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Any insights on Thomas White International (TWWDX)?
I want to increase my foreign exposure in the coming months - large or mid, not emerging market. Some of the usual suspects (OAKIX, ARTIX, DODFX) aren't knocking my socks off. Probably not ready to take the plunge on FMIJX, either. I also looked at Manning & Napier, Schroders, and some others, before stumbling onto Thomas White, but I haven't been able to find much analysis on TWWDX. Any input on this fund?
I don't have a lot of input on TWWDX but I've followed it on my watch list for about 5 years. It's a good fund, but if memory serves I think the expenses may be kind of high. Also a quick look shows the EM % in it's portfolio is high.
I'll throw out the fund that I own in this space for your consideration. It doesn't get a lot of ink on this board, but UMBWX is a very good International fund. It's relatively conservative (held up better then most in 2008) and has had the same manager forever. I also like it because of another thing you mentioned. It doesn't hold a lot of EM stuff. I like that aspect because I can hold a specific EM fund along side this one with out worrying my EM weighting may be swayed.
Here is some info on EM holdings for a couple funds you mentioned and UMBWX.
per M*, % in EM stocks: UMBWX 10% DODFX 19% ARTIX 9% TWWDX 26%
I like ARTIX or UMBWX in this space. Anyway, just another consideration.
My favorite in this space continues to be SGOVX which is available NL/NTF at Schwab for minimums of $2500 and $1000 in retirement and taxable accounts, respectively.
TWWDX expenses fall between ARTIX and TBGVX, which are both significantly larger funds ($9B and $4.8B, respectively). UMBWX is also pretty hefty at $7.5B and somewhat weighted toward financials. Appreciate the comment on EM holdings, but I do not really plan to have a strictly EM fund. As far as brokerage service, I am with TRP, but I've generally been looking at direct purchase, so maybe I should expand my search to some of the load funds that TRP can get me into without load. I see that ACCFX gives more mid-cap flavor and some Asia focus. TWWDX is pretty balanced between Europe and Asia, too.
Comments
I'll throw out the fund that I own in this space for your consideration. It doesn't get a lot of ink on this board, but UMBWX is a very good International fund. It's relatively conservative (held up better then most in 2008) and has had the same manager forever. I also like it because of another thing you mentioned. It doesn't hold a lot of EM stuff. I like that aspect because I can hold a specific EM fund along side this one with out worrying my EM weighting may be swayed.
Here is some info on EM holdings for a couple funds you mentioned and UMBWX.
per M*, % in EM stocks:
UMBWX 10%
DODFX 19%
ARTIX 9%
TWWDX 26%
I like ARTIX or UMBWX in this space. Anyway, just another consideration.
Kevin
At TRP, I would consider ACFFX.