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.
@Maurice: I may have linked the article incorrectly. I subscribe to Barron's and I know others do not. I've been trying to post pay-wall protected articles on the board, but obviously I don't have the same skill as Ted.
@David: At a wedding I attended in France the members of the wedding party, including the groom (who is a high level civil servant), made the most elaborate speeches I've ever heard at such an event. I know French and French culture, but I was sever…
A few months ago, I moved out of BUFBX into SCHD for the dividend producing slice of my funds. It's très cheap and no commission at Schwab. I feel better about this choice since Ted posted the link!
I like the frankness of the managers' reports which give me the sense that they invest cautiously. Performance has been on a par with LB actively managed OEFs, but the fund lagged in 2013 because it wasn't trading the first day of the year. Cash hol…
@Scott: Not to be morbid, but my father-in-law held many MLPs, had a stroke and died. The lawyers had a terrible time figuring out the basis for the funds and the estate paid them big bucks. I don't think anyone in the family had a clue as to what w…
@JohnChisum: you might be interested in the discussion about the new Exponential Technologies ETF that just started trading under the symbol XT. The ER is .47% and assets went from nil to 600 million just last week. Rick Edelman put 560m of his clie…
@JohnChisum: have read that carrying a cell phone in front pocket is not good for the health of the family jewels. My wife is always on my case about this. I comply with her wishes to keep the peace but I'm agnostic on the science of the issue.
I received one today from BX. Held the stock for a short time but still got one. Unexpected but I don't think I'll have to amend my 1040 long since filed.
I have been extremely happy with HIMVX. I would take a look at LSV Asset Management's web site for an appreciation of their style of value investing. The fund swooned during the crisis, but it's been superb since. Harbor does a good job of picking t…
Knew nada about this fund. Interesting to read the list of shorts. Do you get anything more than a one-page summary of market activity from the president of American Century, i.e. the skinny from the managers on what they did with your nickel?
I did not get to benefit from my father-in-law's investment skills because he was hard to reach. There might have been a clash if I had had to steer him in another direction because he was not computer literate and his principal goal was avoiding ta…
After watching "60 Minutes" last night, I have to think the best is yet to come in cancer research and HC on the whole. Here's a link to background on the show and what docs at Duke have achieved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/using-polio-to-kill-can…
New to my watch list: iShares Exponential Technologies ETF (XT), which just began trading March 23. The fund is based on a M* index of the same name and holds 198 stocks.
To think I was looking at it when it was at $1.50! Unfortunately, there have been other "story" stocks I failed to resist. How about the FlavrSavr tomato or Surebeam's food radiating machine?
This is worth reading. At the end of the article, the author recommends 3 small-cap value ETFs: VTWV, IJS, or SLYV, the choice depending on whether one is a Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab customer. Since I am the latter, I quickly compared SLYV to the…
I have parked cash in RPHYX and RSIVX for about the last 15 months. My basis is actually more than the market values of these funds given the reinvested dividends and paltry increases in NAV. The money seems safe, but I almost feel as though I'm pay…
I think it very helpful to read the history of Europe in the 20th Century when judging whether or not the capitalism practiced there is comparable to the American form. Many of the countries,in both East and West blocs, had to re-organize themselves…
If you can stand some more heat, try this article out for making your blood boil:
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/03/wall-street-executives-2008-jamie-dimon-cancer
I have been aggressively allocated to International and EM for several years. I raised the issue because I feel as though I'm fighting the tape, so to speak. Ted's latest post demonstrates this. Grandeur Peak funds I hold have been disappointing for…
Thanks for this amusing composite video. Couldn't help think of the exploding manhole covers in NYC that David Letterman often features. These people don't have my ear the way John Houseman did.
Now I don't feel so bad about missing out on the issuance of new shares last year. I misinterpreted what Schwab asked me to do and I got no new shares.
@Scott: noted your interest in getting back into HQL. Tekla announced authorization to repurchase up to 12% of outstanding shares. I guess that will benefit me, but it's hard to call the shares undervalued.
To my knowledge, Obama got no credit last year for saying a team like UConn could win it all. I was listening, but I graduated from the wonderful place and could have been listening selectively.
I have some cash parked in both of those bond funds; for me the dough is there because money market funds pay nothing, so I don't pay much mind to the NAV.
