Howdy, Stranger!

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

Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
  • Iron-Air Batteries Could Be The Breakthrough Energy Markets Are Waiting For
    May be worth paying a little attention to this.
    Form Energy....claims that its iron-air battery can deliver electricity for 100 hours at one-tenth the cost of lithium-ion batteries.
    ...the degree and level of reduction in battery storage costs predicted by Form Energy’s new product is a game changer. It has the potential to completely change the discussion about decarbonization of electricity and the related role of storage.
    The clear loser here is natural gas as a boiler fuel for electric power generation.
    ...a relatively inexpensive 100 hour plus utility-scale storage battery is as disruptive a technological force for the electric utility industry as anything we have ever seen.
    Iron-Air Batteries
  • staying the course over 21y, who does that ?
    In retrospective mood tonight, I plotted the $10k-growth of several funds I used to be seriously interested in and most of which I owned off and on since Labor Day 2000. (Many of them before then, too, since the 1980s, when my career turned toward high tech.) It seemed a v tough time, fall 2000, hangover from the latest highflying tech phase. SPECX, FAIRX, more-sensible things like TWEIX and JENSX and PRBLX. VOO of course. FCNTX.
    Anyway, I compared them all w old stalwart FLPSX, one man, one machine since seemingly forever (and Tillinghast is only mid-60s!). It was of him David Snowball famously wrote (maybe it was in email to me) something like 'I have never sold FLPSX and not regretted it.'
    Of course these funds are not properly comparable. Still.
    Check it out. Stay the course. Don't trade longterm winners even in slumps.
    image
  • Vanguard Advice Select funds in registration
    Vanguard Advice Select Dividend Growth will be managed by Donald Kilbride of Wellington.
    This fund will be a more concentrated version of Vanguard Dividend Growth which Mr. Kilbride has managed since 2006.
    Vanguard Advice Select International Growth will be comanaged by James Anderson* and Lawrence Burns. Both managers are part of the Baillie Gifford team which runs 70% of Vanguard International Growth.
    Baillie Gifford invests with a venture capital approach which has generated high returns along with high volatility.
    *Mr. Anderson will leave Baillie Gifford in April 2022 after nearly four decades with the firm.
    Link
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing
    +1 Lewis My thoughts exactly-ntf policy seems too good to be true(or continue)!
  • equity valuation breakdown
    Good stuff!
    image
    Question for the math inclined - he has simply added these rates, should he multiply each component? IE: (1+a/100)(1+b/100)etc…-1?
  • PRWCX Cuts Equity Exposure
    He made the announcement back in April as the market was getting fully priced. A year before in March he was buying aggressively when the market fell 30%.
    https://cnbc.com/video/2021/04/23/t-rowe-prices-david-giroux-we-are-underweight-equities.html
  • The 'Big Short' guy and star stock picker Cathie Wood are feuding
    “I do not believe that he understands the fundamentals that are creating explosive growth and investment opportunities in the innovation space.”Wood went on to tout her belief that the technologies ARK believes and invests in “should transform the world” in the next decade.
    Ah, blasts from the past: https://forbes.com/1999/12/13/mu8.html?sh=317507435956
    https://money.cnn.com/1999/04/09/mutualfunds/funds_jacob/
    https://deseret.com/1995/4/25/19171779/small-investors-are-pouring-millions-into-technology-funds
    https://pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/betting/etal/script.html
    https://money.cnn.com/1999/04/30/mutualfunds/funds_vanwagoner/
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing

    I have been using Firstrade for years and happy with service overall. I can confirm that they do charge loads for load funds, but I still find they have the best selection of funds being offered at NTF AND institutional shares at low minimums in some cases.
    Firstrade is great for access to shares that you can't get elsewhere. I used it for years to get Franklin-Templeton's lower cost Advisor class shares.
    While it's not as bare bones as it was when I was a customer, it's still not a brokerage I'd use as my primary institution. It doesn't make ATM reimbursements (and charges foreign transaction fees except for one per month), and has check printing fees, ACAT transfer fees, and limited phone hours (M-F). They don't seem to offer mobile deposits. IMHO none of which is significant for a secondary brokerage.
    The main question in my mind is how long the free fund trading will last. I'm repeating myself here: we've seen similar programs sent off to the dustbin of history including Welltrade, Scottrade, and Scudder Retirement Plus. Though even if it brings back its $9.95 charge per trade, that's little more than a nuisance fee and not much more than the $5 that Fidelity charges for incremental investments in TF funds.
  • Vanguard Advice Select funds in registration
    These new actively managed funds will be available exclusively to clients of Personal Advisor Services (PAS).
    Vanguard Advice Select Dividend Growth Fund will seek to outperform the broader U.S. market, focusing on financially sound, large-cap companies across a diverse range of sectors that have prospects for long-term total returns, as a result of their ability to grow earnings and their willingness to increase dividends over time. A more concentrated version of the strategy used in Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund, the fund will be managed by Wellington Management Company LLP and will have an estimated expense ratio of 0.45%, compared with the average expense ratio for large-cap core funds of 0.90%.3
    Vanguard Advice Select Global Value Fund will provide global, all-cap, contrarian-value exposure by investing in discounted companies that are being avoided or overlooked. The fund will be managed by Wellington Management Company LLP and will have an estimated expense ratio of 0.40%, compared with the average expense ratio for global multi-cap value funds of 1.10%.4
    Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund will employ a bottom-up equity strategy—analyzing the fundamentals of specific companies instead of broad sectors or industries—focused on exceptional international growth companies. The fund will be managed by Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd., as a more concentrated version of the strategy used in Vanguard International Growth Fund. The fund will have an estimated expense ratio of 0.42%, compared with the average expense ratio for international large-cap growth funds of 1.13%.5
    https://tiogapublishing.com/news/state/vanguard-personal-advisor-services-to-introduce-three-active-equity-funds/article_71cdffb1-e09e-50db-a7f0-6241876473e0.html
    From an initial glance, the Select Dividend Growth Fund will be a clone of Dividend Growth fund with the same fund manager.
    Global Value Fund is new but it is managed by Wellington. This fund is likely to be similar to Global Wellington but without the bond components.
    Select International Growth Fund is different from Vanguard International Growth. This new fund will be solely managed by Baillie Gifford, not the co-managing team consisting of BG and Schroeder.
  • Vanguard Advice Select funds in registration
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1004655/000168386321004663/f9509d1.htm
    Admiral Class:
    Vanguard Advice Select Dividend Growth Fund
    Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund
    Vanguard Advice Select Global Value Fund
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to close to new investors through financial intermediaries
    I bought RPHIX in 2021, as a CD like alternative, for my cash holdings at Schwab. I do not expect it to make an impressive total return for my investment, but my experience thus far, is that it has done a good job of exceeding the total return that my bank has been paying for savings, HY checking, CDs, etc. and it is fluid enough for me to access the holdings when needed. Of course there are no absolute principal protections which will scare off many investors.
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing

    Just received from TDA...
    However, the transaction fee for your purchases of funds from certain fund families that do not pay TD Ameritrade for record keeping, shareholder, and other administrative services on the shares purchased will increase to $74.95.
    WOW I am sure Schwab will apply $75 fee across the board
    People may not be aware of how brokerages are compensated by funds, even TF funds, for shelf space. For example, Schwab discloses:
    To compensate Schwab for various shareholder services, NTF Funds pay Schwab an asset-based annual fee, which usually equals 0.40% of the average fund assets held at Schwab but may be as high as 0.45%. ... When adding a new fund to Schwab’s NTF platform, NTF Funds also pay Schwab a one-time establishment fee.
    ...
    Most [Transaction] Fee Funds pay Schwab a low annual asset-based fee, typically 0.10% annually of the average fund assets held at Schwab, although the fee can range up to 0.25% annually. ... When adding a new fund to Schwab’s platform, [Transaction] Fee Funds also pay Schwab a one-time establishment fee.
    As a business decision, brokerages may decide to carry funds that refuse to pay even this "low" fee. Conversely, funds may make a business decision not to offer their funds on some platforms even if they are charged nothing. This is where the $75 fee kicks in and why you can't get Admiral shares on most platforms.
    “Vanguard doesn’t compensate us for the services we provide,” a Fidelity spokeswoman told Barron’s. “That’s why there’s a higher transaction fee for its funds,” she added, referring to the $75 fee that Fidelity charges to buy a Vanguard fund, well above its normal $49.95 rate.
    ...
    Maintaining the exclusive rights to sell its low-cost Admiral shares for active funds is one way to prevent firms like Fidelity or Schwab from poaching client assets. “Vanguard is saying, ‘Why should we offer our best priced item on someone else’s shelf when we want investors to stay with us?’” Daniel Wiener, editor of monthly newsletter The Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors, tells Barron’s.
    https://www.barrons.com/articles/vanguard-lowest-cost-funds-fidelity-retirement-schwab-51556315451 (April 28, 2019)
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing
    Firstrade:
    A Short Term Redemption Fee of $19.95 will be applied to redemptions of mutual fund shares held less than 90 days. Broker-Assisted redemptions will incur a charge of $19.95. Redemptions of less than $500 will incur a $19.95 fee, unless the entire value of that fund is less than $500. For mutual funds transferred to Firstrade, the 90 day holding period will begin when the account transfer process is complete.
    https://invest.firstrade.com/cgi-bin/main#/content/customerservice/pricing/
    Once one logs in, there's a fund screener that gives not 11,000 funds but 16,854 funds, of which 10,265 are described as no load, and 6,589 of which are called load funds.

    Before Firstrade dropped all fund transaction fees
    , it charged no transaction fee for funds on its NTF list and for load funds (since it collected loads on those funds), while charging $9.95 for no load, TF funds. I'm inclined to think that all Firstrade did was remove the $9.95 charge on the TF funds but that it still charges loads on funds it labels load funds. Especially since it shows 6K load funds in addition to the 10K+ funds that are "no load".
    NTBAX is one such fund. Firstrade lists it as open but as a load fund. However, it does also list NTBIX as a noload fund, albeit with a $25K min.
    While you won't find NTBAX on the Firstrade's public pages, you will find its sister fund NAVAX / NAVCX there, displayed as a load fund. That gives you a good indication of how NTBAX is handled there as well.
    Interestingly, you will also find its purported sister fund NDNAX /NDNCX listed. The problem is that this fund is defunct. Which suggests that the number of funds Firstrade is claiming is inflated, whether intentionally or not.

    I have been using Firstrade for years and happy with service overall. I can confirm that they do charge loads for load funds, but I still find they have the best selection of funds being offered at NTF AND institutional shares at low minimums in some cases.
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing
    Firstrade:
    A Short Term Redemption Fee of $19.95 will be applied to redemptions of mutual fund shares held less than 90 days. Broker-Assisted redemptions will incur a charge of $19.95. Redemptions of less than $500 will incur a $19.95 fee, unless the entire value of that fund is less than $500. For mutual funds transferred to Firstrade, the 90 day holding period will begin when the account transfer process is complete.
    https://invest.firstrade.com/cgi-bin/main#/content/customerservice/pricing/
    Once one logs in, there's a fund screener that gives not 11,000 funds but 16,854 funds, of which 10,265 are described as no load, and 6,589 of which are called load funds.

    Before Firstrade dropped all fund transaction fees
    , it charged no transaction fee for funds on its NTF list and for load funds (since it collected loads on those funds), while charging $9.95 for no load, TF funds. I'm inclined to think that all Firstrade did was remove the $9.95 charge on the TF funds but that it still charges loads on funds it labels load funds. Especially since it shows 6K load funds in addition to the 10K+ funds that are "no load".
    NTBAX is one such fund. Firstrade lists it as open but as a load fund. However, it does also list NTBIX as a noload fund, albeit with a $25K min.
    While you won't find NTBAX on the Firstrade's public pages, you will find its sister fund NAVAX / NAVCX there, displayed as a load fund. That gives you a good indication of how NTBAX is handled there as well.
    Interestingly, you will also find its purported sister fund NDNAX /NDNCX listed. The problem is that this fund is defunct. Which suggests that the number of funds Firstrade is claiming is inflated, whether intentionally or not.
  • Updated MFO Ratings: March ... MTD Thru 25 April ... FLOW Updated Daily!
    And, MultiSearch now has ability to screen funds by 3, 6, 9, and 12 month "momentum" (@MikeW) ... both values and ratings. This new feature is also in the Trend & Momentum group of MultiSearch screening options.
  • Updated MFO Ratings: March ... MTD Thru 25 April ... FLOW Updated Daily!
    MultiSearch now has ability to screen Trend using EMAs (exponential moving averages), which places more emphasis on more recent month(s) than the SMAs (simple moving averages). With those familiar (@Mav123), it uses the common 2/(N+1) weighted multiplier. You will find ability to screen on both values and ratings in the Trend & Momentum group of MultiSearch screening options.
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing
    +1 fundly Thanks for the info-quite a few funds available that I'm interested in. Possibly a brokerage to hold my Vanguard funds ,as well.
  • TD Ameritrade new OEF pricing
    I am in no way affiliated with Firstrade so I can report without hesitation after 1 year now, that I have been, for the most part ,happy with this account that allows every, yes every of the 11,000 funds on the platform NTF. Fees occur if a transaction occurs within 120 days if I remember correctly. I do not sell any positions less than 120 days anyhow. There have been a few hiccups ,but if anyone has issues with TF's this may be a solution. Customer service is not on the same level as with my other brokerages, Fidelity being one. But for no fees ,I am willing to put up with this issue .Many institutional and Vanguard Admiral funds have low entry amounts ,many at $500.