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.
@FD1000
I do not know anything about MGH PPO. My experience with the Harvard Hospitals was in medical school ( 1978) but I have kept touch with several good friends on the faculty.
As I understand it Harvard Pilgrim is pretty good, at least one o…
@larryB
I know of them but little else? Have you used them?
There are a few little odd things. For example AOM although 60/40 is 27% tech, although SP500 ( 35% tech) is only 23% of the portfolio.
Can anyone make sense of M* other methods of list…
As a physician I have seen too many people forced to see sub standard providers or hospitals to ever feel comfortable with an HMO or a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Some people in cities with spectacularly good hospitals and Medical Schools ( like Bosto…
I would avoid tech heavy funds now since tech is so high about historical valuations. Granted someone will make a lot of money ( maybe) on AI but who knows who?
I tend to shy away from index funds, even "moderate allocations" lifestyle funds as th…
@WhollyTerriers
I prefer to have no withholding on RMDs and pay estimated taxes myself. I know what I will owe next year based on what I paid last year. Turbo tax prints the vochers and you can budget for it.
My favorite MuskRat post recently
"Control of Tesla could affect the future of civilization"
He demanded door handles flush with car and that could not be opened from outside without battery power, causing multiple deaths and infants locked insid…
I think inflation is sticker than most people believe so I would stay short duration, or barbell your exposure.
CBUDX yields 4.8% and only 22% junk. 22% floating rate.
CBLDX is over 6%
David's write up of ICMUX still holds, although duration …
Bloomberg had detailed discussion of Georgia Utility Commission race where rising cost of Electricity propelled two Democrats into office, despite GOP attempts to focus on "DEI" and not costs. Much bigger turnout than anyone expected.
Guardian had…
The only thing that I think makes sense intellectually is to
1) Keep enough in cash or FI so you do not have to sell during a market crash to pay your current bills and anything else you will need in the X number of years you conservatively believe…
@MikeW
People who call the polio vaccine, elimination of congenital Rubella, almost complete elimination of massive strokes because of VA funded research into anti-coagulation and atrial fibrillation "boring" are incredibly misinformed, and appar…
Given the massive run up and the high PE etc ratios, I would not expect the SP500 to do much over the next ten years. that is certainly what has happened historically. It was dead in the water for up to 13 years or more after 1998
Much better to di…
@crash
Ignore injustice, masked gov't Gestapo violence, the ethically rudderless Fuhrer, etc.
These are the very reasons why I think the US's time as a global leader is limited. We have destroyed any credibility we had with the rest of the world …
When I offer my opinion, I present data to back it up. If I am giving someone advice on what to do, I also tell them exactly what I do or did in similar situations.
Lots of good examples. I agree he could have listed a few, but with ETFs it is very easy yo buy energy, industrial firms etc.
Look at INFL it is 25% gold and basic materials but also lots of energy and financial firms
I can't remember all of them but during previous shutdowns, I am sure our practice was not paid for some of them.
Medicare was almost as bad a payor to work with as Trump. They would always delay the late September check to push it into the next f…
This is more updated ( But we are still stoopidest "advanced" planet on face of the earth, run by a political party whose ONLY policy objective is maximal cruelty to the most number of citizens possible)
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finan…
@bee
I looked at material Check Capital sent about their returns since 2000 through 3/31/2025.
They give cumulative and annualized returns for both of their fee programs, the fee based at 1% per year or the 10% of profits only
Cumulative 10% has …
I asked my Schwab rep if they had a similar lock function and he said no.
Independent vanguard adviser reported this yesterday, but even Jeff could not get a response from Vanguard.
https://www.independentvanguardadviser.com/weekly-brief-lock-it…
Ah Global Crossing. Lost $5000 on that one. What about MCI.
I sold CSCO in my IRA at a profit of something like $40,000 but my wife pulled a Warren Buffet ( holding period forever etc) and in her taxable account we rode CSCO down.
We kept ORCL.
…
@bee
The only investment firm I have ever seen with an incentive arrangement is Check Capital
https://checkcapital.com/performance-based-fee
It is for Qualified investors only $1.1 million in their account or $2.2 million net worth.
they get 10%…
What does anyone else think of Brown? I read a lot of their stuff for a while but then ran across a piece he wrote to the rest of their firm emphasizing how important it was to grow the AUM. That seemed to be his top priority
I am leery of this class in general in a slowing economy with increasing consumer stress, especially auto loans etc.
If the manger is exceptional, may work out, but i would be cautious and these things will probably be a lot cheaper in the near fut…
I got burned several years ago by NAV based on models. They probably work better for Interval funds, as the Company knows ahead of time about withdrawals and can limit them, but they are still guesses.
Remember IOFAX? NAV dropped 20% overnight!
…
Roth as always makes sense, especially with combining TIPS ladder and Stocks.
Glad he seems to have recovered from his emergency CABG and Valve surgery.
@rforno
I have seen many profit making Assisted living communities promise the monn and then Poof! Away go the great meals, support services and goodies. If you pay in you are stuck
I would only look at non profits that have a solid endowment, p…
Private equity bought the hospital I admitted patients to.
It had been poorly run for years because the CEO packed the board with his cronies and let it go down the tubes. There was a failed merger with the local Catholic Hospital, who refuse to l…
My favorite dead ETF is WSKY
Focused on stocks of Scotch and Bourbon companies.
Unfortunately when they closed, they did not pay off in bottles, just dollars
Mine still works in Legacy mode.
For what it is worth Quicken has a Morningstar portfolio Manager link
It is not as detailed as the online version but OK
Does Stock intersection, % equity, sector, geographic location and stats ( but won't drill …
I have long been convinced that gold and other "hard assets" are a compelling investment, because they were ignored and despised for so long.
Gold provides a pretty good counterweight against currency devaluation and inflation.
Do you really th…
this is worse
"George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
@larryB
I do not consider your #5 as an ending. It would just mean that the US has truly become an authoritarian dictatorship.
The BIG MONEY you refer to is Heritage Foundation, Vought and Christian Nationalists who truly believe this insane stuf…
Unfortunately I do not think this will end until
1) there is a series of major riots with thousands of deaths from US Army and National Guard Gunfire so the middle class takes to the streets in every city in America or
2) the Business community…
I quit Longleaf 10 years ago after they went out on several concentrated limbs. They have great reports and great explanations but all there of their funds ( Partners, small cap, Global) basically preform the same and not very well.
Other old time…
PVMCX still has pretty good but too short reports. The manger has a more or less monthly blog where he opines about investing, but for the last few years it is "everything is too expensive
Unfortunately since everyone else is getting away with it,…
