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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.
  • Terra Firma US Concentrated Realty Equity Fund will be liquidated
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1141819/000089418924003393/terrafirmasticker.htm
    497 1 terrafirmasticker.htm TERRA FIRMA 497E
    Filed pursuant to Rule 497(e)
    Registration Nos. 333-62298; 811-10401
    Terra Firma US Concentrated Realty Equity Fund
    A series of Trust for Professional Managers
    Supplement dated May 24, 2024
    to the
    Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)
    dated April 29, 2024
    The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust, based upon the recommendation of Terra Firma Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Terra Firma US Concentrated Realty Equity Fund (the “Fund”), determined to close and liquidate the Fund. The Board concluded that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders that the Fund be closed to new purchases, except for purchases made through an automatic investment program or the reinvestment of any distributions, as of the close of business on May 28, 2024 (the “Closing Date”) and liquidated as a series of the Trust effective as of the close of business on June 28, 2024 (the “Liquidation Date”).
    The Board approved a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) that determines the manner in which the Fund will be liquidated. Pursuant to the Plan and in anticipation of the Fund’s liquidation, the Fund will be closed to new purchases, except for purchases made through an automatic investment program or a purchase exception that is approved by Trust officers, effective as of the close of business on the Closing Date, after which the Fund’s assets may be entirely invested in money market instruments or held in cash. Accordingly, the Fund will no longer pursue its investment objective and principal investment strategy. However, any distributions declared to shareholders of the Fund after the Closing Date and until the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Liquidation Date will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund unless a shareholder specifically requests that such distributions be paid in cash. Although the Fund will be closed to new purchases as of the Closing Date, you may continue to redeem your shares of the Fund until the Liquidation Date, as described in “How to Redeem Shares” in the Fund’s Prospectus.
    Pursuant to the Plan, if the Fund has not received your redemption request or other instruction prior to the close of business on the Liquidation Date, your shares will be redeemed and you will receive proceeds representing your proportionate interest in the net assets of the Fund as of the Liquidation Date, subject to any required withholdings. As is the case with any redemption of Fund shares, the liquidation proceeds will generally be subject to federal and, as applicable, state and local income taxes if the redeemed shares are held in a taxable account and the liquidation proceeds exceed your adjusted basis in the shares redeemed.
    If the redeemed shares are held in a qualified retirement account such as an IRA, the redemption proceeds may not be subject to current income taxation. If you hold your shares in an IRA account, you have 60 days from the date you receive your proceeds to reinvest or “rollover” your proceeds into another IRA and maintain their tax-deferred status. If your IRA account is held directly with the Fund, you must notify the Fund’s transfer agent by telephone at 844-40TERRA (1-844-408-3772) prior to June 28, 2024, of your intent to rollover your IRA account to avoid withholding deductions from your proceeds. If the Fund does not receive a response prior to June 28, 2024, your investment in the Fund will be liquidated as an age-based distribution with 10% federal withholding on June 28, 2024. Please also note that state withholding may also apply. You should consult with your tax advisor on the consequences of the redemption to you.
    The Adviser will bear all of the expenses incurred in carrying out the Plan.
    Shareholder inquiries should be directed to the Fund at 844-40TERRA (1-844-408-3772).
    Please retain this Supplement with your Summary Prospectus,
    Prospectus, and SAI for reference.
  • market commentary from Eric Cinnamond @ PVCMX - May 2024
    The following proves that PVCMX is not an absolute return fund, see (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/absolutereturn.asp)
    Quote "an absolute return fund seeks to make positive returns by employing investment management techniques that differ from traditional mutual funds. Absolute return investment strategies include using short selling, futures, options, derivatives, arbitrage, leverage, and unconventional assets. Absolute returns are examined separately from any other performance measure, so only gains or losses on the investment are considered."
    The manager uses his unique strategy which depends mainly on owning cash equivalent positions when he can't find stocks that meet his criteria. I call it timing the markets.
    JD, since retirement in 2018, I hardly owned stock funds. I'm mainly a bond OEFs trader. In extreme market risk, I'm at 99+% in MM.
  • Vanguard Website
    @hondo
    Wife 401k was at Fido and most of non retirement money at Schwab and Vanguard
    I dislike using one brokerage for redundancy purposes
    Schwab customer service has always been better than Fido although there is the irritating issue of no sweep account.
    As Vanguard has deteriorated over the years I gradually moved our accounts out. Mine to Schwab and most of wife's to Fido.
    If Schwab had a sweep account MMF I might dump Fido altogether but probably not. I think two different brokerages is worth the inconvenience
  • Withdrawal Studies with Updated PV in 2 Steps
    If one were "back testing a portfolio to forward implement" a retirement Withdrawal Strategy using PV as @yogibullbear has outlined above, what funds would you choose?
    We can't count on the same results going forward but the hope is past performance at least rhymes with future performance and we adjust as we go.
    Criteria:
    ER under 1%
    3 Fund Portfolio
    4% WD Yearly
    Minimum 7% total return on a 3,5,10 and 15 yr basis
    No COLA - I prefer the portfolio's yearly balance and 4% WD be the determinant of the dollar amount of the WD
    Here are some funds for consideration and comment:
    90% + Equity Portfolio (VFINX, FBGRX, PRMTX, FSMEX, PRNHX)
    Other Choices:
    - I often see these choices as being index funds that capture the market as well as sector funds that attempt to capture the outsized gains of a sector.
    aggressive-allocation
    70/30 or 80/20 Allocation Funds (PRWCX, TSAIX, looking for more choices )
    Other Choices:
    - Manager risk can be a larger dynamic with these investments. When these funds get it right they often captures more of the upside while reducing some of the downside risk.
    moderately-aggressive-allocation
    60/40 or 50/50 Balanced Funds (FBALX, VBINX, VWELX, FPURX, VGSTX, GAOZX, DODBX, RBAIX, RGPAX, VGWAX)
    Other Balanced Funds:
    - Not all balance fund are created the same. This article separate balance funds into three categories - US-centric, Global, and Diversified
    balanced-funds
    Other considerations:
    Low Draw Down / Low Volatility Funds
    - Funds that focus on Bonds, Utilities, Preferred stock might fit in this category.
    12-battle-tested-low-volatility-funds
    and with ETFs:
    7-yield-solution-4-etf-portfolio
    (JEPI, NUSI, HNDL, HIPS)
    These funds should consistently produce a minimum 7% total return that I'll call The 7% Solution - where a retiree "spends down" (WD 4% yearly) while allowing the remaining 3% to grows the portfolio for future inflation adjusted 4% WDs.
  • Td acquired by schwab
    There's no cost basis accounting in tax-sheltered vehicles.
    You might find the following relevant:
    I have a long standing mutual fund holding in my IRA but in March I had some idle cash in the account and I added to that mutual fund, which is subject to a 2% redemption fees if sold within 90 days of purchase.
    The fund prospectus says, "In determining whether a redemption fee is applicable to a particular redemption, it is assumed that the redemption is first of shares acquired pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, and next of other shares held by the shareholder for the longest period of time."
    I tried to sell shares I bought a few years ago.
    Schwab Rep and supervisor are adamant that cost basis method in IRA controls for purpose of applying the 2% redemption fees. They say the March purchase taints the sale because average cost basis is used in that account and thus they have to apply the 2% redemption fees. (The strange part is, their reps are not trained and their system are not designed for their own literature, which correctly says, "Assets using the Average Cost Method will default to the FIFO Lot Selection Method when disposed." We already know the brokerages thoroughly confuse the distinction between cost method and lot selection. If they actually applied the FIFO lot selection as their literature says, there is no redemption fees in my case.)
    The above issue is also there at Fidelity. We discussed this in the Fidelity Community in the past year - I go there very rarely these days but anyone active there probably can pull up that discussion. My memory is not good re Fidelity's exact process but they might even just apply average cost basis method (means test the last purchased shares to see if there is a taint) in applying the fund level redemption fees, not withstanding what the customer's selection is. Posters should pay attention to what Fidelity does or read that discussion in Fidelity Community where Fidelity employees participated.
    It is interesting how these brokerages' own short term redemption fees ($50) is applied on a FIFO basis but these brokerages use some other method for purposes of applying the fund's redemption fees, irrespective of what the prospectus says. I guess it is easy for them to have a simpler punitive system, rather than customize for each fund. Most customers do not select a cost (or lot) method in retirement accounts and so they are defaulted to a average method. Something to be aware of.
    While it is likely differences among funds exist, I have only seen funds apply FIFO.
  • The end of Portfolio Visualizer as we knew it
    Playing around with the new version of PV and the Backtesting Asset Allocation Portfolio tool:
    1. I first select "Custom Portfolio" and eliminate the four funds that are preloaded as the "Sample Portfolio".
    2. I enter a single ticker for Asset 1 (I used PRWCX) for my purposes. Change this as you please.
    3. I keep SPY as the Specified Benchmark ticker. Change this as you please.
    4. I run "Analyze Portfolio".
    5. I then select the "Link" option and copy this link to a location such as an email to myself or as a hyperlink in a spreadsheet file.
    6. I now have my own personal link to PV backtesting and my personal "Sample Portfolio".
    Here's my Link to my personal "Sample Portfolio" that I could further customize.
    7. Eliminate or keep the Asset 1 as Portfolio 1, enter assets for Portfolios 2 & 3 as you have in the past.
    My PV Sample Portfolio
    note:
    Changing setting to stress test your Portfolios
    To Stress test Custom Portfolios, select individual 10 year periods. I have used 2002 - 2011 as one stressful investment period. To choose your 10 year period, click on the setting tab adjusting the start and end dates.
    To stress test your portfolio further (say by taking annual withdrawals), I set my withdrawal amount by selecting the "Cashflow" options . I use 4% withdrawals as my annual withdrawal.
    With only a 10 year look back period I segment my look backs into distinct time periods.
    One of most stressful decades (10 years) to have started retirement would have been the start of the Tech bubble followed by the GFC say, 2002 - 2011.
    I compare these withdrawal results to other 10 year time frames, including the last 10 years (2015- 2024).
  • Td acquired by schwab
    There's no cost basis accounting in tax-sheltered vehicles.
    The field is to whether to currently take into account Amortization / Accretion and also whether to pick constant yield method or straight line method, which drive adjusted purchase price, which likely has no relevance for retirement accounts. “On” and “Off” have the connotation of an election at Schwab. Why even have the field in retirement accounts. Same for the lot methods for stocks and mutual funds.
    Interestingly, I use the lot methods in IRAs to track my trading behavior.
  • "It Could Happen To You." Make you laugh. Schwab.
    My bureaucratic retirement plan custodian issued the cheque made payable to Schwab FBO my name, instead of cheque made payable to Schwab FBO my name rollover IRA, notwithstanding my written instructions in their portal to issue the check in the name of my rollover IRA. Does it make a diferrence? I thought I would just wait until they issue a Form 1099-R to see what box they check, rather than ask them to reissue the check correctly, which they may not do after all the hassle.
    (I deposited the check into the rollover IRA.)
  • MRFOX
    Schwab PCRA is a brokerage window within the retirement plans and may have some plan level limitations.
  • MRFOX
    Was able to initiate new BIVRX position via Schwab's PCRA retirement plan portal. Don't know how or why, but it gives access to (soft?) closed funds.

    I've just tried testing this by setting up a Schwab PCRA trade and got a message: "Buys for existing position only." Any chance you can share the details re how / when you were able to do it?
    This PCRA is attached to a state retirement plan ("Employer Sponsored"), so perhaps it has institutional access? It let me snag a new position in TRAIX as well.
  • MRFOX
    Was able to initiate new BIVRX position via Schwab's PCRA retirement plan portal. Don't know how or why, but it gives access to (soft?) closed funds.
    I've just tried testing this by setting up a Schwab PCRA trade and got a message: "Buys for existing position only." Any chance you can share the details re how / when you were able to do it?
  • MRFOX
    Was able to initiate new BIVRX position via Schwab's PCRA retirement plan portal. Don't know how or why, but it gives access to (soft?) closed funds.
  • Vanguard's new CEO
    Jeff DeMaso discusses Vanguard's new CEO among other topics.
    https://www.independentvanguardadviser.com/a-new-leader-comes-to-vanguard/
    Thanks for the link. Always appreciated.
    He writes:
    it certainly feels like Vanguard's culture has been changing already. Vanguard adding fees and selling off non-core businesses—like its small-biz retirement accounts—lends a sense that the bottom line has taken priority from the shareholder (owner) experience
    Though the antecedent (Vanguard returning to its core business) was apparent, I had drawn the opposite conclusion.
    Some companies manage to expand their lines of business successfully. Many do not and decide to focus on strengthening their core competencies. For Vanguard, that has always been inexpensive, conservatively managed funds.
    Between 2002 and 2019 Vanguard offered a cash management account, Vanguard Advantage. It was offered only to Voyager Select ($500K+) and Flagship ($1M+) customers; the former had to pay $30/year and $4.95/mo if you used BillPay.
    https://www.investmentnews.com/industry-news/news/vanguard-to-end-its-small-cash-management-service-78435
    https://www.mymoneyblog.com/vanguardadvantage-all-in-one-checking-account-at-vanguard.html
    This was not Vanguard's core business, and it wasn't going to put money into it unless it saw it getting traction with it well-heeled customers. Today it offers a barebones cash management account that offers nothing but ACH transfers (and a bank sweep) - minimal services that are cheap to provide. Even here, it started with a controlled rollout.
    It launched three managed payout funds in 2008 (talk about bad timing), merged them into a single fund in 2014, eliminated the managed payout feature in 2020 (renaming the fund Managed Allocation Fund), and ultimately merged the fund away altogether in 2023.
    https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/pressroom/Press-Release-Vanguard-Announces-Changes-To-Managed-Payout-Fund-02282020.html
    It offered a variable annuity (through an outside insurer) with underlying Vanguard funds. Again not a core product, it got out of the business of administering the VA in 2019.
    https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/pressroom/Press-Release-Vanguard-Transitions-Variable-Annuity-Offering-061919.html
    In that press release, Vanguard even comments that it will be "Focusing on core offerings". This is nothing new; it didn't start in 2024 with Vanguard shedding its small business retirement accounts.
    Bogle built a solid money management firm. Once he left, Vanguard dabbled in expanding financial products. For the most part, it hasn't done this well. While still dabbling it has often retreated to its core business. Sticking to one's knitting does not mean that one is placing the bottom line ahead of shareholder interests.
    This is not to say that Vanguard shouldn't be spending more to support its huge number of investors. It can, and IMHO should, nudge people toward electronic trading and communication. But it also needs to improve its human communications as well. This is not a matter of shedding lines of business. This is a matter of providing decent service for its core businesses.
  • Ques: LCR vs LCORX (amount & type of short positioning each uses)
    Like @MikeM, I have initiated a position with LCR a year ago, and slowly building the position. Interesting that the short position has decreased since Professor Snowball’s write up in 2023. Today, it holds 4.07% in Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 1x Shares per @JD_co reporting.
    Through the ups and downs in last two year, LCR has performed very well, especially in drawdowns. This aspect is important to us as we approach retirement. We particularly like the ETFs so that it can be readily purchased in major brokerages.
    @catch22, thank for the chart. I use StockCharts frequently too.
  • Variant Alternative Income - NICHX
    After re-reading some of @Lewis Abrahams other postings regarding interval funds, starting to re-think this idea. At the end of the day, these vehicles probably do not properly mark-to-market their investments, so it appears that valuations are smoother than reality would normally dictate.
    And yes, PCRA is Schwab's "Personal Choice Retirement Account", which resides in an employer-sponsored plan.
  • Variant Alternative Income - NICHX
    Believe it means "Personal Choice Retirement Account". Schwab advertises it has a PCRA.
  • Good Time to Look at Apple and Other Growth Stocks That Pay Dividends?
    @larryB,
    I consider multiple criteria when selecting funds.
    These criteria include expense ratios, quality of management/analyst teams, investment firm behavior,
    trailing returns, max. drawdown, and worst year.
    As I approach retirement, there is increased emphasis on max. drawdown and worst year statistics.
  • WealthTrack Show
    May 5 & 11 Episodes:
    Teresa Ghilarducci argues that working longer is not the solution to the retirement crisis. She explains why not and what is.


    PIMCO’S Group Chief Investment Officer Dan Ivascyn also runs the world’s largest actively managed bond fund, PIMCO Income. He says bond returns are the most attractive they have been in years and even rival stocks.


  • FMSDX or VWIAX
    I am looking at FMSDX and VWIAX, two Moderately Conservative Allocation funds according to M*, for inclusion in a conservative retirement portfolio.
    While FMSDX has a much better 1, 3 and 5 year performance record, it is also somewhat more volatile than VWIAX. On the other hand, if interest rates have supposedly reached their peak, wouldn't VWIAX, with a usually constant duration of around 6.5 compared to FMSDX's duration of 3.0, benefit more when rates start to come down in the future?
    In addition, VWIAX is managed by Wellington, a well established and highly regarded management company.
    I have a hard time making a decision and would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks.
  • Miller Convertible Plus Fund (I class) to be liquidated
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1414039/000158064224002661/millerconvert_497.htm
    497 1 millerconvert_497.htm 497
    Ticker Symbol By Class I
    Miller Convertible Plus Fund MCPIX
    Supplement dated May 10, 2024 to the Fund’s Prospectus, Summary Prospectus, and
    Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), each dated March 1, 2024
    This Supplement provides new and additional information beyond that contained in the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and SAI and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and SAI. This Supplement supersedes any information to the contrary in the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and SAI.
    The Board of Trustees of Miller Investment Trust (the “Trust”) has concluded, based upon the recommendation of Wellesley Asset Management Inc., that it is in the best interests of the Miller Convertible Plus Fund (the “Fund”) and its shareholders that the Fund be liquidated. Pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) approved by the Board of Trustees, the Fund will be liquidated and dissolved on or about June 10, 2024.
    The Fund is closed to all new investments as of May 10, 2024. The Plan provides that the Fund will begin liquidating its portfolio as soon as is reasonable and practicable. The Fund may pursue its stated investment objective until June 10, 2024, but may, at the discretion of the Adviser and in accordance with its Prospectus, liquidate its portfolio prior to June 10, 2024, and invest in cash equivalents such as money market funds until all shares have been redeemed. On or about the close of business on June 10, 2024, the Fund will distribute pro rata all its assets in cash to its shareholders and all outstanding shares will be redeemed and cancelled.
    Prior to June 10, 2024, you may redeem your shares, including reinvested distributions, in accordance with the “How to Redeem Shares” section of the Fund’s Prospectus. Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, you will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes (and for most state and local income tax purposes) on a redemption of your shares, whether as a result of a redemption that you initiate or upon the final liquidating distribution by the Fund, based on the difference between the amount you receive and your tax basis in your shares. The Fund may make one or more distributions of income and/or net capital gains on or prior to June 10, 2024, in order to eliminate Fund-level taxes. Please refer to the “Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions” section in the Prospectus for general information. You may wish to consult your tax advisor about your particular situation. Plan sponsors or plan administrative agents should notify participants that the Fund is liquidating and should provide information about alternative investment options.
    You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information each dated March 1, 2024 which provide information that you should know about the Fund before investing. These documents are available upon request and without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-877-441-4434. The Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information may be obtained by visiting www.MillerFamilyOfFunds.com. You should retain this Supplement for future reference.