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Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.

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sma3

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sma3
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  • I assume you are referring to problems with the online version? I have used the CD version for years and have never had a problem, and use it to do multiple family members returns My son had trouble printing his return from the online version one …
  • @MikeW I have used Quicken for decades to monitor and manage our multiple accounts. Even though we are retired, and have consolidated most, we have two R/O’s ( one managed by advisor), Roth IRAs, two non retirement account, small joint account and …
  • @rforno the legislature responds to 1) money ( most comes from special interests, but only because the average American wont contribute) 2) Votes I believe if the American public voted and demanded change it would happen, but most are too busy…
    in Big T data leak Comment by sma3 April 2
  • I can migrate all my portfolios both watch and portfolio to Investor, thanks to your previous reminder on how to do it If you download an excel compatible file, you can include #shares, Ave cost etc. to a watch list I find setting up a watch list …
  • I have had credit freezes on al our accounts since we were notified ( years ago) that our data had been hacked three times in one year. Blue Cross Blue Shield Yale New Haven Hospital (this year got hacked again for third time !) and People's …
    in Big T data leak Comment by sma3 April 1
  • I don't find Schwab's or Fidelities portfolio analysi very robust, and do not want to give either one the ability to download my account information from another brokerage. I use Quicken to download my transactions from my brokerage accounts into …
  • Simplify has $ 4 Billion AUM. Maybe not Vanguard ( or Fidelity ) but they have accumulated this in only a couple of years I don't quite understand why FIDO feels the need to do this other than to make $. Is their role in ETFs more involved than buy…
    in Fido ETF Fees Comment by sma3 April 1
  • @rforno I knew he sounded familar!
    in Trump Media Comment by sma3 March 28
  • His mother taught “legal ethics”. Father was on board of FTX and provided them with a lot of legal advice. I do not know but assume feds are looking at them too. He was also convicted for witness tampering! Why didnt Momma sit down after things…
  • The Board consists of Trump son, Devin Nunes ( ex CA MAGA congressman ) Linda McMahon ( runs World Wide Wrestling) all three true believers who will almost certainly do what DJT wants. I haven't bothered to look up the affiliations of the others E…
    in Trump Media Comment by sma3 March 28
  • Interview in Bloomberg today. Active stockpickers. The first one profiled has a holding period of at least ten years, preferably forever! https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-27/some-stock-pickers-show-active-can-still-beat-passive-inve…
    in GQEPX question Comment by sma3 March 28
  • I have not had issues with identity theft, but have had fairly good luck talking to the IRS about my deceased mother's now 3 year overdue refund. Of course 2/4 times I called the agent either really didn't know why I had gotten a letter ( as he cla…
  • They cost $145 to $199 a year I assume you do not have to also have a M* premium membership but I am just guessing I have subscribed to most of them of andon over the years but never found them particularly useful They did have model portfoli…
    in GQEPX question Comment by sma3 March 27
  • You have to know" what interest rates will do and then still assume the funds duration will not change. So in a year you will get the dividend plus the % change in interest rates time duration. A 1% decline in rates will produce a 5% increase in N…
  • lots of great gambling ideas ARKK is 11% COIN What about DJT?
  • You here little about the massive stock buybacks of most companies. The main reason they do it is to avoid dilution from the even more massive option awards that they give their top employees. SP500 companies spent 2/3s of profits purchasing 2.7% …
  • @msf Thanks for the Parnassus stuff. I don't think most individuals spend much time analysing the funds they own, other than maybe reading the title, or following the advice of an advisor. The prospectuses of the "ESG" funds I have read are us…
  • This came in my email from "As you Sow" a climate advocacy group that "Some view ESG as a framework for assessing risk - the key to achieving a sustainable and just future. Others see it as threat to capitalism and cover for a liberal elite politi…
  • It would be amusing to figure out the total amount of money supposedly "smart" mutual fund mangers lost on say, GE and World Com and Enron
  • @rforno I seem to remember PRBLX being criticised for this and responding in some way, but it would be hard to locate now. As far as financial shenanigans are concerned there are several funds that claim to look for it so as to avoid it. The one…
  • I think that "ESG" like bitcoin is just another marketing tool to give the customers what the companies think they want. Fink did a marvelous 180 degree turn on Bitcoin when he realised he could make money on it. I do not mean to say that "ESG" is…
  • @MikeW Wow learn something new everyday. I somehow missed TSP Mutual Fund window. But there is nothing about it on my account window
  • The hypocrisy of a state supposedly devoted to individual freedom and "small government" telling its citizens where they can and cannot put their money is too rich for words. The lists do not make sense in the context of The Texas Permanent School …
  • Unless you can stand volatility, I would avoid China for now. Investing in a country without the rule of law and where one man can decide to take over entire industries is a risky proposition. That is unlikely to change in the near future although…
  • Both have TFA and a notification through their iphone app where you click "yes it is me" after signing in with FaceID TFA are probably safe, but can be hacked with a Sim card fraud. I think face ID since it is located on the physical phone is prob…
  • sorry but yes JQUA
  • Computer I try to change my passwords regularly. The first changed pw had a "dont use" character i it ( #) but even eliminating that, deleting the cache etc and restarting nothing worked And to add to the confusion, the Schwab web page summary …
  • Wow An hour and five reps later, they can't figure it out so tell my to click "forgot name and password" and then with only my name DOB and last four of SS I can change PW. 2FA required but with all the Sim card issues this does not inspire conf…
  • JUQA GQLIX ( or USBOX or QLTY) pretty close to FUQIX over 3 5 years Not much difference.
  • into my 45th minute and fourth rep!!!
  • Fido is dropping like a stone today. I am 20 minutes into phone call trying to simply change my password. On third rep and third "Authorization"
  • @msf You have far more patience than I do. I never answer calls that are not already in my contact list, so all these Fido calls went to VM. I never responded. As another comment in the "Schwab vs Fidelity" I agree that Schwab chat works very w…
  • Pretty soon we will hit the 100th anniversary of my father's getting a few shares of what is now XOM from his dad who worked there. I still have the original broker tickets. When he died the cost basis was close to $4 a share
  • I dont think it is the employee's fault as I suspect they are rushed through training and put to work ASAP although I have to say there are some strange things going on at Fidelity. My wife and I moved a small (LT 10%) of her account to Schwab to …
  • I just read the last two issues. Some Useful stuff esp lists of undervalued fund and markets. . I need to see how accurate M* P/FV metric really is. The Goodhaven article is interesting, although I am reluctant to invest in a fund with so much beh…
  • thank you. I did not find a reference for BaluBalu's post. The only references I could find refer to taxing stimulus payments
  • My favorite bitcoin story is the son of a patient of mine who Dad said maybe 10 years ago his kid had some huge amount of Bitcoin on a thumb drive in his safe deposit account. Even then it was worth several million dollars. He said they were never…
  • I emailed MassTax Connect ( dept of rev svc website.. Connecting directly to my wallet!!) They replied quickly that this interest payment is apparently not considered similar to Treasury or Mortgage Bond interest and is subject to state taxes in M…
  • I agree. But FLATX has lived up to it's name !!! "flat" for the last ten years. COBYX has 50% Latin America and is doing much better
  • NYT reports today without real evidence that authorities in SC think it was suicide. Seems odd as he was supposed to testify at the whistleblower trial but didn't show up