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How many different mutual funds do you own?

Is there such a thing as owning too many Mutual funds? I don't believe so. I own approx. 30.

Comments

  • edited June 2021
    LOL - Always controversial. I find it really cumbersome to track more than 15 (plus 2 or 3 cash accounts). So strive to be in the 15-16 fund ballpark.

    Sure, you can compile a single list of 50 funds if you want - and track. Not hard to do. But when you start arranging those into meaningful sub-groups, portfolio sleeves, or whatever else you call them … that’s when the rubber hits the road and tracking difficulty intensifies.

    Currently, I hold 15-16 traditional type funds which provide exposure to a variety of investment types & styles. Here’s a list of those types.

    (1) domestic growth
    (2) domestic value
    (3 ) global growth
    4) gold / pm miners,
    (5) commodities
    (6) EM bonds,
    (7) global investment grade income
    8 domestic investment grade income,
    (9) high yield municipal
    (10) 2 risk parity funds
    (11) a hedge-type fund
    (12) a conservative multi-asset “tracking fund” which I own and also against which I measure my own performance

    Honestly, I don’t think it matters much. I’m always looking for ways to consolidate / lessen the number. I’d say let your allocation model, goals and personal style dictate how many funds - as long as you can track them well.
  • I own 9 funds and seek to keep my fund total no more than 10. I usually own closer to 5 or 6.
  • 5. I played the 20-30 game at one time but found that I was never able to strike a meaningful position in any particular one, enough to move the needle on total portfolio performance that is. As mentioned by hank I also grew tired monitoring all of them finding better things to do with my time. Everyone is and can be different though.
  • beebee
    edited June 2021
    I try to structure my portfolio into three buckets.

    Bucket 1 - Cash / Bond Funds (for Income)
    I hold a cash or bond positions with each account I have. Presently this bucket has 17% of my portfolio and represents 3-5 years of income (I may need to spend in retirement).

    Bucket 2 - Asset Allocation Funds (for Capital Preservation)
    I hold 3 AA funds and they make up 35% of my portfolio. These funds attempt to outpace inflation, reduce downside market risk, and achieve moderate growth.

    Bucket 3 - Sector / Category Funds (for Growth)
    I hold 10 funds here. These tend to be buy and hold positions and represent 48% of my portfolio. My plan is to periodically sell shares to replenish/enhance bucket 1 (Cash / Bonds) especially when these "Bucket 3 funds" capture above normal gains. I am more actively evaluating these funds for consistent performance, manager risk/reward, and trend momentum.
  • edited June 2021
    5 in my long-long term account that I rarely touch (several AFs)
    3 in my more actively-managed account (PRWCX, MGGIX, PRILX)
    1 as the only holding in my 403(b) (RWMGX)

    The vast majority of the OEF holdings are in equity. (There's FI in PRWCX, and I hold a modest 30+ year position in FKTIX.)
  • edited June 2021
    Taxable 1 - 3 mutual funds, 1 ETF
    Taxable 2 - 1 individual stock
    401(k) - 2 mutual funds (one fund will be replaced by a CIT "clone" on 07/01), 1 CIT
    Roth IRA - 3 mutual funds (one fund is also owned in Taxable 1 account)
    HSA - 1 mutual fund
  • This is something I have spent the last year working on since I turned 70 and started collecting social security. As of now I have

    3 equity funds chosen by me. Currently a small value, an industrials, and Fidelity’s housing and construction.

    2 asset allocation funds, a conservative and a world, chosen for their managers. So I can’t lose all my money with my ideas.

    3 alternative funds, a gold ETF, a REIT fund, and an intermediate government bond fund, which, up until this year had acceptable returns for the safety.

    Lastly, cash in a MM and FRIFX

    So far this seems to be working in that I get some some choices and some structured returns

    John
  • @Observant1 - what's a CIT please?
  • @Mark I believe that's a Collective Investment Trust.
  • edited June 2021
    @Mark,

    A CIT is a Collective Investment Trust.
    CITs may be available via some defined contribution plans [401(k), 457(b), etc.].
    They are similar to mutual funds but have less reporting requirements and are not governed by the SEC.
    CITs usually have lower expense ratios than corresponding mutual funds.
    For example, I own MIEIX (0.70% er) in my 401(k).
    When my 401(k) plan replaces MIEIX with a CIT "clone" on 07/01, it will have a 0.58% er.

    Link
  • 7 mutual funds. And just since yesterday, ONE single stock. I don't use buckets, but I do my best to cover large, small, foreign, domestic. Stocks. Bonds. (Currently: 40 stocks, 56 bonds. And 4 cash.)
  • I have 22 investments. 8 mutual funds and 14 ETFs.
    There is one fund in my not real large IRA.
    There are 3 mutual funds in my somewhat bigger Roth.
    My taxable, which is 2/3 of my stash has 4 mutual funds and 14 ETFs.
    These are all held in 3 companies, the largest being Vanguard.
    I use spreadsheets to keep track of the holdings along with the cost basis in taxable holdings. There is a spreadsheet for my expenses and one more for income for any money that crosses my doorstep that ends up on the 1040.
    I keep turnover fairly low to moderate my taxes (12% bracket).
    My current spend rate is about 1% of my portfolio. My AA is 70/30.
    Since I stopped working 14 years ago, my stash has doubled.
    I'm 71yo with not much else to do.
  • Compare whatever you have vs a benchmark (VBIAX or your desired VYM/VCIT allocation). Many times a 10-30 fund portfolio will under perform over 5 year rolling periods. Choose your key metrics. That, in turn, may provide guidance how to think about this question.
  • In our Roths, my wife and I both own about 12 each, all actively managed. We try not to have overlap, but still it's probably 50-60% overlap.

    In our 401ks, we both own fewer since our employers both offer fewer options. In my 401k, I think I own 6, all but 2 are index. Wife 401k is about the same.
  • I like Hank's approach a lot. I hold a fair number of alternative funds, as these types of funds work, until they don't. My expected yearly return for these funds is 2.5-3 % .My previous experiences with ACVVX QMNNX PAUAX and MFLDX, among others reinforce my wariness of these funds. In the future I may just rely on MERFX ADANX and CVSIX to simplify things.
  • I have several accounts which I treat each separately but with an eye on overall allocation. My primary accounts withover 50% of my assets is an IRA Rollover with 14 Funds focusing on low correlation, distinct style boxes, asset allocation etc. I rarely update this portfolio and have allocations to both Growth and Value in Domestic Large, Mid and Small. Also, I like to invest in Int'l Gorwth and Value where most investors pick one Int'l Fund. I also own EM and Int'l SMid, Fixed Inc Core Plus, Multi-Sector Fixed.

    I have a Roth @ Vanguard with 3-4 Index Funds. My current 401k is my tactical portfolio with another 10-12 funds & ETF's.

    I will consolidate over the next10-15 years as I get closer to retirement.
  • Currently 3 across all our accounts, but primarily 2. Never held more than 8 and don't anticipate holding more than a few ever again at any given time.

    Personally decided that holding a couple percent in a given fund is pointless for me as @Mark stated previously, no matter what the performance of that position is, the overall effect on the portfolio is negligible.

    I am aware that given the number of accounts and type of accounts held and investment choices offered, it can be difficult to keep the number of funds held to a minimum.
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