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Wanted to ask if anyone has the skinny on these funds and their manager David Iben. These are load funds but available without load at Schwab. They look very interesting to me and in this environment am considering NPTAX. My patience with NARFX is running thin. Thinking NPTAX is a good replacement while not an out and out long/short fund.
IMO, David Iben is the real deal as I have discussed in numerous posts over at M*. He has consistently delivered at NWGRX, NVORX, NPTIX, NAWIX, and JGV. We have a 12% position in NWGRX, which continues to be available for reasonable minimums in Thinkorswim retirement accounts. I would really try and gain access to the institutional classes of the funds that he manages to keep costs at the lowest possible.
Iben has performed well in his global funds. He manages a sub advised fund from ING also. He is conventional, but willing to place unconventional bets where he sees value.
I think NARFX is definitely a disappointment; I owned it initially early on but sold it. The fund looked promising and they offered things like shareholder conference calls; 2008 was fine enough, but 2009/2010/2011 were dissapointing even with lower expectations.
LOL. I heard their shareholder conference calls. At the end of every call, someone would ask "Are there any questions?". Pin drop silence.
I have to say this has been very dissapointing. The managers have pedigree. Then again, you have to admit, things like QE2 put a spanner in the works for objective thinking. I don't think these managers are bad. My problem is they do not seem to be willing to adjust their thinking. They can do the "wrong" thing until the world comes back to their way of thinking. I think Hussman is a little better in that regard. He looks at "market action" and takes position contrary to his beliefs.
Comments
Kevin
thanks again.
I have to say this has been very dissapointing. The managers have pedigree. Then again, you have to admit, things like QE2 put a spanner in the works for objective thinking. I don't think these managers are bad. My problem is they do not seem to be willing to adjust their thinking. They can do the "wrong" thing until the world comes back to their way of thinking. I think Hussman is a little better in that regard. He looks at "market action" and takes position contrary to his beliefs.
Way easier to hold HSGFX than NARFX.