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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.
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.
Comments
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