The "technicalities" concern owning just one fund. By hypothesis, one would have to divest of other investments prior to going on that "three hour tour". So an investor would be stuck with lots of cash (as well as holding that fund) if the fund were presently (hard-) closed.
The possibility that the selected fund might close in the future while one is on that island is of no import, because even hard closed funds allow reinvestment of dividends. Thus a purported advantage of passive investments (that they don't close) isn't real.
With that in mind, would you reconsider your newly stated preference for passive investments? Also, what does "equity instrument" mean? Does it include ETNs, individual securities, perhaps even perps, or just mutual funds?
I agree with the "global equity" aspect, and stated so previously. I didn't suggest a fund because (with a cursory look) I didn't see one that particularly excited me. The usual suspects all seem to be showing signs of bloat, and few others stand out (to me).
FLPSX has been suggested - it's virtually a global fund anyway (50/40 US/foreign). But it is also huge (Tillinghast manages other funds as well in a similar style) and has management risk (Tillinghast is 59, and Fidelity started adding comanagers six years ago). I'd also prefer something with more EM exposure. DODWX is better with EM exposure, but is lacking in small (or even midcap) exposure.

FYI: It looks like all of the negative talk from some high profile investors in recent days has made its way into the heads of individual investors, causing them to turn increasingly bearish on equities. According to this week’s sentiment survey from AAII, bullish sentiment crashed from 45.1% down to 29.35%. That’s the largest one-week decline since April 2013! With bullish sentiment now sporting a 20-handle, it’s also safe to say that the streak of sub 50% readings that has been in place for 150 straight weeks now won’t be broken anytime soon.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.bespokepremium.com/think-big-blog/bullish-sentiment-crashes-2/

FYI: (The Linkster has always been a fan of this San Francisco treat.) (Speaking of funds to hold 10-15 years, how about DODGX and DODFX.)
Dodge & Cox sets a high bar for the asset-management industry. Its many investor-friendly attributes continue to earn the firm a Positive Parent Pillar rating.
Regards,
Ted
http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=836682

hmgodwin

A concern about the Launch Alert for American Beacon Shapiro Equity Opportunities Fund: There is almost no relevant information about the fund besides the strategy seems to have done well for the past decade-plus. There is almost no one who is going to put money into such fund without knowing what is currently in it or at least some examples of what used to be in the strategy during certain time periods.

Thanks for your comments.
Because the funds only recently launched, we will not see relevant information until EOY 4Q2017. Most new funds will not have current information available immediately after launch, and so this is as expected.
On the other hand, while investors may be unwilling to invest in these funds without knowing what is currently in them, ten years of detailed quarterly commentary for both private strategies are available from the firm. These commentaries have significant explanatory depth and clearly communicate specific stock positions, the reasons for owning, selling, or holding them, how discrete segments of the portfolio are constituted, and how current market conditions affect their positioning and outlook -- in other words -- we know what has been in them from detailed facts about how the strategies are being managed, not only currently, but also historically.
This year the Observer has done three launch alerts of new funds that have begun from successful predecessor strategies. The ones from Shapiro are the fourth. The launch alerts are not recommendations to buy these funds but are intended to provide relevant background, such as composite strategies, so that we can decide what potential they may have for investment based on what is already known.
The 3Q2017 commentary of the Shapiro composite strategies was released October 26th. While they don't discuss the new funds, they do provide information about some specific holdings replete with their usual overall depth about the strategies -- a helpful analysis in seeing how the new funds may be invested.

Thank you, openice. I didnt know that the past commentaries were available. Such is sufficient to determine if a personal investment is warranted. Thank you for the knowledge.

Thanks for the come back Old_Skeet: I would concur on the first 8 races as being easier to handicap. Also new, taxation on wining tickets is figured on number of $2 purchases made on an exotic bets. If I have it right, 1 $2 ticket hits for $800 tax is due. $4 bet hits for $800 no tax due !
Good investing & racing to all,
Derf

On Tuesday November 14, the number of NYSE stocks setting new 52-week lows surged above the number of stocks setting new highs, with both figures representing more than 3% of total issues traded. This “leadership reversal” joins the deterioration in our own measures of market internals last week, as well as ongoing dispersion in market breadth and participation. As noted in the chart below, this couples a “Hindenburg” with a “Titanic,” and is actually the first time since July 2007 that we’ve seen this particular combination of internal deterioration.

https://www.hussmanfunds.com/comment/observations/obs171114/

I was looking at the MultiSearch results for ZEOIX. After consulting their website (ZEO now has a real website) ZEOIX looks like a superior mattress to me. (that's a compliment). What puzzled me on the MultiSearch tool was the characterization of David's take on this fund as "mixed". It was actually Chip's take but that's fine. I just can't find anything mixed in the 2014 description of this fund. It look entirely positive. Have I missed a subtly stated reservation? (other than saying this fund is not for everyone. But neither is RPHYX, with a "positive take". )

Hi @Derf,
Thanks for the question.
The below link will explain win, place, show betting. And, yes most of my bets were $2.00 to win, $2.00 to show & $2,00 to place on three dogs per race. This way I had nine possiblities to collect. Naturally winnings were paid out based on betting odds and a good number of times if I just had a dog to place that covered the bets plus a little to the pocket. Most times I'd leave the track with jingle in my pocket.
My system is simple ... Bet the three fastest dogs based upon their average lap times if they were running in lanes 2 through 7. If a fast dog was running in other lanes, I passed on betting this dog. I found the dog running in lane 1 often times got pushed into the rail as the dogs formed into a running pack. In addition, I kept some stastics on which lanes were in the money more so than the others.
Generally, I only bet the first eight races. After that it got tougher to pick in the money dogs.
http://turfnsport.com/win-place-show-wagering/
Skeet

Added to Target (TGT) on the 10% beatdown today. I guess Black Friday is coming earlier and earlier.

@Mark, I see holiday shopping forecasts are down which caused the Target drop. Pretty big 1 day drop.
I have a different approach to consumers buying habits. I've been watching FDX for a little while hoping it's price comes down some. My thought and what I've read is this is a play on internet shopping, pretty much riding the Amazon trend without investing in the high valuations Amazon has now. FedEx also dropped today (2.5%) with the holiday shopping forecast but not as much as TGT. FDX has to drop another 9% for my limit order to kick in.

I'll echo OldSkeet's mention of American Funds and their conservative approach to things as a core all-in-one fund. I hold several in my taxble account and don't think twice about them. CWGIX, CAIBX are solid alloction funds.
My TIAA 403b is 100% in AF Washington Mutual R-6 (largecap value, decent quarterly dividends, good companies) and I see no reason to ever touch it.
For long-term sector bets, sure, tech and health care should continue to provide juice for growth opportunities.

I think I just threw up in my mouth. AF = weak AF

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890540/000113542817001052/frost-497.txt
TYPE>497
1
frost-497.txt
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II (THE "TRUST")
FROST CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND
FROST MODERATE ALLOCATION FUND
FROST AGGRESSIVE ALLOCATION FUND (THE "FUNDS")
SUPPLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2017 TO THE
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES PROSPECTUS AND THE INVESTOR CLASS SHARES PROSPECTUS,
EACH DATED NOVEMBER 28, 2016, AS SUPPLEMENTED NOVEMBER 29, 2016, FEBRUARY 6,
2017, MARCH 8, 2017, JUNE 7, 2017 AND AUGUST 31, 2017 (THE "PROSPECTUSES") AND
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED NOVEMBER 28, 2016, AS
SUPPLEMENTED NOVEMBER 29, 2016, FEBRUARY 6, 2017, MARCH 8, 2017, JUNE 7, 2017
AND AUGUST 31, 2017 (THE "SAI")
THIS SUPPLEMENT PROVIDES NEW AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEYOND THAT CONTAINED
IN THE PROSPECTUSES AND SAI, AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
PROSPECTUSES AND SAI.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust, at the recommendation of Frost Investment
Advisors, LLC (the "Adviser"), the investment adviser of the Funds, has approved
a plan of liquidation providing for the liquidation of each Fund's assets and
the distribution of the net proceeds pro rata to the Fund's shareholders. In
connection therewith, the Funds are closed to new investments. The Funds are
expected to cease operations and liquidate on or about December 22, 2017 (the
"Liquidation Date").
Prior to the Liquidation Date, shareholders may redeem (sell) their shares in
the manner described in the "How to Redeem Fund Shares" section of each
Prospectus. For those Fund shareholders that do not redeem (sell) their shares
prior to the Liquidation Date, the Funds will distribute to each such
shareholder, on or promptly after the Liquidation Date, a liquidating cash
distribution equal in value to the shareholder's interest in the net assets of
the Funds as of the Liquidation Date.
In anticipation of the liquidation of the Funds, the Adviser may manage each
Fund in a manner intended to facilitate its orderly liquidation, such as by
holding cash or making investments in other highly liquid assets. As a result,
during this time, all or a portion of each Fund may not be invested in a manner
consistent with its stated investment strategies, which may prevent the Fund
from achieving its investment objective.
The liquidation distribution amounts will include any accrued income and
capital gains, will be treated as a payment in exchange for shares and will
generally be a taxable event. You should consult your personal tax advisor
concerning your particular tax situation. Shareholders remaining in a Fund on
the Liquidation Date will not be charged any transaction fees by the Fund.
However, the net asset value of each Fund on the Liquidation Date will reflect
costs of liquidating the Fund.
PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
FIA-SK-045-0100

Added to Target (TGT) on the 10% beatdown today. I guess Black Friday is coming earlier and earlier.

I'll echo OldSkeet's mention of American Funds and their conservative approach to things as a core all-in-one fund. I hold several in my taxble account and don't think twice about them. CWGIX, CAIBX are solid alloction funds.
My TIAA 403b is 100% in AF Washington Mutual R-6 (largecap value, decent quarterly dividends, good companies) and I see no reason to ever touch it.
For long-term sector bets, sure, tech and health care should continue to provide juice for growth opportunities.

Ulli the E.T.F Bully updates E.T.Fs with a Momentum ranking:
theetfbully.com/Tables/HVETFMasterCutline11102017.pdf
Investments with an Edge does something similar for with a buy, sell and hold recommendations based of the relative strength of the E.T.F:
investwithanedge.com/market-leadership-strategy

Regarding VGWIX, VGWAX, etc., my global allocation fund of choice is SGENX, available load-waived at Schwab. If bonds are needed, may be supplement with PONDX. I have owned SGENX for a very long time. My other long-term holds (>10 years, some >15 years) are OAKBX, FPACX, MACSX.

@Old_Skeet; I was wondering if I'm reading you right. Is that an $18 bet @ $2 a ticket ?
Derf

@jlev,

How long would people wait before deciding their level of comfort/ trust with VGWAX?

I've thought about this as well. My take is when a mutual fund is introduced it has the benefit or challenges of the market cycle. Funds that became available in say 2007 had a serious set of challenges to overcome. Most new funds (less than 10 years) have not been tested through a serious bear market...well, maybe the energy and commodity funds have.
Two things strike me as interesting to follow with regard to VGWIX (VGWAX):
1. What will management select as initial purchases... equity, bond, and other.
2. How will VGWIX perform out of the gate and over the short term in comparison to VWINX...a brother from the same mother. Sibling rivalry or will big brother VWINX have VGWIX back? Me thinks the latter.

We thought we’d start continue up with the 130 U.S. equity funds which have passed their second anniversary but have not yet reached their third, which is when conventional trackers such as Morningstar and Lipper pick them up. As Charles has repeatedly demonstrated, the screener at MFO Premium allows you to answer odd and interesting questions. When markets are rising, everybody’s question is the same: who’s making the most?
There are two ways to answer that. One way is to look at total returns. As of Halloween (our data is current as of the end of last month), the clear winner is the $8 million Zevenbergen Genea (ZVGIX) fund, a focused fund with an emphasis on tech. (What’s a “genea”? Old Greek word related to “genealogy,” it sometimes signals “a generation,” which aligns with the fund’s emphasis on have a long-term view.)
Zevenbergen Genea Fund ZVGIX
Multi-Cap Growth
23.6% annualized return since inception through October 2017
ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Health Care ETF SPXV
Large-Cap Core
18.1%
Leland Thomson Reuters Private Equity Index Fund LDPIX
Specialty Diversified Equity
17.9%
ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Energy ETF SPXE
Large-Cap Core
17.8%
Alambic Small Cap Value Plus Fund ALAMX
Small-Cap Value
17.8%
Sometimes a fund is good not because the fund is good, but because its investment style or focus is hot. For example, a hot energy market makes even bad energy fund managers look like geniuses. You’ll notice that two of the six top performers are distinguished for what they did not invest in: “ex Health Care” and “ex Energy” tells you that these funds are winning just because the excluded sectors are, for now, losing.
To control for that, we can look for funds that are distinctive better than their peers. Seven funds are beating their peers by more than 5% per year so far, with 50% of those being passive.
Leland Thomson Reuters Private Equity Index Fund LDPIX
Specialty Diversified Equity
17.9% APR since inception
13% annual lead over their (in this case, irrelevant) peer group
Zevenbergen Genea Fund ZVGIX
Multi-Cap Growth
23.6% APR
10.7% annual lead of their peers
ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF SMDV
Small-Cap Core
15.5% APR
7.2% lead
HCM Dividend Sector Plus Fund HCMZX
Equity Income
14.9% APR
7% lead
ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF REGL
Mid-Cap Core
13% APR
6.1% lead
VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd Index ETF CSB
Small-Cap Growth
13.8% APR
5.8% lead
Invesco PowerShares S&P 500 ex-Rate Sensitive Low Volatility Portfolio XRLV
Multi-Cap Core
13.4% APR
5.2% lead
Only two of the six funds with the highest total returns are also substantially leading their peers. Half of the peer beaters consciously factor dividends, which sometimes signals the quality of a firm’s management, into their strategies.
Bottom line: it’s not important to know that a fund is winning. It’s important to know why a fund is winning. That’s hard to suss out, but relative performance and some idea of portfolio biases gives you a place to start.
Off to Dallas for a professional conference. Pray for me!
David

@Davidmoran since I received some free trades when I tranferred to Fido, it helped. ML does not sell VWINX and some other Vg funds along with a few other funds I wanted plus my advisor and I disagreed on etfs which I wanted to add. I will admit I do like having those smaller allocations to some of the funds and etfs I have added and I do have spifs from time to time which i play with, bottom line is 1/3 of my ira portfolio is conservative and all of my taxable is in that category. So about half of my total investments are fairly staid. The rest chalk up to OCD lol.
My results in total for ytd Is within one percent of the s + P including bonds, and while at ML a bit less, but with so many changes this last year, will be easier to track going forward.Thanks for contributing to the thread.

@slick,
I missed that you moved from ML to Fido, since I have just done the reverse.
Fido offers Vanguard funds?? Not ntf, right?
Since this is supposed to be an empirical thread, I would like to see the annual results of all those with lots of funds, say more than, I dunno, 10?
(I too concur in the tested take that adding a half-dozen at the 1%-2% level does nothing other than assuage OCD....)