"Ave Maria." Hail Mary. Let's put aside the long-shot football reference..... About this fund family's flagship fund, The Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund: "The Fund practices morally responsible investing. This process is designed to avoid investments in companies believed to offer products or services or engage in practices that are contrary to core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Advisory Board sets the criteria for screening out companies based on religious principles. In making this determination, the Catholic Advisory Board’s members are guided by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and actively seek the advice and counsel of Catholic clergy. This process would, in general, avoid two major categories of companies: first, those involved in the practice of abortion, and second, companies whose policies are judged to be anti-family, such as companies that distribute pornographic material or whose policies undermine the Sacrament of Marriage."
At least all of this is straightforward, albeit selective. Roman Catholic values, though? Weapons, tobacco, liquor, nuclear, financials that are doing their best to rape the lot of us? Un-green fossil fuels? These are OK? Have these guys read any of the bishops' official statements lately? At least the founders had good intentions, I suppose. And what constitutes a threat to the sacrament of Marriage? (final phrase, above.)......... I looked at AVEDX, though. Its performance looks to be very good indeed. But you can't invest according to that statement above (which I suppose applies only to their flagship fund) and think that you can keep your hands clean.

Hi John and others,
Quote From your link:
interestng article for fix income minded investors
http://advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/pimco_92111.php
"...we place a lot of emphasis on downside hedging. Investors certainly want to participate in market upside, but, in our view, avoiding losses may have greater impact over the long term. Our belief is that no matter how strategies may perform in strong markets, if they do a terrible job during down markets, investors lose."
My Question:
What are some of these downside hedging strategies we all want to be aware of? I have to agree that losses have greater impact over the long term so how do you participate in the upside while hedging the downside?
Here is what I try to use as strategies:
I try to take profits (10-20% gains) from my temporary "alpha" investments and place these profits into a Total Return, Income or core Investments (PTTDX, TGMNX, USAIX, PFPFX). Most recently I took profits (20% gain) from a Precious Metal & Mining fund (USAGX) and established a position with these profits in USAIX (an Income fund)
I try to take profits (10-20% gains) from my "alpha" investments and place these profits into other out of favor Alpha Investments. Here, I reference other sector investments and its position in the business cycle. There are always out of favor sectors. Some can stay out of favor for a very long time so this reinvestment can feel like drag on a portfolio but if you bought it at an out of favor price with profits you have minimized the downside risk as well as diversified your portfolio. Patience is required to reward you with this investment over the longer term.
Here, I try to educate myself and then make some educated guesses as to what is a good value...out of favor. This could be a fund strategy or EFT strategy that is out of favor. FAIRX comes to mind as a fund (2 segments Banking & Real Estate) and PKN (nuclear power) comes to mind as a EFT. Right now FAIRX can be purchased at a 32% discount to its recent price. It may have some more downside but may be rewarded handsomely over the long term. Nuclear power can be invested in through PKN which is down 33% since the Japanese disaster. It also will be out of favor for the short term but may also be a big energy source for China and other countries.
What are you downside strategies?
bee

good morning scott
great question...very thoughtful
I am betting on energy, commodities, water, food for long term
I think EM and US equities could have ways to go but it's difficult to tell what will happen
I probably may buy more
DBA &/or MOO - agriculture ETF
PHO - water
but probably more diverse funds or ETFs
I don't know about nlr nuclear energy though.
oil reits in canada or maybe farmlands in US could be big long term [5-10 yrs] due to massive energy demands
These are very risky and volatile imho
we maybe laughin' our ways to the bank 15s-20s yrs from now
otherwise we may have another blackswan events and we'll both be crying

Thanks John...some thoughts
S&P 500 is undervalued...
Any good dividend paying S&P 500 funds that pay while you wait?
Japanese equities (could be a value trap...needs a growth catalyst):
I own these:
OAKIX= Oakmark International (30% exposure to Japan)
MAJFOX = Matthews Japan
PRJFX = TR Price Japan
Emerging markets(need to watch closely...big runs up and down):
Own these:
TREMX (T Rowe Price Int:Em Euro)...Russia,Turkey E. Europe will benefit...this fund is out of favor right now
VWO = Vanguard Emerging ETF...better choice to VEIEX...no transaction fee with Vanguard Brokerage Acct.
WAEMX = Wasatch Emerging Small Cap...nice alpha recently
PRASX = TR Price New Asia...401k offering
Technology:
Smart Phone has opened the door to the smart grid (Electric power(Energy)+ IT)
VOX = Vanguard Telecom
PRMTX = TR Price Media & Telecom...Long term hold...long term leader
PRGTX = TR Price Gloal Tech
MATFX = Matthews Asian Tech
Energy: (its impact on inflation/recession is a concern)
Alternate Energy has a opportunity to be a opportunity area such as;
(Lithium Ion Tech)
1. Power Storage for Vehicles = Electric Storage, Vehicles, Electric Producers
2. Power Storage for the Grid
(NG Fueling stations)
1. Fleet Vehicles (Trucks, Buses, etc.)
I own:
VDE= Vanguard Energy ETF...VGENX replacement
GASFX = FBR Gas Utility...Dividend paying distribution & Infrastructure Companies
Industrials: (I need suggestions here)
VIS = Vanguard Industrials ETF
Health care:
PRHSX = TR Price Health Sciences
VHT = Vanguard Health Care...ETF replacement for VGHCX
FPHAX = (Fidelity Sel Pharm)
BUFTX (Buffalo:Sci & Tech)...nice combination of Tech and healthcare
Income Choices( Not US teasuries but):
High Yield Corporate
Corporate Bonds
Selective Muni Funds
Corporate) Inflation Protection verses TIPs
Emerging Bonds
Countries that seem worth researching:
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Mexico
Brazil
Norway,Germany,UK,France
Russia
Turkey
Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Get paid (dividend) while you wait for these to come into favor:
Homebuilders & (REITS)
Small Banks
Large Banks
Nuclear Power
Any thought appreciated,
bee

* trow quaterly commentary
http://individual.troweprice.com/public/Retail/Planning-&-Research/T.-Rowe-Price-Insights/Market-Analysis/Quarterly-Wrap-Ups?placementGUID=em_marketsum&creativeGUID=EMBDHT&v_sd=201104
* cotton remains good long term
http://seekingalpha.com/article/262615-cotton-remains-good-long-term
http://moneymorning.com/2011/04/08/second-quarter-forecast-three-predictions-three-ways-to-profit/
* coals & nuclear - where do they meet?
http://resourceinvestingnews.com/15059-coal-and-nuclear-where-do-they-meet.html#
* US Muni-Bond Market Sees Little Harm If Government Shuts Down
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201104081337dowjonesdjonline000505&title=us-muni-bond-market-sees-little-harm-if-government-shuts-down
******** great read for Muni investors
http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/2703/watchblog-uncertainty-is-what-makes-muni-bond-buyers-bonkers/
* Muni bond summary - convergentwealth
http://www.convergentwealth.com/uploads/image/layout/Municipal Bond Summary (April%202011)1.pdf
* Chuck Jaffe: Timing the market by accident can hurt
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014703711_jaffe10.html
* floating rate funds post strong returns but
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-floating-rate-funds-20110410,0,318571.story
* High Hopes for First-Quarter Earnings Reports
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13342009
* EMs first quater report - EM funds take a back seat
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-emerging-markets-20110410,0,5812207,full.story
* To make something out of your portfolio, do nothinghttp://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/042011/04102011/618748
http://seekingalpha.com/article/262727-eaton-vance-s-global-dividend-etf-ripe-for-a-raise
* These MFs keep tax man away
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11077159/1/these-mutual-funds-keep-tax-man-away.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN#
* hidden risks in TDFs
http://www.smartmoney.com/investing/mutual-funds/hidden-risks-in-target-funds-1302533050719/
* 5 best MFs for first quater
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=IVPL&date=20110404&id=13270597
http://www.etftrends.com/2011/04/junk-bond-etfs-shrug-off-setback/

As we often do, Rono and I agree on a number of options here. We use U.S. Global World Precious MInerals (UNWPX - we use UNWIX) and a smattering of First Eagle Gold (SGGDX) for mining stock exposure as well as some bullion. For gold and silver bullion, we use Central Fund of Canada (CEF - closed-end fund). It is taxed like a mutual fund, unlike GLD or MVG, which are taxed as collectibles and better used in retirement accounts. And Permanent Portfolio is in almost every client portfolio.
Other options include U.S. Global Resources (PSPFX - we use PIPFX), which owns all kinds of mineral plays. If you are looking into non-coal, oil, and nuclear energy, Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy (GEX) would be worth a look. We use it as a part of our green and socially responsible allocations.

HI lisa;
I think you may consider couple of funds/etfs to hold all these vehicles [silver/gold/palladium] you've mentioned
we do have pspfx - us global resources, prpfx - permanent portfolio has gold/silver/US-T, as well as gld - gold etf. you may need to add PALL - palladium ETF
I think these would be reasonable and give you adequate performances [these comprise 10s% of total portfolio]
I also linked a bunch of articles on commodities if you are interested [see the previous post or the recent posts]
I also have a little of MOO & DBA - agricultures ETFs, & EVEP EV energy part - Energy reits...
I don't have much palladium nor nuclear - NLR [these are the few that I am missing] but these are very volatile and hard to play but could be worth the risks due to high energy demands.
http://portfolios.morningstar.com/fund/holdings?t=PALL