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.
One of the main issues I have when I read articles that compare the S + P indexes to actively managed funds is that many managed funds have a mix of US, International, some cash and bonds and some have derivatives. So its not always comparing apple…
@kaspa, the reason I chose PJP over others is because it did not have other than pure pharma and biotech. I have that covered with FBTIX and PHSZX. It complements them nicely. XLV is a great choice for broad healthcare , devices, services that supp…
I sold KMP about 3 months ago and added proceeds into my AMLP position, just wanted more diversification. its the number one holding in AMLP so its getting a nice bounce today :)
@Old_Skeet, thanks for the article. Nice to see the vindication of adding non correlated assets is not just an idea that is out of fashion, but actually works the way its supposed to. Wont work all the time, but sure glad it worked this time.
Hi pudd,
I am no expert in bonds, there are others on the board that could answer some of your questions, I suggest you post as a seperate topic. Mine were I inherited, so that is why the good rate. They were issued about 5 years ago.these are Aa1 b…
Puddnhead,
Don't count on buying a municipal bond and assuming it will be for the 15 or 20 year maturity at the same rate. I have individual munis, and they all have first call dates in 2016, at which time I expect that they will be called. Since…
I sure wish him luck, I own three Oppenheiner funds: ODVYX, OSMYX and OYEIX, none of which have bonds in them. Only bonds funds i own are MWLIX and OSTIX. Rest of bond allocation in individual bonds.
@Old_Skeet: I have two utility funds, MMUIX and FRUAX (these are inst versions), which I added last year, and very happy. I try not to buy sectors after they have run up, they were part of my allocation plan designed with my FA last year. These, …
In my retirement portfolio .I use etfs mainly for sectors or enhancing managed funds I own. I own IYE, IYJ, PJP (one of two faves), PKW (other fave), RHS, VNQ, XLP and VIG. I added VIG since when I moved to Merrill, I could no longer add to VDIGX…
Added to IYE by lightening up a bit on XLP in Roth, standing pat in mutual funds. Sold MCD just before this week's gyrations and still have it in cash waiting further declines. If not, will put it to work by end of September.
I grew up in NY and have not had great pizza since I left, but I too had heard about the water because of its hardness is why the pizza and bagels were like nowhere else. By the way, IMHO the best pizza was always at the pizza places at subway sto…
I looked at IRNIX and what really glared at me when I researched the underlying funds it holds, they all had an expense ratios well under 1% but this fund charges 1.49%. Seems why have so many bond funds, and pay a fee on top of a fee when one to t…
This is likely to be a long response, so here goes. I was in a similar situation 18 months ago when I inherited a portfolio from my spouse. In my situation it was at Fideility and it had an assigned high net worth manager, but this person did not …
I dvr this show weekly and watch at my leisure. I think she always has excellent guests and asks well thought out questions. Its not the same old same old you see on CNBC. It reminds me a bit of Rukheyser's old show, although not quite the same, a…
I own two: ODVYX and ABEMX, they seem to work well together. When one zigs the other zags, rarely in tandem, which I like. Have some other intl funds that have some exposure to e emerging markets, you asked about EM funds
I have the institutional version SMGIX as my second largest core holding, it replaced my shares in UMBIX when the manager retired. I owned that way before it became part of the Columbia family. Ironic that it is likely that fund will be merged into…
These snappers were baby bluefish, delish, but not oily like when they mature into blues. Dip in egg, breaded and fried with lots of onions, and I forgot to say how many blue claw crabs we used to catch along with the snappers with simple traps and …
@Crash,
Since you opened the gate to fishing, congrats on the great catch. Two weeks ago decided to try fly fishing in Taos, and spent a whole day in hip waders standing in a stream nevercatching a darned thing. I decided this is not my idea of fu…
Thanks for posting that Ted. Just ran my funds and etfs ytd and glad to see not one in the red. My best are my reit etf, utility funds, health care etf and health care funds, all of which last year except for health care were my laggards. My ener…
When Im in NY, nothing less than a really good pastrami on rye, yes with the fat (thats why it tastes so good) will satisfy me. This transplanted New Yorker finds it hard to get NY pastrami in New Mexico :)
@DGoodrow,
To me, being diversified is more than LC/MC/SC intl and emerging markets. Within these categories I also have sector funds and etfs such as biotech, pharma, utilities, reits and consumer staples, an allocation fund and 20 stocks across …
If you are sleeping well as it is, you are ahead of many others. If you are well diversified, you should not see a 50% loss or have to worry about it. I am more diversified than I used to be and as we age, that is always a good thing since we have…
@dgoodrow,
I am the same age as you and I am 70% equities, 30% bonds and cash. Depending on your needs and individual situation, as many here will tell you, you might be a bit too conservative. If however you have determined what you need in retir…
Nice to see the few funds that I own that are on these lists were recommened to me by my financial advisor, funds that I would not have looked at if I was still picking only ntf funds and no load funds at my former brokerage house. She keeps earni…
@puddnhead
I will comment a bit on you hc holdings, I also have more than one fund in this sector. I have FBTIX, PHSZX and PJP. The first one is mostly biotech, second is a combo and i added the etf since neither of the funds had much in your basi…
My regional bank has a program that each time I use my debit card, it transfers $.50 into my savings account and at the end of the year it matches what I have had transferred up to a predetermined amount (can't remember what the limit is ) and last …
I recently added Blackstone Group (BX) for this spcae. I consider it a part of my financials sector weighting, but have JPM and TRV as the main players in this sector. Nice yield on BX but it is very volatile and not for the faint of heart :)
Back in January, I added an international small cap OSMYX with some emerging market exposure (15%), but will admit it is still primarily developed market. I was a little late to the party, but thought it was a space that could use a place in my p…
I have more than one fund in the health care sector, but I chose one that was strictly biotech, FBTIX , A heathcare services, biotech, pharma and devices mix PHSZX and an etf of large Pharma only, PJP , which contain stocks the other two lacked. …
I always stay invested throughout the year and am very happy that Im diversifiied- one of my bottom holdings last year is leading the pack this year: VNQ at 14.2% ytd. followed closely behind by my utility funds FRUAX at 12.91 and MMUIX at 10.27 yt…
sounds like one of your lighter days David :) Congrats on your house and on keeping your priorities in the right place. We appreciate your work whenever it gets done.
Hi Kaspa,
I think it’s worthwhile to look at portfolios of low turnover funds, historically lower turnover funds have better returns. Here ‘s an alternate view: Figure out what your ideal sector allocation in equities should look like. Determ…
ok if we are going to count ETFS ( i purposely left them out since ron set the conditions), VNQ wins in my portfolio, 11.89% ytd. including reinvested dividends. Never though that would happen after being so lackluster in 2013
FRUAX 10.56
MMUIX 7.74
ABEMX 4.28
Seems like many of us had some emerging market funds in the top 3. Good to see. Have no idea where they go from here , I keep hearing dire predictions on where EM are going, but keeping mine right where they …
@rjb112,
I have an account with Merrill Lynch, and I pay fee for assets under management, but its fairly reasonable (under 1%) and I get access to some closed funds, institutional shares of funds and load funds without fees. Also don't pay a fee t…
If you have access to load funds but don't have to pay a load, check out OSMYX, Oppenheimer's offering. Can be volatile, but strong returns. I bought i towards the end of 2013. New manager, but strong team behind him and the fund is 15 years +
