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.
You have to be careful with comparing funds from different categories using SD (FPNIX short term bond, HOSIX and CBLDX multisector). Here is an excerpt from AI regarding SD comparisons for funds from different categories:
"No, you generally should…
In researching multisector HOSIX, I noticed that fund company recently opened a new fund (HOTIX), in the nontraditional bond oef category. Without performance history, there is a risk, but there are occasions when nontraditional funds, from quality…
Of course, HOSIX will not repeat last year performance.
I traded APDPX less than 90 days and didn't pay the 2% fee at Schwab.
Most of these funds have $49.95 TF. Do you have to pay or do you have special tier account?
At Schwab, I believe the $4…
HOSIX is a very attractive fund, and CDs are below 4% and trending lower. I don't see how Schwab MMs can continue to stay above 4% much longer. With inflation starting to rise again, it is far from certain that the Feds will aggressively lower inter…
@dtconroe. I will be curious what your final decision is. I would also like to retract my recommendations. Those two funds - SCFZX and HOSIX - were stellar during the most recent period of higher rates but their yields have been dropping like a …
I have experienced several market crash periods, in which several funds with low volatility for years, had dramatic losses during a market correction. In post-crash analysis, derivatives that were using leveraging and speculation, were blamed for th…
When evaluating bond oefs, I have often avoided funds with high percentages of derivatives in that fund's portfolio. The Investopedia definition of derivatives is as follows:
"What Is a Derivative?
The term “derivative” refers to a type of financi…
Junkster: "Surprised no one has mentioned a fund widely held by the populace here NRDCX. Talk about low volatility with nary a down day"
I am not sure how many investors even know about this fund. It has only existed for about a year. I took a clo…
junkster: "Weren’t you a victim of the SEMMX scam that it was a cash substitute in 2020? I wouldn’t touch any fund associated with the fellow that has run LCTRX since 1997. Investigate its punk performance in 2015 and why. I would stick with the guy…
Thanks to all who have discussed LCTRX and collateralized loan obligations--very clarifying. Regarding my comments on Risk, I am just trying to establish some understandable criteria for discussing funds. It is just one step in the process of doin…
FD mentioned a fund above for consideration--LCTRX. It is categorized as an Intermediate Core Plus bond oef, but it is very different than other funds in this bond oef category, in that it has a very low duration and very low standard deviation. T…
My question, at this point in time, is whether "low risk" is a good choice with rate cuts on the near horizon? And with inflation around 3%, possibly going higher. I do realize that that is not the OPs question. But, wonder what various posters are …
Regarding my use of the term "low risk bond oefs", I was referencing typically used risk measures, as quoted on M*. M* provides a section entitled "Risk" for each mutual fund, and in that "risk" category, there are several categories of information…
Here are a few other "low risk" bond oefs that I have retained on my M* Watchlists. You should remember that the M* risk numbers, noted by msf, are relative to the category the fund is in:
DBLSX, short term bond, Risk Score 5
BSBIX, short term bon…
If you are considering an ETF, I like PULS, which has a better overall return vs JPST, ICSH and a M* risk score of 2 out of 100!
I am not considering ETFs, but some other lurkers or posters may get some benefits from those listings. If you have bo…
If you want low risk, short term or ultrashort term bond funds would need to be considered. I like BBBIX, RPHIX, and PTSHX
Thanks for the suggestions--I know RPHIX very well, but not as familiar with BBBIX and PTSHX
You mentioned DHEAX in an earlier post, @dt, and I think it is right up your alley. SEMRX, the IG cousin of SEMPX/SEMMX, has tracked DHEAX closely since a management change in 2023, when Semper and a group called Medalist merged. In the last year, t…
Look at WCPNX. I used to own it, but it was going nowhere fast. It was too tame for me. Solid, low risk. 4.85% current yield. Top 10 in portfolio is all Treasuries, except one listing of Fannie Mae.
https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xnas/wcpnx/risk
…
You may want to look into CBLDX, DHEAX, ICMUX, and RCTIX.
I am pretty familiar with these funds. DHEAX use to be one of my major bond oef holdings before the 2020 crash. Thanks for the recommendations.
If you are thinking about a longer term CD (say a year or more), you might consider streamlining an IRA transfer by using a 60 day rollover (once per year is the limit).
You could withdraw the IRA money into your taxable Schwab account and on the s…
yugo, that was a very nice post above, of various CD opportunities. I am familiar with the Marcus opportunities, but had not looked at the others you posted.
Friday, start of Labor Day week-end, 29th Aug: SWVXX is giving a 7-day yield of 4.15%
but don't count on that holding for too long.
Agreed--just took money out of SWVXX, in a taxable account, to buy a 12 month CD at 4.2%. In my IRA at Schwab, I ha…
I use SNAXX in my IRA account. When the market tanked a few years ago, I sold all my bond oefs in my IRA, and invested over $1mil in SNAXX. A few months later, I started withdrawing funds from SNAXX and invested in CDs. I now have far less in SNA…
There is nothing simple about global economies and the impact of Tariffs. You make assumptions about tariffs and impacts on global economies, and then a few days later, you get new information that alters what you were concluding a few days earlier…
Hi Fred, I thought I might venture back into bond oefs this year, as CDs mature. But with the political chaos this year, it is just too complicated for me to trust investing options other than CDs and MMs. I had 2 CDs mature this week, and I bough…
Which means nothing is falling apart except ranting daily by certain people.
I don't think that is an accurate statement either. As I understand the Fed's rationale, the impact of tarriffs is not yet settled, but there are serious concerns. It app…
Regarding all the fuss about FD, I don't find anything unusual about his market exit. He has often moved out of the market quickly during market turmoil. Back when both FD and I invested similarly in bond oefs, he would often let me know he was se…
FYI from Barron's: "Heads up, municipal bond investors: Amid all the Trump 2.0 policy proposals, there is one you should be aware of: The potential for munis to lose their tax-exempt status. “Eliminate Exclusion of Interest on State and Local Bonds”…
I am a little older than you, dt, and also don't have much appetite for risk. However, I do want to beat inflation and aim to have my portfolio earn an annual total return of around 5-7%.
Currently, about 25% of my portfolio is invested in CDs from…
I note SWVXX is down to 4.15% yield. Still attractive to me. I'm still adding in dribs and drabs. The savings account at the credit union is used simply as a sleeve to tuck money into for a particular purpose; it will be spent in a matter of months.…
”hank, are you willing to provide more personal details about your situation, so your opinions have some context?”
Which opinion? I’ll try to compare my situation to yours but not sure if that affects most of my opinions about investing or finance…
hank, are you willing to provide more personal details about your situation, so your opinions have some context? bee did provide personal details of retirement and consideration of an "annuity-like" income stream:
"When I retired 13 years ago, I a…
@dtconroe, do you have Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Once you start Medicare, you cannot contribute to hsa, But you can continue to draw from hsa.
I have a Medicare Advantage plan and an HSA. Fortunately, I have been very healthy throughout my re…
bee: "Question: How many have turned to annuities or "annuity - like" strategies to increase your income spending?
When I retired 13 years ago, I attempted to project my future spending needs. Over these years I have meet my spending needs with a …
According to the Morningstar definition of "other":
"Other"
"The proportion of the fund invested in other securities such as property or other financial instruments"
When I use to do a lot of bond oef investing, and you broke down the funds holdi…
