Reply to @Investor:
The audio is currently available here http://78449.choruscall.com/dataconf/productusers/mfo/media/mfo130219.mp3 and will soon be available on a SFGIX podcast page.

David:
Could you please pass my question to fund manager? SFGIX has significant holding in East and South Asia(64% on 12/31/2012). Many countries in this region have export oriented economics. Now Japan has started to devalue its currency, what would be the impacts to different countries in this region and how would the fund to re-position the allocation? Thanks.

Hi David, one question I have is as follows: if I invest in SFGIX, would I need to invest in another Emerging Market or frontier market fund? I guess from your note above the answer is no since it is not limited to Asia (i.e. it contains Latin America and emerging europe). ET

The first anniversary of Seafarer Overseas Growth & Income is Friday of this week. Andrew agreed to talk with us in a sort of celebration of finishing up that first year. He thought he could best serve his investors by being able to diversify beyond Asia, and it now holds about 15% each in Latin America and emerging Europe. The fund has done well: $10,000 invested at inception would have grown to $11,700 today. The emerging markets average: $10,500. And folks have started to notice: Seafarer recently crossed $35 million in AUM.
Three notes:
1. I'd be delighted to have you join in on the call.
2. I'd be equally delighted (perhaps a little tingly) if you had questions that you thought Andrew should address. You can either share them with me or directly with him, on Tuesday.
3. As you know, we maintain a mailing list of folks interested in participating in our calls. I give them a heads-up one week before each call. For what interest it holds, I've appended the text of the message that they'll be receiving about 7:00 or 8:00 tonight.
As ever,
David
The Observer is pleased to invite you to join a conversation with Andrew Foster, manager of Seafarer Overseas Growth & Income (SFGIX and SIGIX). Andrew compiled an incredibly distinguished record for risk-aware emerging markets investing during a long stint at manager or co-manager at Matthews Asia. Andrew agreed to join us on the first anniversary of launching Seafarer, a fund which allows him to apply his considerable talents to a broader set of emerging markets. Seafarer substantially outperformed (some might say “trounced”) its peers during that inaugural year.
Our conference call with Andrew will be Tuesday, February 19, from 7:00 - 8:00 EST. Just click REGISTER and you'll take been to the Chorus Call website where you'll register and receive a toll-free number and a PIN. As before, we'll try to divide the call in thirds: in the first third, Andrew will talk us through the fund's genesis, universe and strategy. In the middle third, I'll ask a handful of questions - some suggested by folks on the Observer's discussion board. For the final third, we'll open the lines to your questions.
As he reflected upon what would be most useful to you, Andrew highlighted two main topics as the focus of his opening statement:
1. What prompted the decision to launch the Seafarer Fund, and the firm behind it?
o External catalyst: structural change in China, and the implications for its growth
o Internal catalyst: an ambition to map a tested strategy onto a new set of markets, and to build a lasting firm to support that strategy
2. What is Seafarer's investment approach, and how does it differ from that of other emerging market funds?
o Bottom-up investment research: what it means to research individual companies, on the ground
o Bottom-up portfolio construction: a concentrated portfolio, comprised of individually selected securities, versus a top-down blend of asset classes or strategic "sleeves"
o Why it's important to pair current income with growth when investing in developing countries
So it's Tuesday, February 19, from 7:00 - 8:00 EST. Just click REGISTER. I'm really looking forward to the conversation and hope that you'll join us

Mixed bag today. But this is not just about today. Over time, I'm quite pleased with MAPOX and MSCFX, and I'm finding that despite the recent downgrade by Morningstar, TRAMX today reached a new 52-week high. And I'm sure glad that when I began investing 10 years ago, I decided to buy shares in MACSX. Since then, MAPIX, too. PREMX is bucking headwinds these days, but I'm not dumping it---yet. It may be that I got into DLFNX at just the wrong time, rather recently, but it "covers a base" I did not have "covered" before: supposedly super-safe domestic USA gov't debt. It's just 2.6% of my holdings. ..... I'm still bar-belling with PREMX and MAPIX at the ends. In between the two: SFGIX, MAPOX, MSCFX, TRAMX, MACSX, DLFNX and MAINX.

Reply to @prinx: Howdy!
I work with Scottrade, I don't really trade much and I add new funds rarely. Over the long term, that means one fund swap a year or so (selling Artisan Small Cap to buy Artisan Small Cap Value, for instance). That's how Northern Global Tactical came into the portfolio; I liquidated my Leuthold Global holding to buy it. I'd held Leuthold pretty much since launch. In the last 18 months or so, there have been a number of particularly interesting new possibilities, so I've been a bit more acquisitive than usual. I sold much of MASCX to add MAINX and SFGIX, for instance, for didn't entirely liquidate MACSX. Closed out a money market to add RPHYX. Generally, that's a slow enough process that I don't annoy the custodians.
My normal expenses go through my bank, of course. My cash management accounts primarily hold vacation and emergency money: I make a single largish transfer from the account into a linked bank account once in a great while, then handle the day-to-day stuff out of the bank. RPSIX comes with a checkbook, which helps. Most short-term alarms are triggered when you hold shares for fewer than 90 days but the great bulk of my investment is in place for more than that, so it also seems amenable to the custodians.
That feels incredibly rambly. If so, sorry: grading Propaganda exams all morning.
And now, off to help Will with his National History Day project on the Beatles.
David

I think that is because of the assets gathered so far. Any fund in its incipient stage will change a very high fee unless the mgr is like Andre Foster of SFGIX, who reduced its expense ratio to a very competent level considering the economy of scale.
I think MAINX would reduce its cost as they accumulate assets. I hope it succeeds and consequently gather enough assets to reduce the exp ratio.

I have both of them. I sold a portion of my MAPIX and directed the proceeds to buy SFGIX.
Much earlier, I sold MACSX to buy MAINX and proprotionately increase my allocation to MAIPX to keep the stock/bond ratio as it is.
By the way, MAPIX is not the right fund to compare with SFGIX as it is 100% stock, whereas SFGIX is balanced fund (Growth and Income kind). It is more closely matches with MACSX, though investment geography is different by mandate.

Digital China was created from Legend Holdings which became Lenovo in 2001. In pursuit of its "Digitalized China" corporate strategy, Digital China is focused on providing electronic business platforms, solutions and services. A one-stop IT services concept, allows it to span across a range of different industries, from banking and telecommunications to government and public sectors. Leveraging on its partnership with over 100 top IT vendors worldwide, Digital China has become the largest integrated IT service provider in China.[1]
Oddly, I'm not seeing what caused the 12% drop.
Interesting that SFGIX took a position in Olam convertible bonds, I'm guessing after the drop caused by the Muddy Waters attack on Olam late last year.
I own Ivy Asset Strategy, which was down nearly 1%, in part due to issues with the Macau gambling stocks, which took a drop last night due to potential new regulations.
As for single names in Asia, I continue to own Hutchison Whampoa and Jardine Matheson, both large conglomerates that trade around book value and are long-term holdings.

SFGIX was down over 1% today... according to M* most likely not a dividend, as it looks like that only happens in June and December. They do hold a bit over 4% in Digital China Holdings Ltd., which took a drop today.

Thanks, David, for your response. Thanks also to the MFO, I hold MAINX, SFGIX, and RPHYX from your portfolio.
Mohan

It's been vexing me for a long while now, which is why I haven't said much.
In general, I think a long-term holding needs to minimize manager risk and to accord a fair degree of flexibility to the manager. That is, I'd be reluctant to box someone tightly in. Beyond that, it needs to be as inexpensive as possible.
Beyond that, I think that the fund would have a fair and opportunistic exposure to growth drivers; that is, the ability to expertly harness things that demographic changes favoring the emerging markets or the prospect of tens of trillions in infrastructure spending. It's tough to have broad enough expertise, though, to do more than dabble dangerously in some of those niches.
So probably a tactical allocation sort of fund (mostly stocks with the opportunity to invest elsewhere), a strategic income fund (mostly fixed-income with the opportunity to invest elsewhere) and an emerging markets balanced fund (mostly e.m. equities with the opportunity to invest elsewhere, increasingly called "multi-asset" funds).
For what interest it holds, here's what I actually own:
Northern Global Tactical Asset Allocation (BBALX) - a very low-cost fund of index funds with a tactical overlay.
FPA Crescent (FPACX) - a reasonably low-cost fund whose manager famously roams over the world's capital markets, investing (successfully) here and there, in equity, debt and alternatives.
Matthews Asia Strategic Income (MAINX) - a reasonably low-cost package of Asian fixed-income with a dash of equities, managed by one of the bright younger stars in the best Asian manager.
T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income (RPSIX) - a low-cost fund of actively managed, income-oriented funds which offers a broad basket of global fixed-income funds with a dash (up to 20%) in dividend-paying equities.
Seafarer Overseas Growth & Income (SFGIX) - an Asia-centric, equity-centric emerging markets fund that diversifies outside of Asia, outside of equities and even outside of the emerging markets.
Matthews Asian Growth & Income (MACSX) - the Asia-only version of Seafarer.
I also have owned two Artisan funds from about the day they opened (Artisan Small Cap Value, Artisan International Value) and one cash-management fund (RiverPark Short-Term High Yield).
The collection is currently about 60% stocks, 15% cash, 15% bonds, 10% other. That's my non-retirement portfolio. The allocation is a bit risky for something with an indeterminate time horizon, but the managers are - on whole - really quite risk conscious so I've been happy.
For what interest it holds,
David

I'm officially in ARIVX.
Purchased ARLSX too and upped holding in AQRIX.
Here's current fund portfolio, heavy to light:
RNSIX, AQRIX, SFGIX, WBMIX, DODIX, ARIVX, ARLSX, FAAFX, DODBX.
So much for my dream of a four fund portfolio...thanks MFO =).

Thanks fundalarm.
That's great news for this young fund. In fact, I love just about everything about this shop, but I just tolerate its EP. With SFGIX starting to find its groove, perhaps it will attract more attention...the lower the EP the better. Currently, M* shows SFGIX at $32M AUM versus $4B for MASCX.
Here's how they compare...getting close:

Here is link to Mr. Foster's recent portfolio review: http://www.seafarerfunds.com/fund/portfolio-review
He is hosting a conference call open to public Thursday, January 24 – 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT. He will discuss outlook for 2013 and portfolio holdings. Registration on his site: http://www.seafarerfunds.com

SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 15, 2013 TO THE PROSPECTUS FOR SEAFARER OVERSEAS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND (THE “FUND”) DATED AUGUST 31, 2012.
Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC (“Seafarer”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and waive and/or reimburse certain other Fund fees or expenses. This voluntary agreement . . . continues until August 31, 2013.
[The following language was added to the prospectus]:
In addition to the Adviser’s agreement to contractually waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses as described above, the Adviser has voluntarily agreed to [reduce management fees] to 0.75% . . . . Further, after giving effect to this voluntary agreement to waive a portion of its management fee, the Adviser has also agreed to voluntarily . . . limit total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.40% and 1.25% of . . . for the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively. The Adviser intends to continue these voluntary arrangements through at least August 31, 2013 . . . , at which point they may be extended further. However, the Adviser may reduce or terminate these voluntary arrangements at any time without notice.

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. The perspectives and investments are based, not upon a formal economic studies background; but from the "School of Hard Knocks & Studies", in which, we are still enrolled.
NOTE: This portfolio is designed for 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....."WHAT-ever!" If this house had a $100 bill for every time we have had this phrase over this past few years; especially from the "tweens and teens". But, as to real situations with investing; "whatever" does apply relative to one's basket of investments, still relative to the risk/reward, needs and wants of the investor.
Your investment dollars enter at point A, bottom center, out of view; choose your tracks; and exit at point B, top center, for travel into the land of happy returns.
Now that you have finished that task, don't forget to continue to do this; in case your travel package wasn't totally what you expected; and you may then be prepared to choose other tracks.
Now, that was easy, eh?; ya, right!
The Millionaire Next Door, 1996 A book we always give as an extra wedding present. Investment book lists have been placed, here at MFO, previously; but if one can not properly control their spending and budget habits, there may be little money to invest and not much need for investment books. Some of the data and numbers used in the book will be out of date; but not the main thrust, "spending and debt habits, may eat one alive". Ages old bad habits, continuing to cause problems for many today.
As to sector rotations below (Fidelity funds); for the past week: (Note: any given fund in any of these sectors will have varying 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 = +.41%, YTD +2.2%).
--- U.S. equity - .4% through + 1.0%, week avg. = + .4% YTD = + 3.4%
--- Int'l equity - 1.7% through + 1.9%, week avg. = + .5% YTD = + 1.9%
--- Select eq. sectors - .6% through + 2.8%, week avg. = + .6% YTD = + 3.7%
--- U.S./Int'l bonds - .3% through + 1.0%, week avg. = +24 .67% YTD = - .22%
--- HY bonds - .8% through + .8%, week avg. = + .20% YTD = + .66%
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 + .53 % move this past week. EM bonds continue to be weak from early Dec., 2012, averaging -2% since then. The past week found some recovery in the IG bond area; TIPs, gov't. and corporate issues; although most of these areas remain negative for the year. High yield bonds continue to find strength; as well as multisector and specialty (steroid) bond funds. As to our equity entrance watch; well, new 5 year and 52 week highs are everywhere. Watch is what we will do for now; at least for pure equity funds adventures. We'll either miss a continued equity run for months to come; or find a better entry point within the next 2 month period. We can't imagine some of the big players not taking some profits, if; equities hit a 10% return point in the next several weeks. The algo machines will be counting, watching and waiting for the signal.
We'll continue to watch; and do have plans, at this time, to add some equity this year, 2013. Our current short list, not in any order, of equity fund watches include: PAUDX, PAAIX, MAPIX, MACSX, SFGIX, GPGIX, FMIJX, FTIEX, FBALX, FTEMX, FEDDX, FIREX, FJPNX, FSVLX, FSDIX, FPURX, FLPSX, FGHNX, PMZDX as well as some other Pimco funds, as PSTDX, etc.
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 .... + .21% week, YTD = + 1.08%
PRPFX .... - .33% week, YTD = + .86%
SIRRX ..... + .08% week, YTD = + .38%
TRRFX .... + .33% week, YTD = + 1.32%
VTENX ... + .08% week, YTD = + 1.24%
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 2.9%
Bonds 92.9% ***
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 27.2%
-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 2.9%
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
FSHOX Fidelity Select Construction & Housing

Makes sense about Gundlach. I wanted/needed a core bond fund. His (DLFNX) is not truly typical, though. I don't mind if it's atypical, as long as it produces. I like not to travel with the herd, though some of my holdings have been around a long time with huge sums in the kitty for the fund managers to play with. On the other hand, I'm into MAINX and SFGIX and MSCFX all while they are still very young. I'm up 19% in MSCFX just since last Spring.

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. The perspectives and investments are based, not upon a formal economic studies background; but from the "School of Hard Knocks & Studies", in which, we are still enrolled.
NOTE: This portfolio is designed for 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.....J & E, jealously and envy. What a perfect first week of the equity market year to bring forth and stir these emotions. Neither has to be or have a negative affect upon a person. The cheap and easy advice is to use any such feeling for further insight and study. Poster Ted related to one of these emotions in another post and I blipped a note here to the subject. Good gosh, talk about J & E; who else at this board has started the year in the negative, eh? Even our straight forward 529 account of 50/50, VITPX and VBMPX is at a + 2.55% YTD. Well, our house can't support that VITPX or another broadbased U.S. equity index is on pace for a + 132% year. 'Course the scary part is that we added an equity fund this week (below). Yikes, a short term equity sell signal if there is one, from this action. We'll temper the J & E to the positive side of life, as always, and continue to sort through some of our short list of equity considerations for 2013 (below). We anticipate a reversal in both directions for some bond and equity sectors from the first week of the year moves. Worse case, if we move more monies into other positions; will likely find selling chunks of 1/3 of a given holding (averaging).
As to sector rotations below (Fidelity funds); for the past week: (Note: any given fund in any of these sectors will have varying 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 = +2.9%, YTD +1.8%).
--- U.S. equity + 3.1% through + 6.1%, week avg. = +4 .8% YTD = + ...%
--- Int'l equity + .7% through + 4.1%, week avg. = + 2.4% YTD = + ...%
--- Select eq. sectors + 1.3% through + 7.7%, week avg. = + 4.8% YTD = + ...%
--- U.S./Int'l bonds + .1% through - 3.6%, week avg. = - .67% YTD = - ...%
--- HY bonds - .10% through + .84%, week avg. = + .47% YTD = + ...%
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: = Some of both FBNDX and FINPX were sold, with proceeds moving a new fund; FSHOX and an old friend of FAGIX.
Portfolio Thoughts: Our holdings had a - .05 % move this past week. Bond funds generally ranged as follows for the week: IG, -.50%, TIPs, - 1.0%, Long term gov't, -3.5%, GNMA/MS, +.1% and high yield, +.50%. No losers in equity sectors of consequence. The U.S. equity area strongly outpaced international equity sectors. Although numerous equity sectors had some strength in the last quarter of 2012 and in particular, the last week of 2012; a few sectors are of note, although these may only be trading houses and machine plays going into the new year. Most energy funds returned less than 5% for all of 2012, and this first week of 2013 found these funds returning as much as 7.7%; and most funds reviewed found a larger % return in this first week; than they returned for all of 2012. Perhaps this will be the year of equity value plays or the 2012 dogs, however many there remains. As a group, it appears the overall winner relative to Fido funds was the small cap area.
We'll continue to watch; and do have plans, at this time, to add some equity this year, 2013. Our current short list, not in any order, of equity fund watches include: PAUDX, PAAIX, MAPIX, MACSX, SFGIX, GPGIX, ARTHX, FMIJX, FTIEX, FBALX, FTEMX, FEDDX, FIREX, FJPNX, FSVLX, FLPSX, FGHNX, PMZDX as well as some other Pimco funds, as PSTDX, etc.
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 .... + .96% week, YTD = + ...%
PRPFX .... + 1.22% week, YTD = + ...%
SIRRX ..... + .13% week, YTD = + ...%
TRRFX .... + 1.66% week, YTD = + ....%
VTENX ... + 1.33% week, YTD = + ...%
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 2.9%
Bonds 92.9% ***
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 27.2%
-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 2.9%
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
FSHOX Fidelity Select Construction & Housing

I suppose I'm something of a contrarian in this regard? In '12, I put max allowed into Trad. IRA with MSCFX and MAPOX. (MAPOX being a BALANCED fund with two-thirds stocks and one-third bonds) and equal amounts into DLFNX and SFGIX. If I'm not mistaken, looking at the data, SFGIX has done rather well. MSCFX and MAPOX have zoomed up lately, until VERY recently, in the shadow of the lovely "fiscal cliff." I'm not unhappy with my selections.

Though I bought-in only as late as September: DLFNX. But all things are relative, eh? I'm only disappointed in this case cuz my other funds lived up to expectations or exceeded them. Once again: here's my others, NOT in any particular order:
PREMX TRAMX SFGIX MAINX MACSX MAPIX MAPOX and MSCFX.