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.
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Sven
Lynn,
Thank you so much. I am planning on a 3-year ladder since I am a year away from retirement. Lots of spreadsheet work to calculate the income replacement needed. This ladder will create a steady income stream. So thank you for all your help.
I moved back to high quality bond funds this year. Some of which you covered in the SA article. For now, I will stay with agency bonds to the bond ladder. I will pick active managers for corporate bonds.
Sven
This has been a rough week on bond funds around the globe this week. Majority of them has lost 1% or more. Think they will rebound in next few weeks.
Few fared better (mostly with short duration):
River Park short term high yield, 0.1% loss
T. …
In 2000, fund giant Vanguard Group introduced what it calls its Admiral class of shares as a way of rewarding loyal investors. Shareholders who held $150,000 for at least three years or $50,000 for at least 10 years were bumped up into the Admiral c…
this is one of them...
While the A-share index has had some periods of crazy performance, it has done so with nearly double the risk of boring old H-shares. Whether it’s worth taking those outsize risks to get those outsize rewards is certainly a ma…
@JoJo26, Artisan funds tend to be higher than that of the average mutual funds. Perhaps in the future retail investors MAY gain access to the lower expense Advisor shares with lower minimum for IRA accounts. For now the minimum is $250K.
Kudos to Taymour Tamaddon who maintains the investment process left from Kris Jenner (and his analysts who left with him).
Vanguard Health Care fund is a viable alternative with a more conservative approach (i.e. less biotech allocation). The ne…
Also...
China A-shares will be added to Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund and its ETF share class—VWO, the world’s largest emerging markets ETF—making them the first broad-based emerging markets, market-cap weighted index fund and ETF to i…
Former manager from Janus. Short piece from Denver Post in 2014.
In perhaps his biggest misstep, he invested with a neighbor from Cherry Hills Village named Sean Mueller, who promoted a day-trading system offering returns of 12 percent to 20 perc…
Management team at FMI has been taking a conservative and cautious approach (currency hedging and high cash position) has worked out nicely since inception. FMIJX is only open fund in this small shop.
The lowest cost American funds are the "R" class that are available in 401(k) and 403(b). Otherwise they are set up for advisors, not generally no-load mutual funds for small retail investors. There is nothing magical about the American funds and t…
@Ted. I wonder the David Marcus's motivation of returning to open-end mutual business. After all one can be much more profitable in hedge fund business.
I think foreign stocks are in better position in the near term:
1. trading at more favorable PEs
2. Europe and Japan are in early phase of recovery (however slow) and better chance of further earning expansion than that of US.
@Bee. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Your example using VTI and PONDX is similar to a typical 60/40 (equity/bond) model, and that illustrates the benefit of a balanced allocation throughout the MaxDD period. One can slice and dice the equ…
@JohnC, For cash sleeve here are my thinking:
1. Saving accounts pay little (actually negative after inflation) but they are flexible.
2. Short term investment grade bonds yield 1.5 - 1.6%. VFSUX and VSCSX for example. Minimal duration impact f…
Thank you. I have similar personal experience with that of Mr. Kavula, except I started in my early 30's with job changes and a growing family. There is nothing more satisfying than learning to become a competent and well-informed investor.
@TSP_Transfer, More info on Hanergy. Problem is that this spills over to several ETFs particularly in the solar energy sector. I have a small position on EEMV that is supposely minimal volatility index but contains 1.4% Hanergy. What does it impl…
Even with all that fine. No one from these banks went to jail unlike the past S&L bailout. In addition, $6.5 billion divided between 6 large global banks is chum change - they call it the cost of doing business!
Back in the 90's David Marcus had a short but good record while managing Mutual European fund. Then he left for hedge fund world. Several years ago he returned and started Evermore fund. It's performance is uninspiring that shares the same distin…
Great location for lots of outdoor sports. We love kayaking among the islands and seeing the orca in their environment (not SeaWorld). Love to retire and work as a touring guide in this part of beautiful place.
The American citizenship and improved childbirth care are no small expense to these families. Wonder if Australia and Canada are experiencing the same trend?
Alibaba stock, recently $87.53, has been on a steady slide since late last year, when it hit $119.15. Kass is resolute about his longer-term view of the company and the influence of its founder and chairman, Jack Ma. “This,” he says “is the new face…
Enrollment among only women-only colleges has been declining for some time. Always surprise that this has lasted this long. Awhile back I attended a research conference at one of these college in New Hamphere. The facility was quite dated compari…
These advisors are more like traders. After fees and all, the investors are way behind the curve, and that is not including the short term capital gain on portfolio turnover in excess of 100% (assuming these $ are in taxable accounts).
Great discussion... Having the opportunities to travel allow us to gain a better perspective on how US has fallen behind other developed countries. As John eluded, infrastructure is a good example. As investors, what can we do to protect ourselves…
