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Sven
Lynn,
Thank you so much. I am planning on a 3-year ladder since I am a year away from retirement. Lots of spreadsheet work to calculate the income replacement needed. This ladder will create a steady income stream. So thank you for all your help.
I moved back to high quality bond funds this year. Some of which you covered in the SA article. For now, I will stay with agency bonds to the bond ladder. I will pick active managers for corporate bonds.
Sven
Matthews Asia Strategic Income Fund, an Asia focus bond fund, has sizable allocation invested in Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia in addition to China. YTD return (9/27/2012) at 9.1% ; 30 days yield 3.87% as of 6/30/2012.
http://matthewsasia.co…
Reply to @Kenster1_GlobalValue: Clearly poor stock picking picking contribute to this year's lagging performance. Also the gold and large cash positions did not help.
Reply to @Accipiter: We are looking at the tip of the iceberg. Many large multinationals are practicing the exact same thing. There are ample of loopholes within US tax codes that allow these corporation to get around them it is probably all legal…
Reply to @Investor: Also, I consider this as a political post (and interview as political interview) since these folks has no problem increasing deficits and growing entitlements during Bush years.
Medicare will change forever and replace with "vou…
Reply to @AndyJ: Vanguard closed their high yield fund for the same reason - heavy inflow. In this low yield environment, income investors are pushed to take on additional risk. Once upon a time, CDs yield over double digits.
Reply to @Investor: I see this sort of "specially packaged" funds more often in 401(K). Sometime annual reports are not available for these funds. Tracking performance is thus nearly impossible.
Thanks for posting. Vanguard Health Care fund has been one of my parent's fund for the past 15+ years. Throughout the market's ups and downs, the fund has done very good as noted int Barrons article. In the past several years we adopted a second …
Small shop from Milwaukee, WI offers excellent returns while providing lower than average downside risk. Also the expense ratio are very, very good. These days it is seldom that 1% ER for international funds.
For the record, we owned Common Sto…
He is following his rival, Bill Gross, footsteps. DoubleLine is basically a bond shop., and it will take awhile to hire solid managers and to build up the analyst supports to be competitive, let alone being successful, in the equity space.
Reply to @scott: "Lastly, I'm sure some developing countries around the world who will see further rises in food and other prices will not be pleased."
Inflation in food and consumer staples is here already in US. Many companies play games with co…
Reply to @Old_Joe: If we look far enough, say 5 years time frame, US will enter another recession. Forward-looking picture is challenging... My take is that the interest rate will be higher than the near zero rate today, and investment grade bonds …
Reply to @kevindow: The EM allocation is decreasing from the previous month. Also over 10% derivates are used in the cash position. Going foward these two funds should not track each other as the portfolio construction are distinctly different. Q…
Reply to @kevindow: Are the data you posted found in M*? The difference in EM exposure reflects different viewpoints with respect to risk & return between Pimco and Thornburg.
I have had a D-Link wireless router for several years before I bought a little known brand router from Medialink 6 months ago. This is by far the easiest unit to set up. Furthermore the reliability is remarkable throughout the house with 2 laptops…
It may be a good idea to run Portfolio x-ray tool on all your funds. You may have sufficient allocation globally already. If you are using active managed funds, the managers you hired should be asking the same question you are seeking now.
Part 2 of the studies is very informative. Wonderful how many people who want to be educated on financial matters while they are young. Very few of my colleagues (many with PhDs) have interest in managing their 401(K) accounts.
Thanks for posting. The chart going back say 10 years indicated the fund trailed its benchmark index.
Several weeks ago there was a tread discussing ARTIX's recent turnaround.
http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/discussions-3/#/discussion/comment…
Reply to @Investor: According to the article below posted by by AndyJ, Buffet also sold Intel and Direct TV, and bought Phillips in addition to Wells Fargo.
I expect more changes coming as you eluded that transition to the new hands is progressin…
Reply to @Old_Joe: More information below.
http://blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/08/21/should-muni-investors-follow-buffett-to-the-exits/
"..it may be unwise to read too much into Buffett’s move about the state of muni bonds, pros say. His dec…
Reply to @msf: Thanks for pointing out the subtle differences among brokerages. I am trying to consolidate IRA accounts in one (two max) brokerage for ease of managment. Fidelity has been great for us in many aspects, but they have fewer funds than …
Interesting idea. Wish the frontier market and the "more mature" emerging market along with BRIC are all in one ETF with different weighings with respect to their risk.
These are new ETFs, and beware of the low trading volumes.
EGShares Beyon…
Reply to @catch22: Thanks. The situation in Europe has not improved materially. As for HY, the yield is inching down as well. It was not long ago when it yielded double digits.
Reply to @msf: "Better to buy the A shares load waived, e.g. through Schwab or TDAmeritrade"
Thanks for pointing this out. Fidelity does not allow A shares to be purhase with load waived.
In addition, can one purchase institutional shares at lo…
Reply to @Mark: It is hard to imagine these millionaires can relate to majority of their constituents - the working class. At the same time, it takes money to run for office successfully. I am surprise Donald Trump did not run this time around.