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7 Best Balanced Funds to Pick Right Now

johnNjohnN
edited September 2020 in Fund Discussions
https://news.yahoo.com/7-best-balanced-funds-pick-193106242.html


U.S.News & World Report
7 Best Balanced Funds to Pick Right Now
Barbara Friedberg
September 1, 2020, 2:31 PM CDT
The best balanced mutual funds for simple investment diversification.

As markets reach new highs, an all-stock portfolio might be too risky for some. The alternative is to own diverse assets. Choosing one balanced mutual fund with stocks and bonds will likely temper any large swings in the portfolio's value. So if the stock market declines, you'll have fixed assets to prop up returns. The benefit of investing in a balanced fund is simplicity and diversification. Balanced funds normally rebalance back to a target stock/bond mix, saving investors time and the stress of portfolio management. As life becomes more and more complicated, a balanced mutual fund can streamline investment decisions. Most of these balanced funds have reasonable expense ratios, and some are sensitive to the tax consequences caused by excessive turnover. There is a mix of passive index fund choices along with several actively managed picks. Here are seven of the best balanced funds to invest in now.

Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares (VWINX)

-- Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX)

-- Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX)

-- Fidelity Freedom 2045 Fund (FFFGX)

-- Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX)

-- American Funds American Balanced Fund (ABALX)

-- Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund (DODBX)







We have wellington and dodgecox. Both great for long terms imho

vgstx us another to consider

Comments

  • MikeMMikeM
    edited September 2020
    Hmmm, a best balanced fund list that leaves off PRWCX or even VLAAX, but does add DODBX. Ok. Nothing wrong with DODBX, but is it better that the other two I mentioned? No, not even close.
  • CrashCrash
    right. It's as if the writer was being paid to tout the Vang. funds, too. PRWCX maybe--- MAYBE--- was left off because it's closed. But not VLAAX. I'd say that if someone is interested in VLAAX, get into it through an intermediary. Dealing directly with them was like waiting for Godot.
  • Sven
    DODBX is one of the oldest fund around. It's record is only average, especially during drawdown. It is still down 3% YTD while the balanced index is over 7.7% YTD?

    What about Permanent Portfolios, PRPFX, and Janus Henderson Balanced, JABAX?

    If one is willing to venture into global balanced fund, Vanguard offer two fairly new funds with Wellington being the advisor. Global Wellington, VGWELX and Global Wellesley, VGWIX. Admiral shares are available with lower ER.
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