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.
RE China
I try to avoid funds that have an unknown exposure to China, so I use "Ex-China" funds if possible.
If I want to invest in China, I use KBA, Krane Shares China A shares as a pure speculation.
I have serious qualms about China's human…
The 1950s were not good times to have cancer, or be exposed to polio, measles or mumps as there were only just beginning to have vaccines, or to get heart disease. Bacterial disease was on the run as Penicillin was widely available along with other …
I admit I am cynical about the goals of the CEOs of corporate America, but there are lots of small efforts that make a huge difference if focused. Look at "Judd at Popular Information"
Impressive results from Green Century.
Also interesting and i…
Even well regarded ESG friendly BWIAX has 2% in Blackstone. It is unclear what the relative impact of an egregious practice such as allowing unsafe child labor practices has on these ESG ratings.
The ratings are generally vague and rather opaque, u…
@LewisBraham
Thanks for tip on Green Century. Quick look shows they have about matched SP500 while avoiding fossil fuel etc. As 2% is ABBV and MRK 1.5% they are not too focused on inflated drug costs as a social issue.
Their fees are rather hi…
The US does not have capitalism. What we live under is a "corporate socialistic welfare" where huge corporations get federal and state benefits of all kinds ( tax breaks, regulatory pass throughs, sweetheart laws etc) as long as they pay off the pol…
At least on Schwab, Treasuries pay more than a CD up to 18 mos and they are easily liquidated without a penalty and are state tax exempt.
Two and three years CDs are 0.25 and 0.4 % ahead, but who knows what interest rates will be then.
I had a CD …
Looks like the train crew should have had plenty of warning derailment was coming. One axle was on fire for 20 miles, visible on track side cameras. There were probably so few crew on the train no one noticed. The heat sensing alarm didn't functio…
I have never had much success with Vanguard funds, other than the standard plain vanilla stock and bond funds. With a few exceptions they do not seem to know what role they want them to play
@ss24
No I received no explanation from the fund company, just the statement that they changed the NAV ( 2 months later) because it was "incorrect". In an email they did not admit anything other than say they would refund e the money as a courtesy.…
I was sorta like Buffet Didn't want to buy anything I didnt understand and I thought Jobs was a jerk. But letting your emotions govern your investments is usually a bad idea, although there are some lines I can't cross, like "META". I am glad I he…
Why do you think BPRN earnings just spiked? We drove there frequently several years ago when kid was at Princeton. I was always surprised at the construction and new condos etc, all high end, given the NJ tax climate.
I got burned decades ago on non traded real estate partnerships. The main reason for that crash was dramatic tax policy changes, but ever since I am very leery of buying something I can't sell, especially something where you depend on management to …
@mikeM
That's the problem. We live on a dead end road ( over a mile long) and as far as I can tell only one other guy gets a physical paper daily
They go to Florida in the winter so the guy apparently thought driving down here even once a week w…
The money Google spends on their employees is mind boggling. My son's best friend works there.
2 or 3 free high end meals a day, multiple services, allowed to work anywhere in the world
A few years ago the average bonus was $80,000. Probably not …
The other new twist is you can convert up to $200,000 ( used to be $160,000 I think) or 25% of your IRA into a QLAC tax free, so you can lower your RMD. I have not dug into it yet, but I think you can pick an annuity date at anytime in the future, …
I liked the "old" Barron's far better. I could leisurely mull over the articles all weekend.
Unfortunately, I can't even get the print edition delivered at my house anymore. Now it is mailed so it doesn't arrive until Tuesday some weeks
Customer…
I read recently that 60 to 80% of the volume on most exchanges is algos or computerized trading programs that key off of words or phrases in news wires etc
Make sure she doesn't ever want to go to graduate school or if she does Grandparents will step up again.
My son burned up last of 529 on a year of Graduate school
@msf
Thanks for all the detail. Treasury Bills are clearly the most tax efficient for state taxes, but not quite as liquid as MMF, although it is close especially for Schwab accounts that do not have sweep features
I found an ancient document on …
Lots of misinformation out there
Schwab says "Your first RMD must be taken by 4/1 of the year after you turn 73."
This is incorrect. Many people will be 73 when they take first RMD, but it is the April 1, in the year after you turn 72.
Unfortuna…
Every time I have been in one, they are kinda chaotic. Stuff everywhere, too many brands and choices. Staff helpful but not enough
Why on earth is anyone buying this stock? Hoping to sell to the greater fool before the bankruptcy announcement?
I got data from 2021 from Fido. about 50% of the SPAXX yield was state tax free. I don't know what % then was in Repos, but I bet that it was 50% and Repos are not state tax free
@mark
Yes should be "less" Thanks. Don't get me started on VA! They do the best they can, given the restrictions imposed by politics.
@BenWP
Humira Story gets worse.
From Barrons
"ABBV ‘s anti-inflammatory drug Humira, one of the top-selli…
Anybody know off the top of your head what % of the Government funds ae state tax exempt?
SPAXX is 75% Repos. I am looking for the statement from Fidelity about this but it is hard to find
The VA spent 54% than Medicare part D because they can negotiate
Saved 48% on Brand name drugs. Doesn't separate biologics (Humira) per say
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-111
Anybody use Carbonite for online backup? Seems pretty professional organization. They claim if you get infected, the virus will not get backed up to or can be reversed
I have filed K-1s on TurboTax for several years. It takes extra time and occasionally some fudging ( PTP income requires two separate K-1s for each company) but it can be done without hiring an accountant.
OF course the sums involved in my case …
Thanks msf
Not a big hurtle to clear if you are really interested. Not that it will do much good.
Most people ignore the proxy voting they get from their stock companies anyway, bu tif you look there are always a few radical proposals
Vanguard …
I have found Schwab somewhat problematic but generally OK. It is pretty easy to get a rep on "chat" but a lot of times they tell you they can't help and you have to call the number.
It is hard to tell what they can handle and what they will punt.…
From Bloomberg News headlines
High inflation has been the talk of the town for a while, but Janet Yellen said low inflation is likely to return as a long-term challenge for the economy.
“We’re just coming through an unusual and difficult perio…
The further out on the duration curve you go the worse you will do if interest rates spike back up. Many people have alluded to the "Second spike" in the 60's and 70's, after the Fed had controlled inflation one time.
The "Market" seems to think i…
@davidrmoran
It is your thread, so please relabel it as you see fit and put it in Off topic, if you want to continue discussing this.
@Old_Joe
Thanks for the answer. I try not to remember the "nasty times" but guess I missed that "Off Topic is…
@BenWP
It is hard to avoid "participating" in the misfortune of others if you buy any stock or bond, the way the world is set up. Even Treasuries support the activities of our Government which are hardly 100% benign.
I try to avoid Companies wher…
