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.
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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
Even though the Ryan family does have direct exposure to foreign stocks and bonds, indirectly holdings they own have some % of them. For example,
Fidelity Contra fund - 10% based on M* as of June 2012
Pimco Total Total - 5.5% foreign corporate b…
Excellent move on behalf of T. Rowe Price. A number of their funds including New Horizon and Capital Appreciation continue their consistent and solid performance as the reins were handed over to their successors.
He is rambling as usual. Personally I don't see Euro will break up, but the road to right itself will likely be long and painful with the possibility of some countries exiting euro not by their choice. So far less than credible plans have been put…
Reply to @AndyJ: Until there is more information on his research support, this fund is reserved for wait-and-see. In light of expanding into new terrorities, he needs more support than what was available to him in the past.
In addition, there is…
Other well-respected mutual fund companies also experiencing outflow as a result of internal problems and lagging performance. Brandywine funds are also struggling stemming and staff reduction, i.e. layoffs was reported lately.
Reply to @scott: Pimco Unconstrained is similar to Total Return in many aspects. The key difference is the much wider mandates allow in this fund. With much smaller asset than that of Total Return, Unconstrained can move easily from one sector to …
Reply to @Investor: I tend to agree with your assessment. Working beyond 65 would be challenging. Time has changed over the past several decades. Experience is not viewed upon as a valuable asset as it was in the past, except for few professions …
Reply to @AndyJ: Over the last several months I have been seeking alternatives to PTTRX: DoubleLine Total Return, DBTLX, Vanguard Wellesley, VWINX, T.Rowe Price Spectrum Income, RPSIX, and BOND. I am leaning toward DBTLX and BOND to replace PTTRX. …
Reply to @Old_Joe: Minor correction - majority of candles are made from parrafin wax, a distillation fraction from crude oil. Few candles are made from bee wax as they are more expensive.
By the way, candles are wonderful to have in blackouts.
Reply to @scott: I agree with your interpretation of Gross's message. Returns from both equities and bonds will be lowered than the average of the past. Investors need to adjust their expected return downward in the near future.
Inflation is p…
Reply to @Kenster1_GlobalValue: Undoubtedly the higher expense ratio is a sizable drag on its performance - 1.51% versus 0.20% Vanguard EM Index ETF, VWO. I believe there are other viable options besides Templeton Developing Markets Fund.
Reply to @Investor: Look like we share similar foreign funds. Since 2011, I have reduced the number of core foreign funds to HAINX, LZEMX (401K), and FMIJX (newest addition). Several smaller positions are MASCX, WAEMX, DEM, and VGK. VGK is more o…
Reply to @AndyJ: I also notice two additional co-managers have been added to ARTIX. Considering ARTIX's AUM was reduced to half of what it was, this change may reflect a new risk management process. Nevertheless it is encouraging for the sharehold…
Reply to @Investor: These data indicate significant slowdown in 2012, and they are more credible than those reported from the Chinese government.
Recent article from NY Times points to the accuracy of economic data coming from the China - the si…
Reply to @Old_Joe: In the past decade China's consume more from their growing middle class largely in the large cites. However, the consumption rate is far below that of the developed market. I suppose on an absolute base small move upward on th…
Reply to @Investor: "Yokey, the lead manager of ARTIX (huge fund, which was very successful 10 years ago)"
Until last year or so, ARTIX has underperformed for several years. Several factors contributed to the performance - asset has grown to over …
Reply to @scott: Investing through MLP funds was frequently discussed on this board in the past. As I recalled, MLPs are complicated in taxable account for tax reporting. Don't recall all the details on the pros and cons. Can share your experienc…
Hi Catch, I hope Michigan is recovering.... By the way, Lockheed Martin layoff number is only "projected" if they will be impacted by Dept of Defense reduced budget. Recently they hired Dick Cheney to lobby for them.
http://www.bloomberg.com/ne…
Hi Bee,
I established a small position in VGK a week ago based on European valuation. Also notice the decline of Euro since the crisis. Will expand further over the summer from the sale of domestic bond and equity positions.
The title should read individual investors are smarter than institutional investors.
Excerpt from the article, "But a new study, “ETFs: For the better or bettor?” conducted by the Vanguard Group shows that individual investors are not ruining the…
Reply to @johnN: Thanks. I will check out my brokerages and other sites you mentioned. How do you find time to do all the research necessary for bond picking, and monitoring once they are in your portfolio?
Reply to @catch22: Here is a discussion forum I found from Google on cell phones in general. Please give it a try.
http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/36-General-Mobile-Discussion-Forums
Several years ago my wife decided we should give…
Reply to @catch22: It appeared that John's reply is directed to me instead. What I posted are options you may wish to consider. If you primary use are phone calls and text messaging, getting a data plan on top of a voice plan added no value.
Wi…
Reply to @johnN: You must be one of the fortunate ones (the top 2%) whose adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000. We certainly don't come close to that. Bush tax cut is likely to be extent in some form for lower tax brackets. The Fiscal Cliff is…
Good interview from Mobius on emerging markets and their continuing development.
Why is Templeton Developing Market fund is not one of the better performing EM fund though a market cycle?
Reply to @catch22: Why not consider short duration corporate bonds as the cash equivalent instead? They are much less interest rate sensitive than treasuries. As long as they focus on high quality issues, credit risk is what you are dealing with.…
Catch, if you have a G2 cell phone with voice plan only. G3 smartphones would not add much value to serve your basic uses as a phone only. If you add a data plan (additional $$), you can expand the capabilities: connect to the web, check your emai…
This low yield environment really hurts the retirees who depend on them. It is bad enough the traditional investment vehicles such as CDs and domestic bonds pay low dividend. Those who venture into the riskier asset classes including junk bonds an…
Reply to @catch22: As I recalled TIPs funds provided negative yields over a year ago. We are not facing high inflation today comparing to that of the 80's. There is no compelling reason to own this asset class other than fear itself.
