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.
“While you see a chance, take it,” for the world may not understand the grand vision I have. With superior funds and a military unmatched, I would seize the Panama Canal, the lifeblood of global trade, ensuring that every vessel passes under my comm…
Recession will start this month in Canada and Mexico, causing USD to strengthen. Our neighbors will be buying fewer American goods with their weak currency.
ICMUX is in 1% percentile rank for 1,3 and probably 5 year. What are they getting right that Vanguard with tens of Billions in bond management gets 0% over 10 years?
How the Largest Bond Funds Did in 2024
https://www.morningstar.com/bonds/how-lar…
I bought a few shares of ProShares UltraPro S&P500 UPRO in 2020. 3X leverage on SP500. Shouldn’t hold for long term, but somehow still a triple today.
2024 64%
2023 69%
2022 -57%
2021 99%
2020 10%
After reading that December letter, I wondered what SAT questions there would be if letter was on SAT exam. What was the tone of the author? It seems the author was wandering in the woods like Thoreau and reflecting on valuation lessons from Ma…
Hank,
You make great points. I bought a small position as a safer bet versus Bitcoin.
I think they 80 and 90% hedges will be popular for fund managers.
@equalizer, will you be covered through employer group health insurance plan until 65 when Medicare kicks in?
Years ago, mine did only IF I opted for pension, not lump-sum. But plans differ on this.
Yes, covered by employer till 65,
I’m taking “early” retirement next week at 57, so been thinking about risk/reward. Have coworkers who couldn’t tell you what WSJ means, but had retirement 100% in SPY for 30 plus years. Compared to 70/30 ratio, could mean 8% AR vs 11%. Over 33 ye…
Yikes. UVXY's been really Ultra the last 4 years: -88%, -45%, -88%, -54% ytd.
Vix started year ar 13 and is ending near 14. This ETF is probably one of the worst ETFs ever designed if you want to make money.
It seems any comment perceived as negative about this fund raises emotions in this forum. I can not afford attachments of any kind - that is a luxury afforded to immortals.
The fund might outperform (some parts of the market) during this December …
Up to a max of 138 grams of gold per metric ton of ore and gold is as deep as 9800 feet. If that mine started new stock listing it would be in the pinks sheets.
When iShares released SMAX Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF on Oct 1, 2024 the max cap was only 7.4% instead of 10.6% on July 1, 2024 Max Buffer ETF MAXJ.
The VIX was in 12.5 range July 1, but had gone up to 19 range in October, so I suspect that corr…
Good point, Old Joe, that's why I am putting some of the proceeds of any maturing CDs into bond OEFs like CBLDX, DHEAX, ICMUX and RCTIX.
I am also putting money into two low risk market neutral funds like QQMNX (SD=7.2%) and JMNAX (SD=4.4%), and H…
For MAXJ, looks like on June 28 they started fund with IVV at 547 and bought July 2025 puts at 547 and sold July 2025 calls at 608, which is about 11.1% upside minus the 0.5% fee and we get the 10.6% upside. Would have to check prices for this stra…
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has just launched an ETF that offers 100% downside protection to investors. The new ETF (MAXJ) will have its maximum gains capped at 10.6% while protecting against the downside for a duration of 12 month…
@Balu. Yes Firstrade
I thought you were talking about E*trade because you said “self directed "Platinum" account and all mutual fund trades are NTF. No fees at all.”
Another Tim Buckley has the best rendition of the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Do you mean his son Jeff Buckley?
Both were incredible artists with their haunting prose.
“Last Goodbye” is so tragic.
Two more to compare
Fidelity® Select Software and IT Services Portfolio
FSCSX
7/29/85
Average annual total return
16.3% vs SP500 11.21%
Vanguard Health Care
VGHCX
Average annual total return
15.28% vs SP500 xxx?
(05/23/1984)
FSELX
Average annual…
Hank,
We were both fortunate. Saw a report where someone was trying to rebook cancelled flight on Alaska and message said hold time was 7 overs. My son was on hold for 1.5 hrs and I think it just disconnected. Luckily they just changed aircraft…
@Tarwheel again I agree completely.
It's also why when I joined my state university system I avoided the pension plan and went for the self-directed 403(b). Many state pensions have huge positions in various (and costly) hedge/PE investments that …
So my son was scheduled to fly back from Maui to California yesterday on Max 9. Really cheap fare early Jan - $275 RT. Alaska switched plane to 737-900 and kept same flight. When I went to check status on Google I see a diverted message on Flight…
So T-bills are in special category different from regular stock and fund sales.
IRS:
Q: If I anticipate a sizable capital gain on the sale of an investment during the year, do I need to make a quarterly estimated tax payment during the tax year?
A…
Msf,
If one had millions in T-bills, couldn’t they be subject to fee if they didn’t withhold 90% of taxes due? If so, the taxes due are not in April 2025, rather quarterly estimated payments?
The M* ITCSX report (10/28/2022) indicates this fund has been closed to new investors since 2014.
Without logging into Morningstar, it shows ITCSX as open, that’s why I asked. But of course it is limited to only certain group and it is closed anywa…
Us cibc CD rates
12 MONTH CD
5.36% APY
24 MONTH CD
4.75% APY
We may charge a 30 day penalty if you withdraw your CD funds before maturity.
We’re backed by CIBC, a 150-year-old Toronto-based global financial institution. Our U.S. headquarters is in…
Very impressive life story, too bad he and his team never received fanfare they deserved. Vanguard doesn’t allow employees to go on business shows?
My best investment ever. If I had just DCA most spare money on this fund, not too late?
Maybe 50/50 HSGFX/BRK.B? Dunno
HSGFX +17.3% 1 YR
BRK.B +2.7% 1 YR
Combined: Performance +10%
Nice going @BaseballFan
Now - Please advise on where to put our money in 2023 :)
Very good work Baseball Fan.
I’ll pick Lee Smith as hardest w…
Need to fix formatting.
Standouts are
Name Ticker "%TR YTD" "% TR 5 Year" "%TR 10 Year"
T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation PRWCX -7.79 12.25 12.16
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value TRMCX -1.1 9.49 12.06
Vanguard Health Care Inv VGHC…
