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.
To me investments are a way of funding future (retirement) opportunities or obligations. I tend to look closely at my personal retirement obligations...taxes, premiums, monthly bills, loan payments, etc. My goal is to have enough retirement income (…
Reply to @Pangolin: For new investor PRPFX gives you a 25% position in metals and gold backed currencies blended with other assets creating a conservative allocation all in one fund. It might be a good place to start. What seems interesting to me is…
Reply to @Investor:
Thanks...here's the most recent Barclays sector CAPE evaluation paper I could find:
barclays
Also, here is the ETN that Barclay manages using this methodology and the four secrors it holds at the prent time:
etnplus.com/US/7/e…
There are poor/risky muni bond investments just as there are poor/risky equity investments.
To me these events sets the stage for restructuring a town, city or state with respect to their fiscal budgets. A well diversified and well managed Muni Bo…
Reply to @BobC:
Hi Bob C,
I like USAA's Muni offerings; USSTX, USATX, and USTEX. Using the shortest duration USSTX as a reference, the other two funds have pulled back to a point where I see the same buying opportunity. Charting longer term munis …
Reply to @Skeeter:
I own the materials sector through VAW which yeilds 2%. Vanguard also offers telecom through VOX and energy through VDE. Thanks for sharing your views of the market and your investing strategies. What do you see interesting in t…
Many of these stories remind me of an important concept I came across when reading about the sugar industry and its successful lobby efforts to profiteer off the US sugar consumer. Of course, many other profiteers are positioning themselves to take…
Reply to @TSP_Transfer:
Thanks TSP, Are you able to access these at reasonable fees. Discount to NAV and cash distribution of 9% could also be a reason for concern (is it sustainable and positive?). Thanks for your efforts here. Hoping Scott and o…
This seems to make sense on the global equity side of your portfolio. Do you also have exposure to global debt fund(s)? I have lately been pairing TGBAX (which I may change to TTRZX) with equity funds WAEMX(EM) and OAKWX(World).
Reply to @Ted:
My very reason for considering this invest is it overall recent poor performance. On a 5 year performance basis many of these commodity funds are as oversold as PM funds... some as much as 85% off their highs.
I see this as a reas…
Reply to @claimui:
Sounds like the heavy lifting will be done by the management team that selects the equity portfolio for the Gobal Reach Fund. The others funds seem simple enough to manage that the Expense Ratio and manager decision making could…
Reply to @Derf:
Hi Derf,
I purchased this fund through USAA brokerage. I went back to check to see if there was an early redemption fee and so far nothing has posted. Many of my Vanguard funds do have these early redemption fees. I'll keep you pos…
Reply to @Investor:
I added to VGPMX (my long term hold PM fund) and I created a new position with USAGX on June 20th. As you point out, this has been a falling knife investment. I just happened to catch the USAGX knife as it slipped through a lit…
Hi Ted,
Not so Ho-Hum for PM funds...mighty nice in fact. I'm sure the manipulation will continue to play out with these stocks. Feels a little like low tide right now on a historical basis. A 6.5% gain in USAGX is always a nice way to end the day.…
I own TOLSX which appears to be the same fund load waived with a lower ER. Energy is a big part of it's present infrastructure theme. GASFX seems to play in the same sand box and I also have a position in this fund..its more US-centric. VGENX has my…
This presentation actually took me longer to watch than the time a spent reading your commentary...a first I think. Thanks for both.
Dimensional Funds are great index funds but they are nearly impossible for the average investor to access. DFA req…
I have been pairing BUFBX, Buffalo Flexible portfolio, with BUFOX, which is a Tech heavy Microcap fund mentioned by Art in past threads. My brokerage allows me to exchange funds on the same day so long as the funds are in the same fund family. I ha…
I have been invested in DWS global infrastruture fund, TOLSX, which seems heavily invested in energy related companies. Might be a good comparative fund to this new offering.
Also, I wonder if fund companies peel off securities from other funds the…
Reply to @MaxBialystock:
Hi Max,
I've read that 40 percent of all energy use is directed at manufacturing. With China being the manufacturing hub of the world these days I can image a lot of this growth in demand is / was manufacturing based. They…
Maybe he's got some interest in a chairman's position...on another note, I hope we can finally stop tweeking the numbers and start growing our economy. Productivity will take care of a lot of these aches and pains much like sore muscles need to be s…
Reply to @Old_Joe:
Yes, a bit of a gamble, but I got tired of saying to myself...
"Don't just do something... stand there!".
So PETDX, which recently has been hurt by a lack of inflation (with respect to its Real Return strategy) may be a benefic…
Reply to @Charles:
With only a three track record BREFX may need a little more time to prove it's a consistent long term performer, but over the last three years it seems worth keeping an eye on.
Reply to @Gary:
Hi Gary,
What you're describing sounds like a Flexible Saving Account, not an HSA. Unused contributions to an HSA can be carried over from year to year.
Thanks Skeeter,
What are your cash investments these days... Ultra short duration bonds, Short duration high yield bonds, laddered CD's, or plain old mattress stuffing (cash)?
Do you or others see Sherriff Bernacke's walk off into the sunset casti…
TRAMX has a shorter history than most TRP funds. I included TRAMX in a longer term chart with PRWCX and TROW (T Rowe Price stock)...it's amazing to compare the performance of TROW long term against one of TRP's best run funds,PRWCX. For the stock of…
I'm going to add a old boutique fund..BRUFX. Hard to access...but maybe that's a good thing. A father-son duo that keep the portfolio truck driving down the road.
Reply to @hank:
Hi Hank,
Similar to your broader definition of what you consider cash, I have included RPSIX (a TRP fund) as a place where my "cash" resides. It seems to have a little less downside risk when I look back at 2008 compared to TRRIX.
…
Reply to @andrei:
Hey Andrei,
Another big drop today for PDI. Down 2.3% as of 2:30 pm est. Will be interesting to see how much of a drop PIMIX experiences. Looks like a 5% diiferential between PIMIX(PONDX) and PDI. Monitoring and keeping this strat…
