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.
Hi @MikeM,
Your comment ... "Low duration to me just means you will loose less than longer duration."
My thinking ... That depends, in a low duration fund generally the maturity is less than a longer duration fund. With this, should the fund ma…
Hi @ron,
Not JohnC,
As of 12/30/2016 my average duration within my overall portfolio is 3.4 years with an average maturity of 5.7 years according to Morningstar Portfolio Manager. Within my income sleeve I'm finding an average duration of 2.6 yea…
I have received a message request about Brian Gilmartin. Since others might also seek more information on Brian I thought I'd post a link to Trinity Asset Management's site and what is posted there about him.
http://www.trinityasset.com/about-bria…
Hi @Zoneblitz,
Thanks for posting the subject piece on dividends. Although, I knew they were a big part of total return ... Well, I just did not realize how much! Guess, I have been on the right path to have been a dividend collector.
Old_Skeet
For what it is worth.
I think ... in short words ... the question is "Does your brokerage firm, and broker, do business as though they are bigger than you ... their client?" If your feeling is that they do ... Then I'd be moving on.
Hi @Ted and others,
Good information as I feel a good sector allocation is very important for good returns.
Something I feel has helped me and something that I strive to do is to maintain at least a 5% exposure in the minority sectors of materials…
Hi @hank,
cash in Xray = CASH$ as ticker symbol in caps.
Currently, Moringstar Xray, at times, is having issues with funds loading into the Xray report. The fix, enter all ticker symbols and amounts then click Xray and if the report does not load …
I most always find the commentary of Jeffrey Saut interesting reading and felt that this piece was indeed worth the read.
For me, during the coming year, I plan to start the rebuilding process of my CD ladder, as interest rates rise, moving some ca…
Yep, and for what it is worth, I think it wise to adjust one's asset allocation not only to one's risk tolerance but also use some adaptive allocation strategies that incorporate global and domestic dynamics as well.
I began to reduce my equity all…
Hello,
Here is a yearend rebalance strategy, of sorts.
I plan to ride the Trump rally until I detect a breakdown in its technicals. By my market valuation matrix it scores well into overbought territory. But, with most bonds (or bond funds) in d…
Here is what others have to say on the subject ...
http://lunatictrader.com/?Moon_Cycles:Lunar_Phases
And, yes from time-to-time I've played the lunar cycles within my IRA when I was a more active investor switching between cash and bonds into sto…
I've got a good number of Morgan and Eagles that have been massed through the years by both my late father and myself. In the past, I have used both SGGDX, First Eagle Gold Fund and CEF, Central Fund of Canada for speculation and investment purpose…
Yep ... that's what big money does. Runs the market up and then cashes out!
They buy low ... drive the markets upward ... and, then sell on disapointing interest rate increase news. And, then they repeat the process again. Why was this not expec…
I have owned FDSAX for a good number of years and it is my second largest holding, behind SVAAX, in my domestic equity sleeve, consisting of six funds, found in the growth & income area of my portfolio.
This is a fund that I have been increasin…
Hi @bee,
Thanks for making comment.
Let's hope that the anticipated tax cut and that the earnings numbers that Mr. Saut projects come to be. Otherwise, this market will be extremely overbought. I read Mr. Saut's commentary weekly; and, I have …
Hi @Nick_de_Peyster,
Thanks for making comment and raising questions about inflation.
As Ted points out I'm thinking for most of 2017 will be good for stocks.
Skeet
Hi @Ted,
Thanks for making comment.
I tend to agree with you about inflation not being of much concern through much of 2017. But, I'm thinking now might a good time to start planning for inflation. At least that is what I'm doing within my own p…
Hi VintageFreak,
Thanks for making comment.
I noticed some concerns too. M* list this fund as an allocation fund and the sectors that it is heavily invested in are mostly the inflation fighters and have for the most part been out of favor in our …
Hi @catch22,
Yes, a good problem ... but, one I stay on top of and that I manage.
Taxation and medicare premiums are something that I can somewhat manage due to holding a sizeable cash position. With this, should unexpected expenses arise (and …
Hello,
I enjoyed reading Charles Boccadoro's blurb he wrote about "A Low Cost Alternative to One USAA Managed Portfolio."
I decided I'd carry the analysis work a little fauther on the 50/25/25 portfolio consisting of FFNOX, FTBFX & BBALX and i…
Hello,
For me, my income area has had an increase in its value since the election by about 0.6% due in part to the equities held by some of my income funds which have increased in their value and more than offset the decline in bonds.
So, thus far…
Hi guys,
I like what both Edmond and kevindow have written above and, for me, it makes sense. My portfolio has been valuation flat since election time mostly due to my sector orientation. And, I agree that by historical standards the S&P 500 I…
For what it is worth ...
Although some might think of American Funds as a "crappy shop" ... not me. I have been one of their investors since my teenage years (now in my late 60's) and I have found their investment services, through the years, to b…
Hi @VintageFreak,
Why not buy some of both (entry positions) and add to them over time? If they both perform about the same (total return) all's well. If one out performs the other by big enough margin (thus you have discovered your answer) ... a…
For what it is worth ...
I have found during the more recent years one can based upon fundamentals find value in the markets; but, because of the flash crowd and their fast trading computers the markets today move more based upon technicals and whe…
Hi @PRESSmUP
I collect most all fund distribution in cash within my portfolio and accumulate them within the demand cash sleeve of my portfolio. With this, I can feed other sleeves for investment purposes or take portfolio distributions to my pock…
Hi @VintageFreak,
Interesting question(s) which caused me to review my own portfolio to see how it bubbles and how it has performed with respect to duration and maturity.
I am not sure this will help but I will share my findings. In review of my …
Hello,
As we enter 2017 I am looking at raising my equity allocation by using fidelity sector funds and adding about one percent each to my weightings in energy, financials, industrials and technoloy. Based upon my most recent Xray analysis this w…
Good morning,
It is for certain my small/mid cap sleeve found in the growth area of my portfolio has been the bread winner thus far this year with a year-to-date return of better than 25%. My second best performing sleeve is my domestic equity sle…
Hello ...
Did good at the good old boys "down home" turkey shoot held annually at the local American Legion. Got me three birds thus far this year ... One for Thanksiving, one for Christmas and one for New Years. Now got my sights on a ham. Prob…
Hi @bee,
Thank you for your question(s).
In response to your question one. No, I have not given much thought to switching out my funds for other funds as my portfolio was built over the span of many years. Actually, I have some investments that …
Hi @hank,
Thanks for making comment on your perspectives and portfolio management techiques. It is for sure there is no one right, or wrong, way to have success, or failure, in investing.
My concept goes back to boy scouts. I learned that three …
Hi @Derf,
Thanks for your question in reference to my comment of this morning.
As to CD rates ... I'm still looking but have yet to target a certain interest rate mark to begin to start building my CD ladder. A tips fund? I'll have to think some…
Hi all,
My portfolio is holding up pretty well as the market moves through a sector rotational shift. From my 10/28 close through my 11/14 close my portfolio is down only -0.6%. While I am down my bogey the Lipper Balanced Index is up +0.4% for t…
Hi @VintageFreak,
One of my three worst performing funds last week was my New World Fund (NEWFX) ... however, I am not ready just yet to cut it loose. Overall, I was up last week by a mere 0.9% which is better than some income investors did. I to…
Hello ...
For the week ... I have the S&P 500 Index up +3.8% from its 11/4 close of 2085 to its 11/11 close of 2164 while the Lipper Ballanced Index was up +1.4%. For the same period Old_Skeet was up a meer +0.9%. Year-to-date, I lead my bog…
Hello,
Here is what's happening with me.
Since, Mr. Trump's victory was a surprise to many it also seems to be as well for the market. In my own portfolio, I have had some winning sectors as well as some laggards. All in all my portfolio has the…
