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.
JG on why commodities might be a good choice over equities:
In a response to a question about whether having 10 percent of a portfolio in gold is "too much," Gundlach said he would rather put 10 to 15 percent of his investments in commodities broadl…
I found this presentation interesting of IOFIX (IOFAX).
Website:
alphacentricfunds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IOFAX-Presentation-January-2017-Retail.pdf
Interview with manager of GNXIX a pure play mutual fund in the area of Robotics and Automation.
https://fool.com/investing/2017/10/11/investment-ideas-in-the-robotics-industry.aspx
Fund Website Link:
alphacentricfunds.com/funds/GlobalInnovationsFu…
Potential Impact of Cash Repatriation on EPS of Stocks (S&P 500 and Tech) :
fundamentalis.com/?p=7403
A look at 4th Quarter Earnings Estimates and Interesting Cash Repatriation Spreadsheet:
fundamentalis.com/?p=7397
Close-up of Spreadsheet:
fu…
A good perspective on the S&P 500 can be found here:
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/2017/12/01/s-p-500-snapshot-up-1-53-from-last-week
Another Fidelity link to understanding Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) which both can fund a DAF and where the DAF only holds the distributed "donation" from the Trust.
Using donor-advised funds
“One planning tip…
I believe the equity market can act as its own re-balancing mechanism. Market price conditions change "moment by moment". When you are in the accumulation stage of life you might dollar cost average (dca) into these price conditions and in a sense y…
Yeah @Anna... Willows also have shallow, bumpy roots that are nasty on the lawn mower...and then there's the Catalpa with its overactive suckers and Pod production. Kinda like credit card offers.
@catch22,
The author estimates that $32 trillion of wealth (returns in excess of Treasury Bills) was created between 1926 and 2015 via the approximately 26,000 stocks that have appeared in the CRSP database during that time. Of these 26,000 stocks, …
Comment section is as valuable as the article...maybe more.
This brings to mind Ashvin Chhabra's book The Aspirational Investor. He makes a similar suggestion. Divide into three buckets: safety, core, Aspirational.
Maybe your article should be read …
Interestingly, a high percentage of these two portfolios are found outside the US. with Japanese companies making up a large part of the top 25 companies. BOTZ is concentrated with only 28 holdings and the top ten holding make up 68% of the etf. Tha…
@LewisBraham said,
The question for investors isn't how fast the economy is growing, but how much of an economy's revenues corporations can extract in the form of profits to distribute to shareholders.
Your thoughts on this upcoming event (repatria…
A nod for High Yield in a Rising rate environment:
https://invesco.com/pdf/HYBRR-FLY-1.pdf
Where's @Junkster when you need him...probably kneeing up a High Yield mountain trail.
Another nod for High Yield:
high yield bonds have historically not o…
@catch22,
Thanks for the response and links. I like the dynamic visual effect "the 2326 day slider" feature provides the viewer. Cool tool.
What are your impressions of the impact rising rates will have on this fund and other RE funds that derive i…
@catch22...thanks for the "catch".
Since you are more familiar with this fund (FRIFX), do you ever use it as a indicator of the broader Real Estate index (I'll use VGSIX...the index) . It seems FRIFX might serve as good indicator of whether the RE…
Comparing 1 YR performance of IYR to a Real Estate Income Fund, such as FRIFX, reveals about a (5.7%) upside difference in performance for IYR.
Real estate stock appreciation comes with a fair amount of volatility. Be prepared for that kind of …
From Article:
With hindsight, we can see that the low point for the U.S. economy was the best time to buy in, even though it felt like the worst. The relationship between economics and the stock market is not as clear as most people think.
Most of u…
I don't think it works that way. Gifted shares retain the original owner's basis. No step up except at death.
David
This is where reincarnation would come in handy... thanks for the memo.
Listen to this "Tax Proposal" interview through this @Ted link:
https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/36848/consuelo-mack-s-wealthtrack-guest-elda-di-re-ey-national-tax-department#latest
Is this where "re-gifting" finally loses it's negative connotation?
Estate planning moves main stream (...not really):
No way I will ever challenge the present $5M nor the proposed $10M limit, but why not sell assets keeping the new tax proposal …
Thanks for this Thread.
Wow...ICMAX...Almost 60% Cash, 20% Bonds...ER=1.4% while the 1 Yr Investor Return was 1.44%.
Another way of putting it is that the fund investors spent $2.475 M in management fees to achieve a CD rate return of 1.44% (or $…
Also,
403bwise is a website dedicated to helping 403(b) investors:
403bwise.com/
Petition your school's plan administrator to include 403(b)(7) options similar to Vanguards:
403(b)(7) Employer Kit
An alternative to 403(b) investing might be found right under the noses of the (K-12) educator who contributes through payroll deductions to fund their very own state pension. State systems often have what are referred to as "voluntary accounts" for…
Let me take an "espresso shot" at this by sharing the research of Russel Napier. The last few minutes of this interview explains the historical problem of chasing yield, especially EM corporate debt (High Yield).
My paraphrasing his words:
When ope…
Connecting the David Swenson discussion dots:
https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/36708/conversation-with-david-swenson#latest
@MikeM2, using VWINX (VWENX) as a retirement distribution strategy is also another worthy attribute of the …
Thought this link was worthy of the thread.
The article's introduction grabs you like a good novel:
It had been a little over a week since anyone had seen Karina Chikitova. The forest she had walked into nine days prior was known for being overrun …
Ulli the E.T.F Bully updates E.T.Fs with a Momentum ranking:
theetfbully.com/Tables/HVETFMasterCutline11102017.pdf
Investments with an Edge does something similar for with a buy, sell and hold recommendations based of the relative strength of the E…
@jlev,
How long would people wait before deciding their level of comfort/ trust with VGWAX?
I've thought about this as well. My take is when a mutual fund is introduced it has the benefit or challenges of the market cycle. Funds that became availabl…
@Slick,
You seem to have a fair number of Vanguard Funds. Why not consider moving all of them "in Kind" from Fidelity to Vanguard. I have done that for no charge. This would elevate the $75 TF Fidelity charge to buy/sell Vanguard funds as well as Va…
@Derf,
I noticed that paragraph as well...
Just typing out loud here, but Mutual Fund shares can be moved "In Kind" within your own accounts with the cooperation of the fund company. I have done this between different IRA accounts. Whether this is …
Marketwatch Article that digs into 2017 tax considerations while keeping reader's updated on both the House and Senate versions of tax overhaul bills.
Article:
here-are-the-best-ways-to-reduce-your-tax-bill-this-year-2017
Other tax Guy Articles:
h…
Myth or realty?
I read somewhere the the "track distance" relates back to the Roman Chariots and the "rut distance" between the chariot wheels as they Romanized Europe and beyond, eventual became "track distance" between railroad tracks.
My advic…
@catch22,
Another approach would be to input 2017 data using 2016 tax software (loaded on you computer off line) to approximate your 2017 taxes. Valid concern in today's day and age.
@Puddnhead commented:
The economy is booming in our neck of the woods.
From this linlked article is an alarming statistic for the Pittsburg, PA area related to Retail Debt Delinquencies.
