS FU   |   1
  MAPTX | MATTHEWS PACIFIC    |   1
  MDISX | MUTUAL GLOBAL DIS   |   1
  MERDX | MERIDIAN GROWTH F   |   1
  MFCFX | MARSICO FLEXIBLE    |   1
  MIDSX | MIDAS FUND INC      |   1
  MSMLX | MATTHEWS ASIA SMA   |   1
  MWHYX | METROPOLITAN WEST   |   1
  MWTRX | METROPOLITAN WEST   |   1
  MXXIX | MARSICO 21ST CENT   |   1
  MYIFX | MONETTA YOUNG INV   |   1
  NVOAX | NUVEEN TRADEWINDS   |   1
  NWGRX | NUVEEN TRADEWINDS   |   1
  OARIX | OAKMARK INTERNATI   |   1
  PCVAX | ALLIANZ NFJ  SMAL   |   1
  PONDX | PIMCO INCOME FUND   |   1
  PRCGX | PERRITT MICRO CAP   |   1
  PREMX | T. ROWE PRICE EME   |   1
  PRLAX | T. ROWE PRICE LAT   |   1
  PRSVX | T. ROWE PRICE SMA   |   1
  PSPFX | US GLOBAL INVESTO   |   1
  PTSCX | FORWARD INTERNATI   |   1
  RIVFX | ROYCE GLOBAL VALU   |   1
  RNCOX | RIVERNORTH CORE O   |   1
  SGENX | FIRST EAGLE GLOBA   |   1
  TGBAX | TEMPLETON GLOBAL    |   1
  TGLDX | TOCQUEVILLE GOLD    |   1
  THOPX | THOMPSON PLUMB BO   |   1
  TPINX | TEMPLETON GLOBAL    |   1
  TRRIX | T ROWE PRICE RETI   |   1
  VGENX | VANGUARD SPECIALI   |   1
  VGTSX | VANGUARD TOTAL IN   |   1
  VPCCX | VANGUARD PRIMECAP   |   1
  VTSMX | VANGUARD INDEX TR   |   1
  VWELX | VANGUARD WELLINGT   |   1
  YACKX | YACKTMAN FUND, IN   |   1

MikeM

Interesting question. My answer would be no, the number of people owning a fund or a specific person recommending it would not on it's own lead me to buy. But, it does lead me to investigate the fund to see how it fits compared to what I already own.

Interesting though how the 3 top funds from this survey are major funds in my portfolio too. Would I have owned these 3 funds if I didn't frequent FundAlarm? Would I have ended up with these 3 funds on my own accord? Hmmm, I don't know. I think this points out that the collective experience and knowledge held by everyone on this discussion board does highlight some pretty good funds and fund managers. But you always have to decide on your own, does this fund work for me. Great question.

CathyG

I agree with Mike. I use M* to look up recommended funds, then go to their charting tab to compare with similar ones I hold and compare returns. Then I determine if new fund had much higher risk (how much it lost in 2008-09) since I tend to be more conservative. If a new fund with no record is recommended by someone I respect, I add the ticker to my M* "TEST" Portfolio and check its progress.

prinx

I am amazed after looking at the list to realize that at least 50 % of my funds are within the list polled a few weeks ago. I basically use the same technique as CathyG to investigate funds after they appear on FundAlarm.

Burt S.