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AZRph

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AZRph
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  • With my previous employer (a big box retailer) from whom I retired last year after 35 years, due to a 15% employer match and rapid appreciation its stock alone escalated to 25% of my portfolio. Have whittled that down to @10% after using proceeds fo…
  • As a retired retail pharmacist as of October 2022, I was witness to the accurate testimony of the previous commenter and physician sma3. Perhaps I can address the challenges confronting the second stop after your doctor or mid-level practitioner vi…
  • After exiting last year (not a great move admittedly), I recently reentered and added to OBMCX--more of a micro cap fund however.
  • I work at the pharmacy level, and I can testify to the amount of time and effort required to communicate with PCP's when a PA is demanded by insurance. The most recent development that particularly irritates me is one major insurance company that no…
  • Another high yield ETF I reviewed was VPC, a newer private credit fund with good performance but an expense ratio of 5.53%! The base direct ER is 0.75%, while the remainder is attributed to AFFE (Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses). Granted it is a f…
  • Generally, I have been incrementally lowering the allocation and beta of my domestic portfolio and the opposite on the international side with an EM orientation. Playing sectors a bit more aggressively with rare earth/metals and semis (doing well) …
  • Thanks Mike I will look into IAI also.
  • Still working, so contributing to 401 (k). Early in 2021, revised new category purchases from U.S. equity to international, real assets, and low duration bond funds. In Roth accounts with more flexibility, considering orienting towards financials …
  • For those with a Vanguard account, Baillie Gifford co-manages VWILX (Admiral shares). Although the fund has underperformed the last 6 months (probably China holdings) it does have an outstanding long term record.
  • Seems to me, the investment thesis for infrastructure based on this federal bill, in part, hinges on how monies will be prioritized and distributed IF the bill passes. My observation is that innovation and cost-efficiency is enhanced when private e…
  • Earlier in year invested in REMX--both strategically for more int'l/EM exposure and tactically as global demand is increasing for the products of its components.
  • If you have experienced double digit annual increases in your home value, and observed how building costs have skyrocketed, I would suggest checking your insurance limits. I did, and discovered I was now under insured and worked with my agent to ad…
  • In 2020, I did seed an investment in FCTR which has performed well and I have since added assets extracted from higher beta funds. Still not sure I fully understand the Lunt strategy which is the basis, but it seems to be working.
  • The percentage of bonds in my portfolio has not changed much in the last year, but I have limited duration. Short-medium term not expecting any appreciation--largely the ballast to market volatility as previous posters have intimated.
  • As of 2018 according to Cerulli Associates, 2/3 of all 401(k) contributions and 1/3 of assets were in Target Date Funds. One can speculate that those invested in shorter maturity vehicles (2025 or earlier) with higher bond percentages (by design) i…
  • I have owned the Eventide offering for a couple years--good performance but concentrated in biotech so higher beta than others mentioned as well as expense ratio. Although not a prerequisite, I note that the portfolio manager is a physician which m…
  • Although my time frames are fuzzy, I held this fund around ten years ago and sold it a year or two later based on similar performance deterioration. Then, I watched AKREX recover and outperform and got back in several years ago, and now plan on mai…
  • Not a pure play, but BCSVX has outperformed all except the Fidelity offering.
  • I think the Wal-Mart price is higher due to the fact that their web listing is just a conduit for a third party vendor where Wal-Mart does not source and does not control the price. Perhaps a minority of the cost escalation for all involved are due…
  • Also have unusual levels of transparency even for an ETF, as you can subscribe to receive daily detail of trades for each fund. May be more useful to a trader following trends, but is interesting just to observe process of scaling in and out of posi…
  • Have been in and out of Wasatch funds for years, and entered WAGTX this past summer based on its performance and Wasatch lineage. Has not disappointed. As I have also been pleased with positions in WAMCX and WMICX, will monitor the Seven Canyons p…
  • Systematically moved away from ETF's/funds over weighted in FAANG, and incrementally into Real Assets/TIPS with perhaps more a shift to value ETF's imminent. Would you move into VONE over VONG, or all the way to VONV. Actually, David, I have been …
  • Systematically moved away from ETF's/funds over weighted in FAANG, and incrementally into Real Assets/TIPS with perhaps more a shift to value ETF's imminent.
  • MSEGX, WCLD, ARKK, although the latter has some uncertainties with operational control in 2021.
  • AZRph - Can you tell us: 1. If you get the first Pfizer vaccine how long does one wait for the second shot? 2. If you get the Pfizer vaccine can or might you also get the others (JNJ, Merck) later? You will need the 2nd shot about three weeks la…
  • As a pharmacist, although I applaud the Pfizer news today, first may not be the best when it comes to eventual widespread public distribution. With a two shot requirement for optimal efficacy, recipients will not uncommonly dismiss, or simply forge…
  • Per previous comments, agree that FMIJX was a good performer for several years in my portfolio until @2018. Was then on my watch list until March of 2020 as its pandemic performance belied its stated defensive posture. Traded into WCMIX--similar st…
  • Have done well this year with CLIX--Long On-Line/Short Store Retail. They use index swaps for the short portion and a combo of long swaps and stocks for the longs. Although much of the shake-out in B & M has already occurred, will hang on to C…
    in Bear Comment by AZRph October 2020
  • Harbor is a gateway conduit as they outsource portfolio management. Not necessarily a liability as several of their funds including HGGIX, HACSX, and HCAIX have performed superbly (I do not own any of them). Secondarily, expense ratios appear reas…
    in HGGIX Comment by AZRph October 2020
  • Bought WAGTX for Roth in July--% return to date overrides the higher than average expense ratio. Similar result with ARTYX. High beta funds but aided with diversification away from FAANG.
  • Like Iron Ranger, have a position in IHI as I think Medical Equipment is less exposed to political whims than pharmaceuticals. Similarly, I just initiated in ARKK--other than consistent performance impressed with their quarterly webinar updates and…
  • Sold MTUM and bought ARKK, an actively managed ETF. Intent is to reduce concentration and duplication in portfolio of FANG category holdings into more diversified high growth and innovation. ARKK has returned @30% annually since inception in 2014 …
  • In preparing for vaccine distribution, one relatively unrecognized potential roadblock to availability are requirements that require transport and storage at super-cold temps of down to -112 degrees fahrenheit. Most pharmacies and some hospitals do…
  • Details covered well by previous posters, but notably absent in clinical characteristics was BMI as obesity is an identified risk factor. However, other than an observational assessment, generally difficult to elucidate in a severely ill bedridden …
  • Consider IHI as an alternative to FSMEX if an option for you. Similar performance YTD and better over 3 and 5 year periods (per Schwab data)