Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

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.
  • Our Funds Boat, Week - .11%, YTD + 11.61%.....OK, I'll choose luck.....11-18-2012
    Howdy,
    A thank you to all who post the links, start and participate in the many fine commentaries woven into the message threads.
    For those who don't know; I ramble away about this and that, at least once each week.
    NOTE: For those who visit MFO, this portfolio is designed for near retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep. This is not a buy and hold portfolio, and is subject to change on any given day; based upon perceptions of market directions. All assets in this portfolio are in tax-sheltered accounts; and any fund distributions are reinvested in the funds. Gains or losses are computed from actual account values.
    While looking around.....Short on time this week. Numbers have been updated to current data. Noting the obvious, many equity sectors were weak again this past week, with the exception of some Japanese areas; mostly due to weaker Yen currency. This situation may not remain for any longer term trend. Although one could presume that most bond sectors would have moved positive for the week, with the negative action in equities; only Friday had some broad sector positives in bonds. Exceptions for some of the week were muni's and longer term government issues. One may suspect a longer upward play in muni's, if enough money moves to this area to "avoid" higher investment area tax rates. Generally speaking, most active HY bond funds had losses between .20-.60%, indicating some reflection towards the weak equity sectors. Overall, most bond sectors performed their duty last week in helping to preserve capital. Too many investment areas remain a coin toss, eh? Going towards the yearend and the unknowns; "luck" of where one's portfolio is positioned will likely be the "main" guiding factor for shaping the next six weeks investment returns to modify one's final YTD returns. We're at the investment casino, at this time, in my opinion; whether one recalls buying the bus ticket or not.
    The data/numbers below have been updated.
    As to sector rotations below (Fidelity funds); for the past week: (Note: any given fund in any of these sectors will have varing degrees of performance based upon where the manager(s) choose to be invested and will not directly reflect upon your particular fund holdings from other vendors.) Sidenote: The average weekly return of 200 combined Fidelity retail funds across all sectors (week avg = - 1.12%, YTD + 9.04%).
    --- U.S. equity - 2.6% through - .80%, week avg. = - 1 .5% YTD = + 10.3%
    --- Int'l equity - 2.5% through + 1.2%, week avg. = - 1 .7% YTD = + 9.7%
    --- Select eq. sectors - 7.7% through + 1.3%, week avg. = - 1.7% YTD = + 9.9%
    --- U.S./Int'l bonds - .40% through + .22%, week avg. = - .03% YTD = + 4.1%
    --- HY bonds - .86% through - .20%, week avg. = - .51% YTD = + 11%
    A Decent Overview, M* 1 Month through 5 Year, Multiple Indexes
    You may consider our portfolio to be quite boring, but you may be assured that it moves and bends each and every day; from forces beyond our control.
    I have added a few blips related to our portfolio and market observations at the below SELLs/BUYs and Portfolio Thoughts.
    SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK: = NONE.

    Portfolio Thoughts:
    Our holdings had a - .11 % move this past week. We'll continue to watch; but do not have plans at this time, to enter into equity areas.
    b> Still plodding along, and we will retain the below write from previous weeks; as what we are watching, still applies.

    --- commodity pricing, especially the energy and base materials areas; copper and related.
    --- the $US broad basket value, and in particular against the Euro and Aussie dollar (EU zone and China/Asia uncertainties).
    --- price directions of U.S. treasury's, German bunds, U.K. gilts, Japanese bonds; and continued monitoring of Spanish/Italian bond pricing/yield.
    --- what we are watching to help understand the money flows: SHY, IEF, TLT, TIPZ, STPZ, LTPZ, LQD, EMB, HYG, IWM, IYT & VWO; all of which offer insights reflected from the big traders as to the quality/risk, or lack of quality/risk; in various equity/bond sectors.
    The Funds Boat is at anchor, riding in the small waves, watching the weather and behind the breakwater barrier. To the high praise of MFO and the members, it is very difficult to find a topic to note here that has not been placed into the discussion boards. Excellence, as usual.
    I have retained the following links for those who may choose to do their own holdings comparison against the fund types noted.
    The first two links to Bloomberg are for their list of balanced/flexible funds; although I don't always agree with the placement of fund styles in their categories.
    Bloomberg Balanced
    Bloomberg Flexible
    These next two links are for conservative and moderate fund leaders YTD, per MSN.
    Conservative Allocation
    Moderate Allocation
    A reflection upon the links above. We attempt to establish a "benchmark" for our portfolio to help us "see" how our funds are performing. Aside from viewing many funds within the balanced/flexible funds rankings (the above links), a quick and dirty group of 5 funds (below) we watch for psuedo benchmarking are the following:
    ***Note: these week/YTD's per M*
    VWINX .... - .57% week, YTD = + 8.42%
    PRPFX .... - .78% week, YTD = + 5.01%
    SIRRX ..... + .04% week, YTD = + 6.64%
    TRRFX .... - .74% week, YTD = + 7.96%
    VTENX ... - .62% week, YTD = + 7.31%

    Such are the numerous battles with investments attempting to capture a decent return and minimize the risk.
    We live and invest in interesting times, eh? Hey, I probably forgot something; and hopefully the words make some sense. Comments and questions always welcomed.
    Good fortune to you, yours and the investments.
    Take care,
    Catch
    ---Below is what M* x-ray has attempted to sort for our portfolio, as of Nov. 1, 2012 ---
    From what I find, M* has a difficult time sorting out the holdings with bond funds.
    U.S./Foreign Stocks 1.9%
    Bonds 93.9% ***
    Other 4.2%
    Not Classified 0.00%
    Avg yield = 3.99%
    Avg expense = .57%
    ***about 18% of the bond total are high yield category (equity related cousins)

    ---This % listing is kinda generic, by fund "name"; which doesn't always imply the holdings, eh?
    -Investment grade bond funds 28.2%
    -Diversified bond funds 22.4%
    -HY/HI bond funds 14.5%
    -Total bond funds 32.4%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds .6%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 1.9%
    This is our current list: (NOTE: I have added a speciality grouping below for a few of fund types)
    ---High Yield/High Income Bond funds
    FAGIX Fid Capital & Income
    SPHIX Fid High Income
    FHIIX.LW Fed High Income
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total
    PTTRX Pimco Total
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    ACITX Amer. Cent. TIPS Bond
    DGCIX Delaware Corp. Bd
    FBNDX Fid Invest Grade
    FINPX Fidelity TIPS Bond
    OPBYX Oppenheimer Core Bond
    ---Global/Diversified Bonds
    FSICX Fid Strategic Income
    FNMIX Fid New Markets
    DPFFX Delaware Diversified
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles
    PONDX Pimco Income fund (steroid version)
    PLDDX Pimco Low Duration (domestic/foreign)
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix)
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    NONE outright, with the exception of equities held inside some of the above funds.
  • Target Mutual Funds: Oops They Glide The Wrong Way
    Thanks Ted,
    An important topic but, I have a couple of criticisms on such as study.
    The article suggest using moderate allocation (balanced) funds instead of trendy retirement funds. The article doesn't suggest any balanced funds so it doesn't provide any data to compare between these two strategies. I wish they had selected a few balanced funds to compare the three retirement funds against.
    I will use one of the oldest mutual funds in existence, VWELX. It is described as a 60/40 moderate allocation fund. Since this fund has been in existence for over 80 years a research study, such as this, could have created (60) rolling 20 year results. This would be great data to compare these retirement funds against. But, the success of a retirement fund should really be looked at over the entire retiree's investment time horizon...which would be closer to 40 years.
    Let's assume I use a balance fund such as Wellington. If I invested in VWELX in 1929 I woud have experience a 62% loss over the first few years...sounds familiar to 2008? More importantly, it remained a negative investment for most of the first 13 years...again, sound familiar? Between 1932 - 1936 (just like 2009 - 2013) it made back what it had lost but, another big loss kept it negative until 1942...Is this where we are now?
    By 1949 this fund would have turned the initial $10,000 investment into $22,000...so it roughly doubled over this 20 year period...I would not have wanted to time my retirement during this 20 year period.
    If we live during these same depressionary times, neither retirement nor managed balance funds will be the answer.
    Here's Wellington Fund out of the gate(1929) and graphed over the first 20 years of its struggling existence:
    image
  • Time to do some buying? A Poll...
    I think it's too soon to tell
    I am still DCA into the tsp /401k...still 80%stocks 20%bonds
    just bought a water bond - cusip 03040WAF2 from schwab: ytm ~ > 7.5%, not too bad but the call could be too long [hopefully I wont die before it mature LOL]
    It's interesting, one of my colleague at work about to retire in couple of yrs, she is not a savvy investor but she made a brilliant move, she changed to 80% cash/cd/bonds and limited stocks at 20% in her tsp. Just like rono did prior to the crash. I think it was very wise. probably cannot afford another crash if you are near retirement.
    too many variables out there -
    fiscal cliff
    EU recessions
    middle east w/ Jewish state/Hamas/Iran
    oil factors
    obama factor/obamacare
    printing more money from gov EU and US trying to keep afloat
    china going down/? new crash
    shall we say buy more gold???
  • Time to do some buying? A Poll...
    I covered my nasdaq short yesterday. This is not saying that I do not think that the market could not go down further. It absolutely could, and would not surprise me if it did. However, it isn't likely going straight down and technically, the market was oversold.
    Apple is still + YTD, but I wonder a bit if it won't wind up being a bigger turn-off to retail than Facebook. Facebook at least largely went in one direction from day one. Apple is the most widely held hedge fund stock and likely the most widely held mutual fund and retail stock. It's -25% or so from the high, but I wonder how many bought higher than this with all the talk of shares going to a thou. Given that it's the most widely held stock, selling seems to just snowball.
    This isn't anything against Apple or Apple products, but a smartphone and tablet market that may start to turn off consumers who are faced with a new model every 3-6 months that offers some slight-to-moderate tweaks. Not saying that smartphones and tablet use won't continue to be big either, but that I think over the next few years, people may not feel the need to buy new models as often and maybe not nearly as often. Finally, not saying that Apple is going anywhere, either, but that the story needs something Inew beyond a new Ipad and Iphone and Ipod.
    Sears down 18% (20% at one point, I think.)
    I added lightly to Marketfield and a couple of other funds yesterday. I also am looking at boring single names (consumer staples, etc), preferably with a considerable emerging market audience. I do continue to like Canadian energy co's, as well as ag names.
    MLPs are certainly more reasonable after all the worries about the fiscal cliff and tax policy. Many are rebounding considerably today. The fiscal cliff issue will be pushed yet further out in the future, like everything else, and the problems will grow.
    Overall, I think one can buy a little here, but I think there will be more opportunities before year-end. I think if one does invest - especially given that this board is largely near retirement age - it should be with the view that (I think) volatility like what's been seen in recent weeks could absolutely continue for a while.
  • AQR Risk Parity HV/MV now available
    Howdy BannedfromBogleheads,
    You wrote:
    "And on the basis of my best understanding of prudent investment strategy I have to admit that volatility aversion does certainly seem to be an indication of stupidity because all the investment theory I know says that volatility is rewarded...which is, unfortunately, commonly misinterpreted as the impossible contradiction that "risk is rewarded"; Risk is not rewarded (it can't be because, as you noted, risk is defined from loss which is the opposite of reward and, thus, it's logically impossible for an investment to simultaneously tend towards both risk and reward), volatility is rewarded and so the key to successful investing is to minimize risk while maximizing volatility."
    I am in a position of helping a friend with some retirement decisions; and attempting to define your above thoughts as they might apply to his monetary investments during his retirement.
    He is being early retired due to the elimination of his current position; along with other co-workers.
    He just turned age 65, has no debt, owes a small house that suits his needs and has always been prudent with his spending. He is divorced and his former wife has signed off against his small pension, so that he will receive his full amount. He was not part of a union for his work; so he will need to pay for supplemental insurance plans to offset some fees within Medicare A and B, as well as provide his own prescription medication insurance, which will total about $260/month.
    What he will have going forward:
    --- $1,000/month gross pension
    --- $1,800/month net Social Security (if he started today)
    --- About $200,000 total in IRA accounts (includes 401k rollover)
    His monthly pension will be totally consumed, and more, from supplemental health insurance, house & auto insurance, utilities, food, auto gas, etc. He will also attempt to maintain an emergency cash acct. at his credit union.
    He, of course; prefers to not withdraw any monies from the IRA account until the required minimum distributions after age 70.5 years.
    Based upon your statement above, what 4-6 mutual funds could he use to provide capital preservation and also have some captial appreciation of his IRA funds?
    Regards,
    Catch
  • AQR Risk Parity HV/MV now available
    Reply to @BannedfromBogleheads: The volatility you refer is not of cash but the check for which you are seeking cash.
    In fact, it is not even volatility. It is liquidity risk. Yet, we are not concerned that much as we can delay 1 day easility (not open ended - so it can be planned) and cash full value. On the other hand, with a volatile mutual fund there is no certainty regarding the when you can get the value you anticipate.
    Most people do have some flexibility in payments when their income shows some variability. They can put off some spending later, etc. But, they can put off so much and if it turns out they cannot delay any more, the withdrawal from portfolio when it is down can have devastating effect because the amount you draw today will not get that huge bounce later. If you give up some upside for significant reduction of downside, you obtain more flexibility and you no longer depend on huge upside to present itself one day.
    Now if you have a large enough portfolio that you can segregate some and guarantee your retirement needs, you may have the luxury to invest in such high volatility investments for the rest. Most of us are not that lucky. Similar situation exist young people with a stable work. They do not depend on the portfolio for sustaining their life yet. Everybody else should be more prudent. Even young people may have problem with large variability. Most people I have seen panic and sell at the worst possible time and never experience that huge upside. This is called "I can't stand it anymore" timing. So, it is easy to make claims and it is much harder to show mental fortitude even when you have theoretical capacity. In practice, most people is better served with an asset allocation, balanced type allocation from early investing through retirement. You don't have to follow a glide path and you would be OK.
    I just don't have to hit home run or strikeouts. I think hitting singles, getting in the base is more or less consistent is enough or more productive. Did you read money all or watch the movie?
    Most people here do understand this. You are welcome to disagree.
  • AQR Risk Parity HV/MV now available
    Reply to @Investor: Investor, I'll give you an "amen". Long term is the key.
    Volatility is NOT your friend when you are near or in retirement and you will be needing that money at some point. It's NOT your friend if you don't have a very high risk tolerance. That's exactly why advisors move to "reduce" risk. It is more likely you won't get higher over-all returns if you have to pull money out of the market during a volatile drop or prolonged bear market.
    Sorry, but I think the "undeniable less risky and superior portfolio" comment above is circumstantial at best - only for a segment of investors (young with very high risk tolerance). And those trying to reduce risk are not suckers. I'd call them prudent.
    Investor, your response was right on.
  • AQR Risk Parity HV/MV now available
    Reply to @BannedfromBogleheads:
    So a portfolio that halves in value when you don't need the money and quadruples in value when you do need the money is, despite its volatility, an undeniably less risky and superior portfolio and anyone that believes otherwise is a sucker.
    I agree with you to a certain degree. You can actually get higher returns with a higher risk portfolio over a long term. The question is do you have the mental fortitude to stick with your investments when you experience that 50% downside. Many people cannot easily stomach that. In particular, in retirement such events can be disastrous as you still have to take out from your portfolio to live. Thus you give up a bit of the long term upside for more subdued and hopefully more even returns with less variance.
  • Building a portfolio for income
    I editted this to "fund discussion status" because of all the great "fund discussion" going on here...
    A Fidelity article:
    building-portfolio-for-income
    "If you are saving for retirement, you should be taking a total return approach that considers both income and capital appreciation. If you’re in retirement, you likely have some guaranteed1 income streams like Social Security, a pension, or an annuity. But you may also want or need to generate income off your investment portfolio. And regardless of your stage in life, there may be times you want to generate income for a specific goal..."
    Some income investment sectors to consider:
    image
  • How Did I Miss This One? (Aberdeen Global Small Cap and a bit of a Seafarer discussion)
    Reply to @TheShadow:
    ABNIX is in fact available with no minimum in WT retirement accounts, but you have to use a rep.
  • 4 day hold on their own corporate check
    To msf You stated I used the term MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT . At no place in this posting did I use the term MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT.
    I used the term cash account that is what the term that the fido retirement rep called it.
    If I used the term money market account I was wrong.
  • 4 day hold on their own corporate check
    MSF I want to use my retirement checks to buy fido funds in my ROTH IRA account. I can do this because I am still working. The retirement is from a company I used to work for and they would not delay paying out the retirement. Talked to Fido retirement rep and they stated I needed so set up the cash account to deposit the retirement payments on a direct deposit basis. First payment was a direct deposit and as I stated they mailed the next check. It's a fido bank, fido check. and a fido money account. It's all within their domain. As far as I am concerend, there should be no 4 day hold period - It's that simple and It pisses me off.
  • 4 day hold on their own corporate check
    You bet your sweet bippie; I was on the phone for over 2 hours yesterday listening to elvator music while "specialist" at brokerage and then retirement looked into what happened and could be done. I guess I just dont understand how something so simple can be made so complicated!! I have tried several times to transfer money in this cash account to buy shares in my IRA account on line. But to no avail!! A "funds are not available" warning box stops the transaction. Specialist yesterday also stated the funds are not available for the 4 day hold period!!
    Gary
  • 4 day hold on their own corporate check
    Most of the time I have good dealings with Fido Have never had anything like this happen at their shop in the past.
    This transaction has 2 days left for my rant. Going to tell the world about their awakwardness!!!
    I emailed this statement to Fidelity on 11/06/12 in response to their 4 day hold on their own corporate check.
    I set up this cash account for your people to direct deposit my retirement check from (a company) into. - Also you people manage the retirement distributions for (a company). Rather than making a direct deposit - You issued and mailed me a check. I then indorsed the check “for deposit only” and turned around and mailed this check (which you people issued) back with a deposit slip to be deposited in this account. Now you people tell me I have to wait 4 days to have access to - and invest these funds in my Roth IRA which is also a Fidelity account. I think this is outrageous that you put a 4 day hold on your own check.
    I know for a fact that I have sent checks in the amount of $ 12,000 for my Wife’s and My Roth IRA investments and the requested purchases were made within 24 hours of the receipt of my check. Looks like you are saying you people put more faith in my personal check then your own corporate check. – If that be the case - maybe I should think about moving my family’s personal and business accounts to another mutual fund company.
    Gary
  • How Did I Miss This One? (Aberdeen Global Small Cap and a bit of a Seafarer discussion)
    We continue to like and own the lowest cost institutional class of this fund, ABNIX, which is available for a $500 minimum in Firstrade retirement accounts with a transaction fee, and appears to be available with no minimum in TDA retirement accounts according to their web site. This fund continues to have excellent U/D capture ratios as I detailed HERE.
    Kevin
  • Our Funds Boat, Week + .35%, YTD + 11.51%.....5 years ago.....11.4.12
    Howdy,
    A thank you to all who post the links, start and participate in the many fine commentaries woven into the message threads.
    For those who don't know; I ramble away about this and that, at least once each week.
    NOTE: For those who visit MFO, this portfolio is designed for near retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep. This is not a buy and hold portfolio, and is subject to change on any given day; based upon perceptions of market directions. All assets in this portfolio are in tax-sheltered accounts; and any fund distributions are reinvested in the funds. Gains or losses are computed from actual account values.
    While looking around.....Five years ago this week, exactly on Trick or Treat day, found our mix of investments at that time, to arrive at its high value. Our house recalls the trading days going into the end of the year and the large swings in pricing, which continued into 2008. Not that any of this matters today; but for this house, caused much head scratching and eventually protective sells of equities in June, 2008.
    Busy at this house with pre-winter cleanup outside; as the night temps are already below freezing. But, a brief look backwards into the first 10 months of 2012. We held about 20% of our mix in equity funds at the beginning of the year; which were sold in mid-May. Doing some fast math finds that all funds sold have gains to date between +.52 & +15%. Calculating the gains of the funds to which the monies were moved finds that our current mix would be worth about 1% more on this date, had we retained all of the equity funds. An, oh well; and perhaps this will work out by year end.
    The data/numbers below have been updated.
    As to sector rotations below (Fidelity funds); for the past week: (Note: any given fund in any of these sectors will have varing degrees of performance based upon where the manager(s) choose to be invested and will not directly reflect upon your particular fund holdings from other vendors.) Sidenote: The average weekly return of 200 combined Fidelity retail funds across all sectors (week avg = + .31%, YTD + 11.76%).
    --- U.S. equity - .45% through + 1.3%, week avg. = + .37% YTD = + 14.4%
    --- Int'l equity - .21% through + 3.55%, week avg. = + .65% YTD = + 13.3%
    --- Select eq. sectors - 2.8% through + 3.8%, week avg. = + .35% YTD = + 13.7%
    --- U.S./Int'l bonds - .68% through + 0.3%, week avg. = + .07% YTD = + 3.9%
    --- HY bonds - .00% through - .32%, week avg. = - .10% YTD = + 11.9%
    A Decent Overview, M* 1 Month through 5 Year, Multiple Indexes
    You may consider our portfolio to be quite boring, but you may be assured that it moves and bends each and every day; from forces beyond our control.
    I have added a few blips related to our portfolio and market observations at the below SELLs/BUYs and Portfolio Thoughts.
    SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK: = NONE.

    Portfolio Thoughts:
    Our holdings had a + .35 % move this past week. Our portfolio return for October was about +.47%, as a notable slowing of capital appreciation exists at this time within most of our bond holdings. Some of this gain came from several bond fund distributions on Oct. 31. Tempted with the housing and building sector; but will wait for post election and anything else of special note; political or otherwise. We'll continue to watch; but do not have plans at this time, to enter into equity areas.
    b> Still plodding along, and we will retain the below write from previous weeks; as what we are watching, still applies.

    --- commodity pricing, especially the energy and base materials areas; copper and related.
    --- the $US broad basket value, and in particular against the Euro and Aussie dollar (EU zone and China/Asia uncertainties).
    --- price directions of U.S. treasury's, German bunds, U.K. gilts, Japanese bonds; and continued monitoring of Spanish/Italian bond pricing/yield.
    --- what we are watching to help understand the money flows: SHY, IEF, TLT, TIPZ, STPZ, LTPZ, LQD, EMB, HYG, IWM, IYT & VWO; all of which offer insights reflected from the big traders as to the quality/risk, or lack of quality/risk; in various bond sectors.
    The Funds Boat is at anchor, riding in the small waves, watching the weather and behind the breakwater barrier. To the high praise of MFO and the members, it is very difficult to find a topic to note here that has not been placed into the discussion boards. Excellence, as usual.
    I have retained the following links for those who may choose to do their own holdings comparison against the fund types noted.
    The first two links to Bloomberg are for their list of balanced/flexible funds; although I don't always agree with the placement of fund styles in their categories.
    Bloomberg Balanced
    Bloomberg Flexible
    These next two links are for conservative and moderate fund leaders YTD, per MSN.
    Conservative Allocation
    Moderate Allocation
    A reflection upon the links above. We attempt to establish a "benchmark" for our portfolio to help us "see" how our funds are performing. Aside from viewing many funds within the balanced/flexible funds rankings (the above links), a quick and dirty group of 5 funds (below) we watch for psuedo benchmarking are the following:
    ***Note: these week/YTD's per M*
    VWINX .... + .25% week, YTD = + 9.54%
    PRPFX .... - .51% week, YTD = + 5.51%
    SIRRX ..... + .33% week, YTD = + 6.46%
    TRRFX .... + .16% week, YTD = + 9.66%
    VTENX ... + .21% week, YTD = + 8.65%

    Such are the numerous battles with investments attempting to capture a decent return and minimize the risk.
    We live and invest in interesting times, eh? Hey, I probably forgot something; and hopefully the words make some sense. Comments and questions always welcomed.
    Good fortune to you, yours and the investments.
    Take care,
    Catch
    ---Below is what M* x-ray has attempted to sort for our portfolio, as of Nov. 1, 2012 ---
    From what I find, M* has a difficult time sorting out the holdings with bond funds.
    U.S./Foreign Stocks 1.9%
    Bonds 93.9% ***
    Other 4.2%
    Not Classified 0.00%
    Avg yield = 3.99%
    Avg expense = .57%
    ***about 18% of the bond total are high yield category (equity related cousins)

    ---This % listing is kinda generic, by fund "name"; which doesn't always imply the holdings, eh?
    -Investment grade bond funds 28.2%
    -Diversified bond funds 22.4%
    -HY/HI bond funds 14.5%
    -Total bond funds 32.4%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds .6%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 1.9%
    This is our current list: (NOTE: I have added a speciality grouping below for a few of fund types)
    ---High Yield/High Income Bond funds
    FAGIX Fid Capital & Income
    SPHIX Fid High Income
    FHIIX.LW Fed High Income
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total
    PTTRX Pimco Total
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    ACITX Amer. Cent. TIPS Bond
    DGCIX Delaware Corp. Bd
    FBNDX Fid Invest Grade
    FINPX Fidelity TIPS Bond
    OPBYX Oppenheimer Core Bond
    ---Global/Diversified Bonds
    FSICX Fid Strategic Income
    FNMIX Fid New Markets
    DPFFX Delaware Diversified
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles
    PONDX Pimco Income fund (steroid version)
    PLDDX Pimco Low Duration (domestic/foreign)
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix)
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    NONE outright, with the exception of equities held inside of some of the above funds.
  • several pre-weekend reads
    3 Actively Managed Bond ETFs for Stability and Income
    http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-11/3-actively-managed-bond-etfs-for-stability-and-income-etf-news-and-commentary.aspx?storyid=186771#.UJSAkmfx568
    muni bond tax advangtage at risks
    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/muni-bond-tax-advantage-at-risk-in-deficit-debate-2012-11-01
    HC funds that continue rallying
    http://www.thestreet.com/story/11755445/1/health-care-funds-that-can-continue-rallying.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN
    skill vs luck?
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444734804578062890110146284.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
    https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=Is+Your+Manager+Skillful…or+Just+Lucky?+&oq=Is+Your+Manager+Skillful…or+Just+Lucky?+&gs_l=hp.3...750.750.0.1354.1.1.0.0.0.0.189.189.0j1.1.0.les;..0.0...1c.1.Uvz1fdJYJ14&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=525df9d0db58cfce&bpcl=37189454&biw=1366&bih=600
    calvert investment launches EM equity fund
    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/calvert-investments-launches-calvert-emerging-markets-equity-fund-2012-11-02
    close end ETFs for forgotten 7% yield
    http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/86008/closed-end-etfs-for-forgotten-7-yield
    4 funds for post sandy building bounce
    http://investorplace.com/2012/11/4-funds-for-a-post-sandy-building-bounce/
    10 Publicly Traded Hedge Funds That Pay a Dividend
    http://www.dividend.com/blog/?p=55758
    retirement plannings
    http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/2012/11/01/nearing-retirement-5-must-do-steps
    investing 101: investing for 2013
    http://mutualfunds.about.com/od/wheretoinvest/a/Where-To-Invest-2013-Fixed-Income.htm
    ibd reads
    http://news.investors.com/investing.aspx?nav=NewsInvesting
    perils of crashing through risks tolerance
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickferri/2012/11/01/perils-of-crashing-through-risk-tolerance/
    prepare your portfolio for tax code changes
    http://www.thestreet.com/story/11753350/1/prepare-your-portfolio-now-for-tax-code-changes.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN
  • Health Care Funds That Can Continue Rallying
    This article also makes the case for owning a health-care fund. Never thought of my HQL as a fund for the long haul until I saw these numbers.
    http://seekingalpha.com/article/894951-3-retirement-picks-sleep-easier-10-returns-for-10-years?source=yahooh
  • New Research Shows Retirees Are Bailing On 401(k)s Earlier
    Reply to @Investor: I don't know what the rules and hoops are on transfers, rollovers, etc. out of the average 401k, but with IRAs, almost all trustee to trustee transfers require specific forms to be submitted with a medallion signature guarantee, which is not readily available in some places. For example, our bank doesn't offer them, and the credit union where we used to have an account requires a member to travel 50 miles round trip to the office in the next town to get one.
    Therefore, our few major IRA moves have been via withdrawal/rollover, which is fine under IRA rules. If it's as onerous to effect a transfer (direct rollover) from most 401ks as it is from IRAs, I can imagine a lot of people would go the withdrawal route simply to move retirement investments. The article does mention this as a possible rationale for withdrawal.