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.
@Observant1 Yes, precisely what I meant.
Is there a case to switch from Vanguard or TRP to Fidelity on the basis of "fund family ranking". Or just buy the Fidelity fund one desires, via brokerage services? Other than select brokerage commissions, …
The notion that the Roberts rebuke was no big deal, is utterly destroyed by trump's own reaction. One where he debases himself and his own SCOTUS appointees.
Or worse, it really was no big deal, and he completely lost his shit over a tiny setback.…
a shortcut for the cognitively viable :
how do you know when facts\evidence, real or circumstantial, has reached a critical threshold? gop instructs the public to not care, and many follow in sheep-like fashion.
yes, ignore obvious 'Day 1' promises…
Epstein was charged with and accused of operating a long-running sex trafficking operation involving underage girls.
Clinton had an extramarital sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, who was a 22-year old adult at the time.
Anyone who claims…
Inflation was bad under Biden but what did you expect with the massive money pumped into the economy during Covid? Much of that under Trump. Combine that with supply chain breakdowns and corporate opportunism to increase profits and you had a perf…
Of course, then there is the DOJ attempting to scrub the Epstein files of serious allegations regarding child abuse. Suddenly, they no longer want to talk about Epstein.
"Everything Trump touches turns to shit."
Paraphrasing David Brooks, Trump degrades everyone that comes into close contact with him.
I apologize for repeating myself.
You can certainly see that in so many of his ardent supporters or previous appoin…
How much does it really matter, if one can be invested with a number 20 fund family, and still buy the funds of the number 1 firm? And most of the other firms?
Asking because I am actually interested in pro/con opinions on that, not to argue.
I g…
Thanks @Fred495 for the cheat sheet.
It will now be interesting to see what happens with these funds, PMs, INTL and U.S. holdings, as the Iran circumstances intensify. Which hold up? Which get hit hardest?
I am becoming convinced that taking a mo…
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/finlands-iqm-listing-quantum-computing.html
Now let's add quantum computing to the mix, and really accelerate the rate of change.
It's coming! Still a bit early. But, it's coming.
2011 U.S. total GDP = $15.6 trillion
2025 U.S. total GDP = $30.5 trillion
15 years has added 50,000 tons, apparently. But the price per ton, as a function of total GDP, is still about the same. The ratio has not changed much. In 2011 terms, the val…
Thanks for additional granularity. And I appreciate the optimism.
Still, could it be a little more complex than that? Higher services are still a drag on the overall economy. Affecting many income levels. Services includes healthcare, rent, transp…
I keep monitoring CD and MM rates as a safe component of investing. At Schwab MM rates are treading water around 3.5/3.65% as top rates. CD rates have a slight bias for better returns for longer term CDs: 3mo/1yr at 3.8%, 2yr at 3.85%, 3yr at 3.9%,…
Good point. Nearly everybody thought the January CPI print was probably hinky. Some were grasping at it a little too desperately. If something appears too good to be true...
@WABAC
This is historically the case, as you present.
Most of my comments are a bit tongue-in-cheek. If that isn't obvious. People fear change. Change this rapid is unnerving. Hopefully, it will all lead to the same incremental growth, as in the …
Thanks @WABAC
I was about to post this. This is as expected, by many people, who know that tariffs on corporations and consumers are inflationary. Wholesale 3.6% PPI YOY is a LOT.
The expectation for 2026 is that companies will be passing on pric…
Now I am going to be "that guy", apologies in advance.
@Sven I had overlooked that one.
I, Robot (movie) was based on an Asimov book. A collection of stories, really. Written in the 1940s and 1950s. Which makes it even more remarkable. Asimov was…
@Dutch @msf
I get your points. I have had similar thoughts.
Realistically, even if trump is only covering for other pedophiles, that is a horrific thing.
Covering for himself, is even worse. It appears that Congress has access to the un-redacted…
This is what it has come to, having to pre-justify presenting information (or thoughts), because one guy will go on an ad hominem rage attack and torpedo reasonable conversation. And everybody fully expects it.
@Mark Thanks for this topic to add t…
Back when trump was first elected, a clueless maga fellow that I worked with, complained about ACA, despite his kid being on it. Then said, will have to see what trump "replaces it with". I laughed right to his face. Here we are, a decade later, and…
As long as the scope of the entire thread is devolving, WTF?
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/24/epstein-trump-doj-garcia.html?recirc=taboolainternal
Things are now leaking out from the unreacted DOJ Epstein documents files.
Maga suddenly "don't car…
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/20/china-humanoid-robots-spring-festival-gala-unitree-tesla-ai-race.html
I don't know what to make of this, which seems to start at ~4 minute mark of the video.
We are doomed. lol
But, if it is any consolation, so i…
Let us not let facts and knowledge get in the way of a great partisan talking points.
Thanks @msf
The Linder's example is pretty stark. This administration has burned a lot of people on ACA, including their own supporters. "Thank you, Sir, Can I ha…
Soon the poorly-educated and the adequately-educated will be in the same situation. Maybe that was the plan, to make everybody equally worse off? Then blame Biden!
After giving 20+ judgements by MAGA Supreme Court in favor of Trump, this was just a glitch by them since they knew Trump will find a way to institute tariff.
I now see the next major judgement from them on Amendment 14 - Trump will get his way - a…
GOP has always wanted to dissolve Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and more recently ACA. Ironically, the lawmakers who conspire to do this, have gold-plated taxpayer provided coverages that they gave themselves.
Many who already have these be…
Thanks @msf very informative. Helps a great deal.
@Sven while my employer offers MA PPO with drug coverage for retirees, there is no employer contribution/reduction. From adding our current yearly premium to what my W-2 indicates is the employer p…
@Dutch Your post is 100% accurate. The slipping GDP, the rising PCE, the struggling markets, the jobs problems, the flow of dollars away from U.S. investment, the murders, the protection of child molesters. The rising tide of corruption.
Those who…
@Mona @Fred495
Thank you. Good info. We have been with UHC/Surest for a long time and that tilts me slightly in their direction. Cigna is a little cheaper per Medicare.gov, so I am considering them too. Once I have my research complete, I will defi…
We had a long discussion with our HR department on health benefits in retirement. I will enroll in Medicare Part B and forgo Part C and D, since we will keep our private insurance family in retirement to supplement the co-pay and other out-of-pock…
Absolutely on Plan D immediate enrollment. Thanks on the details, it is a whole other category I was going to ask about. @Crash you beat me to it! Did the Medicare.gov formulary thing, a year or two ago. Will do that again, thanks for the reminder. …
Yes, G is what we desire. Thanks on the "examination" clarification.
No one has issues with the lowest priced providers (in a given area)?
My assumption is that community pricing benefits people with higher ages or more issues?
Nearly everybody with a sound mind is on the same page. The economy is resilient. These policies are a major headwind to U.S. growth and equities. That is the main takeaway. The secondary takeaway is to seek out other opportunity. Many are finding t…
@Anna excellent points. Though I would add that humanity will be the only species that ends up killing itself (thru greed, hubris, or ignorance).
In terms of AI scenarios that is why my only AI-related stock investments are in energy and utilities…
@JD_co
But, maga talking points say otherwise. lol
The gaslighting does not appear to be stopping the flow of investment dollars from our shores. Rather than address any of that they present irrelevant talking points. In some lame attempt change t…
