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FBR Balanced (AFSAX)

edited April 2012 in Fund Discussions
IM CONSIDERING BUYING AFSAX - I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY OPINIONS ON THE FUND - OR WHAT YOU CONSIDER BETTER MODERATE ALLOCATION FUNDS

Comments

  • I own AQRNX as sort of an alternative/world allocation fund. In terms of moderate allocation, I like FPACX. The fund you mention has had an off year this year, although it has a very solid long-term record and one could look at this year as a buying opportunity in an off year for the fund.
  • Another one to consider is GLRBX
  • There are very few options with a better record than Vanguard Balanced Index (VBINX), simple, static, ultra-cheap, almost unbeatable. It mostly tends to eke out small wins over its peers, but rarely lag the group by more than a fraction of a percent.

    Fans of active management need to consider Vanguard STAR (VGSTX), a fund of Vanguard's top actively-managed funds. Cheap, consistently 60/40.

    The funds profiled here:

    Tributary Balanced (FOBAX) - one of the two or three best risk/return profiles, flexible stock allocation, focus on domestic stocks with emerging markets exposure, willingness to invest in unconventional bonds (e.g., taxable munis).

    Northern Global Tactical Allocation (BBALX) - Northern's investment policy committee makes asset allocation calls (both strategic and tactical) and executes them using Northern's funds. Used to be a plain balanced fund, but was reborn as a retail, tactical fund still sporting an institutional fund's low expense ratio.

    Osterweis Strategic Investment (OSTVX) - Osterweis runs a really good stock fund and a really good bond fund; this one combines those two portfolios but the stock/bond allocation is flexible.

    LKCM Balanced Fund (LKBAX) - another "does all the little things right" fund. Conservative, flexible, with a record for beating VBINX with some consistency. Nothing flashy at all, just good execution. Their profile is set for an update in May.

    David
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