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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.
  • Beware The Bold Claims Of Tax-Loss Harvesting
    "Wealthfront, for example, harvests losses by switching between the Vanguard ETF and the Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF."
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-sec-fintech/sec-sanctions-robo-advisers-wealthfront-hedgeable-idUSKCN1OK22E
    Wealthfront, for example, was fined $250,000 by the SEC for allegedly making "false statements about a tax-loss harvesting strategy it offered to clients."
    The company had told clients using the service that it would monitor all clients’ accounts for transactions that might trigger a sale of securities that would diminish the benefits of the tax-loss strategy but it failed to do so, the SEC alleged.
    For a period of over three years these sales occurred in at least 31 percent of accounts enrolled in the company’s tax-loss harvesting strategy, the SEC alleged.
    [The SEC also claimed that Wealthfront paid bloggers for client referrals w/o disclosure, and that it posted performance figures that included less than 4% of their clients' accounts - the better performing ones, of course.]
    Definitely beware the bold claims when they're paid testimonials and rigged numbers.
  • M*: 5 Nominees For Outstanding Portfolio Manager
    FYI: Today, Morningstar revealed the nominees for the Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence--Outstanding Portfolio Manager. Morningstar analysts nominated five candidates for the award across equity, fixed-income, and multi-asset categories. The winner will be announced during the Morningstar Investment Conference in May 2019.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.morningstar.com/articles/923257/5-nominees-for-outstanding-portfolio-manager.html
  • Beware The Bold Claims Of Tax-Loss Harvesting
    FYI: The exchange-traded fund industry has claimed credit for democratizing strategies once available only to the rich, such as trading oil futures or using leverage to amplify returns. The latest target: your tax bill.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/beware-the-bold-claims-of-tax-loss-harvesting-11555153200?mod=md_mf_news
  • Fidelity's FSMEX, medical tech. fund, CLOSED
    @jerry et al I don't disagree about a time frame chosen by Fidelity. They know better than any of us about the internals.
    A couple of notes for the curious.
    FSMEX and fund assets for the past few years.
    2016 remained mostly around for the year for each month. I suspect, although did not check; this flatness to be the same for 2015, as that year was pretty much sideways for health funds in general.
    ---2016, avg. monthly assets =$2 billion
    ---2017, Aug. = $4 billion
    ---2018, Oct. = $6.3 billion
    ---2019, Mar./early April = $7 billion
    Not a fair and fully just comparison, but FSPHX (broad-based health), which has been in place since 1981 and is very well known and respected, currently has $7.2 billion of managed assets.
    Lastly, we did a test trade and for those having a position in FSMEX, all is well for purchase at this time. I suspect the same holds true for as long as access is allowed where this fund exists within 401k's, 403's, etc. Obviously, a lot of money may still flow to this fund.
    ADD: Fidelity closed the FDGRX fund to new money in 2006. However, notice was provided as to a time frame. I don't recall exactly, but suggest the cut off was within a 3 month period. But, the fund remains open to adding money from existing fund holders, including where available in 401k/403b type retirement accounts.
    Good evening,
    Catch
  • Barry Ritholtz: Estate Tax Gets A Lot More Attention Than It Deserves
    ”Maybe it is who we are as a culture or, maybe, a species. Do we really worry more about the wealthy and their businesses and farms (or the profit derived from them) than about food for the young? At the minimum, don't you find it interesting that taxing large estates bring more panic to the average American than cutting food stamps?”
    Maybe that elite minority is better able to articulate and propagate their case to the masses? It’s not uncommon for Great Lakes coastal resort communities to invest millions of state / local tax dollars on amenities like public marinas for the “high-flyers” who visit the area 2-3 months of the year, while ignoring basic infrastructure and services for the less affluent locals residing only blocks away from all that extravagance. The contrast in many communities is stunning.
    Worse, the “locals” who pay these taxes don’t seem to notice or mind. However, they’ll often begrudge a food stamp recipient or government employee or union worker earning a modest wage and living just a bit better than they can afford. Go figure.
    “The rich are different from you and me ... .” (F Scott Fitzgerald)
    “I should have called it Something you somehow haven’t to deserve.” (Robert Frost)
    Superyacht: https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht_seaquest.html
    image
  • Old Skeet''s Market Barometer Report & Thinking for April 2019 ... April 26th Update
    Hello, old_skeet. I'm confused.
    "Old_Skeet's market barometer closed with an extremely overbought reading of 128 which is down from last week's overbought reading of 135. Generally, a higher barometer reading indicates that there is more investment value in the Index over a lower reading.
    ..."I'm not presently putting new money to work in either my stock or bond funds while I await a higher barometer reading indicating a better investing climate for stocks; and, I'm also awaiting better yields from bonds. Currently, by the metrics of the barometer, stocks are extremely overbought..."
    My conundrum is: 128 is a LOWER number than 135. Come again, please?
  • Consuelo Mack's WealthTrack: Guest: Charles Bobrinskoy, Manager, Ariel Focus Fund: (ARFFX)
    @Jim0445: For what it's worth, I've never been a fan of John Rogers and Ariel Funds. Like his latest stunt, putting Eric Holder on the Ariel Board.
    Regards,
    Ted
  • DF Dent Midcap Growth DFDMX
    Kiplinger's just added a new fund to the Kiplinger 25, DF Dent Midcap Growth, DFDMX, was curious if anyone knew anything about the fund or its managers, or their experience with the fund, thanks, Lukemon
  • Barry Ritholtz: Estate Tax Gets A Lot More Attention Than It Deserves
    Here is the real shocker: there are 6 million small businesses and 2 million family-owned farms in America. In the last year of the old law in 2017, only 80 small businesses and farms nationwide faced any estate tax.
    Nothing makes more sense than the estate tax if you believe in American individualism and democracy, that people should make their own way in their the world and earn their keep instead of being coddled by the government or family wealth. It’s not a “tax on success” as the heirs didn’t actually produce the wealth they’re inheriting. If anything a high estate tax would force them to work hard and make their own way in the world. Moreover, massive inheritance is a threat to democracy as it concentrates power in a few families like kings or queens for generations in perpetuity. Yet nothing is more ridiculously maligned in the conservative press as this article illustrates. It’s a non-threat, a bogeyman that for 99.5% of right wing Americans with delusions of grandeur will never affect them.
  • Old Skeet''s Market Barometer Report & Thinking for April 2019 ... April 26th Update
    Here is an update for Old_Skeet's market barometer (which follows the S&P 500 Index) for the week ending April 12, 2019 along with my thinking.
    Old_Skeet being a retail investor provides this information for information purposes only. It simply reflects what I am seeing in the markets, my thinking, along with what has worked best within the Index and within my portfolio for the past week. My thoughts and my positioning should not to be taken as investment advice.
    For the week Old_Skeet's market barometer closed with an extremely overbought reading of 128 which is lower from last week's overbought reading of 135. Generally, a lower barometer reading indicates that there is less investment value in the Index over a higher reading. Short interest in the Index, for the week, remained at 1.8 days to cover. The yield on the US10Yr moved from just short of 2.5% up to 2.57%. The 500 Index moved upward from 2893 to 2907 for a 0.48% gain as more investors bought stocks. The three best performing sectors were Financials +2.09%, Telecom Services +1.55% and Information Technology +1.16%. For Old_Skeet, I'm not presently putting new money to work in either my stock or bond funds while I await a higher barometer reading indicating a better investing climate for stocks; and, I'm also awaiting better yields from bonds. Currently, by the metrics of the barometer, stocks are extremely overbought. And, if corporate earnings and revenues disappoint, this earning season, then a pullback in stocks most likely wil be taking place.
    For the week my three best performing funds were PCLAX +1.28% ... PMDAX +1.18% ... and, NDVAX +0.91%.
    I am positioned in what I call an "all weather" asset allocation which consist of about 20% cash, 40% income and 40% equity. The benefit of this asset allocation, with me being in the distribution phase of investing, is that it provides for ample cash reserves, sufficient income, maximizes diversification, minimizes volatility, and provides long-term returns. I'm currently heavy in stocks by +5% and light in cash by -5%.
    Thanks for stopping by and reading.
    I wish all ... "Good Investing."
    Old_Skeet
  • Consuelo Mack's WealthTrack: Guest: Charles Bobrinskoy, Manager, Ariel Focus Fund: (ARFFX)
    FYI: Patience is usually considered to be a virtue except when it comes to investing. Investors are notoriously impatient when the funds they are in underperform the market for a few years. The magic number seems to be three. Key investment lessons from the financial crisis with Ariel Investments’ Charlie Bobrinskoy.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://wealthtrack.com/financial-crisis-survival-lessons-beats-market-peers-since-bottom-ariel-fund/
    M* Snapshot ARFFX:
    https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xnas/arffx/quote.html
    Lipper Snapshot ARFFX:
    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/fund/arffx
    ARFFX Is Ranked #151 In The (LCV) fund Category By U.S. News & World Report:
    https://money.usnews.com/funds/mutual-funds/large-value/ariel-focus-fund/arffx
  • Causeway Liquidates Two ETMFs: (CIVEC) - (CGVIC): Link # 28,000
    FYI: Causeway Capital Management LLC today announced that the Board of Trustees of Causeway ETMF Trust has approved the liquidation of Causeway International Value NextShares ($4.5 million in net assets) and Causeway Global Value NextShares ($4.8 million in net assets), each a series of Causeway ETMF Trust, on or about May 13, 2019.
    Effective the close of business on April 15, 2019, the funds will no longer accept creation unit purchase orders. The last day of secondary market trading on NASDAQ in the funds’ shares is expected to be after markets close on May 6, 2019.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190412005005/en/Causeway-ETMF-Trust-Liquidate-Exchange-Traded-Managed-Funds
  • Fidelity's FSMEX, medical tech. fund, CLOSED
    Ive held IHI for 3 years,and have not been sorry I chose it over FSMEX, returns exceed ytd, 1, 3, 5 and 10 year over Fidelity's fund, which I did look at when choosing, but since I have FSPHX, same manager as FSMEX, chose IHI.
  • Fidelity's FSMEX, medical tech. fund, CLOSED
    Hi @mcmarasco
    Thank you for this info.
    No notification here; and there remains no news publication for the fund close.
    Of all places, I found a small blip (this morning) indicating the fund is closed within the composition fab for this fund. Other than the red print info at the top of the page, I find no other locations within any Fidelity news page or related about this close.
    Link below for the fund composition page. Scroll down and you will find a "fund history" along the right side of the page, showing a March 30 close. This is a Saturday date, so I will presume the last money allowed may have been the business day of March 29.
    This close also does not affect our future monies in this area; but I am disappointed with their methods for this close.
    Fund page
  • M*: Investing Do's And Don'ts
    FYI: This is my personal investing manifesto, written in a do's-and-don'ts format. Roughly 90% of my household's investable assets reside within 401(k) plans, IRAs, or 529s. The remaining 10% is in a rainy-day fund, currently earning just over 2% per year in an online savings account. In amassing and managing these assets, I adhere faithfully (most of the time) to these basic principles.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.morningstar.com/articles/923103/investing-dos-and-donts.html
  • Fidelity's FSMEX, medical tech. fund, CLOSED
    Ok, not trying to play tricks with time frames....so, the following applies with this chart:
    2015 and some of 2016 were quite sideways for much of the health sector. I chose this time frame (to date) to help show when these sectors started to move apart. If one goes back to 2011 or so, FSPHX and PRHSX have strong long term performance, but this has obviously changed, yes?
    The chart is set with FSMEX, FSPHX, PRHSX active funds with FSMEX being the only tech. medical device centered health fund. Two others are etf's; being IHI and XHE.
    There may be some form of index that is med. tech. only. I have not searched.
    Lastly, with all of the new positioning in DC-land about reworking health care cost, who knows what will arrive. But, currently; large exposure to health care providers such as Humana, United Health Care + others in this area; and insurance are feeling some pain right now. This has and will affect health funds with these holdings. FSHCX is one such fund and I expect its performance to get some more whacks.
    3 health active funds, 2 etfs
    ADD: since Fidelity first introduced their select/sector funds in the early 80's, I don't recall a close. They have shuffled some names to better fit a sector and have merged a few. If they have closed some before, they were not something with which we were involved at the time.
    @msf You're familiar too, with Fidelity functions. I've not had any message, nor discover any announcements regarding the closing of FSMEX.
    Anyway, for your knowledge.
    Take care,
    Catch
  • And The No. 1 Stock-Fund Manager Is… (FAOFX)
    Hi @Old_Joe
    Thank you. I'm perplexed why WSJ would use an internal Fidelity fund for such a list.
    Their notation of this fund surely is of no benefit for the overwhelming majority of their subscriber base, eh? A bit like giving the "bird" to those of "small" wealth.
    Not unlike a list of the best of: autos, appliances, etc.; but you regular folks do not have access to purchase, at any price. We just wanted to let know what you're missing.
    The fund composition, IMHO; happens to be in a happy place at the time. Not unlike my mention of Fidelity's FTEC etf. But, the happy place will eff and flow; as the markets dictate.
    Thanks again.
    Catch
  • And The No. 1 Stock-Fund Manager Is… (FAOFX)
    @Catch22- Ask, and you shall receive. (Maybe... but don't count on it.) The following excerpts from the Wall Street Journal article, which I believe that you were interested in, were selected and edited for brevity.
    "The magnitude and speed of the market’s recovery [so far this year] helped three Morgan Stanley mutual funds land in the top six in The Wall Street Journal’s first quarterly Winners’ Circle contest of 2019.
    Top laurels, meanwhile, were again won by two Fidelity Investments funds that focus on growth companies. Fidelity Advisor Series Growth Opportunities Fund (FAOFX) repeated as the best-performing stock fund over the previous 12 months. (Under our contest rules, funds must be diversified U.S.-stock funds, actively managed, with at least $50 million in assets and a record of no less than three years.) The fund posted a 12-month return of 38% as of March 31. Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities (FAGOX), was again No. 2 with 33.5%.
    Readers shouldn’t treat this as a list of recommended funds. Often, the managers recognized in our contest are reaping the fruits of investments made several years ago and have endured periods of underperformance en route to their moment in the spotlight. It is also worth noting, this month, that our top-performing fund can’t be accessed directly by investors; instead, it is an underlying investment in Fidelity Freedom Funds and certain asset-management programs. Our rankings exclude passive investment vehicles, sector funds, funds that use leverage to amplify returns or manage risk, and quantitative funds that employ screens to select their holdings.
    "
  • Consuelo Mack's WealthTrack: Guest: Robert Kessler, Founder & CEO Kessler Investment Advisor
    Possibly a graduate of The Bernie Madoff School of Accounting?
    Haven’t watched entire video. From the mentioned discussion point it seems he’s attempting to demonstrate that an equal probability of risk (ie loss) can be achieved by investing 8X the amount of money in 2-year T Bills as in stocks. And at the same time he seems to be suggesting that the potential gains would be 8X higher with his bond position as for stocks with only equal amounts of downside risk. Be suspicious of his claim that “everybody in the business knows this”. (Get the feeling you’re being talked down to?)
    The analysis is incomplete / faulty on many levels. His 16% assumption about the “average” stock market sell-off / gain is out of thin air. He cites a 16% sell-off last December as some sort of proof. Obviously, a stock sell-off / gain can be of greater or lesser magnitude (and not necessarily equal). He claims treasury bonds were the only asset class to increase in value in December 2018. Misses completely that gold climbed 5% during the month.
    He seems to imply that a half-percent cut in the fed rate would translate into a 2% increase in the value of 2 year Treasury. That might be true, I can’t find any charts or calculators that might prove or disprove the assumption. But I also doubt that the correlation is as direct as he suggests.
    His case rests on the assumption that by multiplying the bond term (2 years) X 8 you come up with a risk quotient equal to that magical (probable) 16% gain or loss in equities. Somehow this is supposed to translate into 8X the gain potential in 2 year treasuries as for equities. Makes no sense (he’s comparing entirely different concepts). However, it’s impossible to analyze precisely without at least knowing how much the value of that 2-year bond would be affected by a half-percent drop in rates.
    Confuse, offucsate and misdirect - Maybe no one will notice. :) Possibly Mack didn’t understand - or it’s equally possible she decided to let the idiot’s words speak for themselves.