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’re absolutely right, @dryflower. I found David Snowball’s write up on equal-weight S&P (RSP, VADDX, and INDEX) in this month’s commentary to be very helpful. If one foresees a market not dominated by the mega-cap tech stocks, but one that co…
As a father I do think about the economy that my kids are facing. The younger two (32 and 25), who rent, are for the most part shut out of the home-buying market and it’s likely to be some time before they’d even consider buying. Among my three sibl…
@Crash: I believe you can use a US-bank credit card, but each bank may have different commissions and exchange-rate fees. I would use my Schwab debit card because it has a good fee structure. YMMV.
I should have explained that it was my1993 Nissan 300ZX. Neither our Accord nor our Odyssey would stoop so low as to not start. The dealer, who has a seasoned Z mechanic, could not replicate the problem. The service manager drove it around for a whi…
It’s not just “stuff” that has risen in price. Services also. Car towing to the repair shop was more than double what I paid 3-4 years ago, to say nothing of the big check I just wrote to the septic tank pumper, 40-50% higher than five years ago. I …
@Crash: uploading the photo is simpler than one might think. When we travelled to India 4 years ago, we had to apply online for visas, which required photos, of course, as well as a generous fee. I think I scanned our passports and then created a co…
@Observant1: I’m finding it’s not just the volatility of small caps, especially SCV. Good past performers BRSVX and RWJ have struggled this year, while a couple of newcomers (which I own) are doing fine. Most of you probably don’t buy new funds, eve…
Seems to me Chris Christie and family got caught enjoying a lovely day at the beach when all other citizens were required to shelter at home. I also recall the sensitive masked Ted Cruz and entourage being caught by a camera as they sought to flee C…
“Something went wrong. Try reloading.” Such was the message I got when I clicked on your link, @davidrmoran. I’m not a Twitter user, so unfamiliar with platform. I’m quite surprised, however, to find Twitter in wide use by journalists and those in f…
@yogibearbull: thanks for those comments about M*'s other history. I owned OAKBX for a long time, but eventually sold after long-time contributor Ed Studzinski retired. I try to recognize some of my personal biases, one of which is a skepticism towa…
Sometimes I wish our government had more power to silence someone like DT. Brazil’s constitution does allow such an action, but granting huge power (in their case) to a single group within the electoral system could be dangerous. Today’s Times expla…
Comments above about Oakmark and the M* preliminary assessment of OAKCX reminded me of what I have found to be “home-town bias” in the rating firm. Over my years of following mutual funds, for a time as an owner of Oakmark funds, I believe M* is far…
@WABAC: right on regarding mid-caps, a class that’s often touted as occupying the sweet sweet spot between LC and SC. I have never been able to benefit from such an advantage, whether it was HIMVX or FRTY, to quote a couple of duds I wish I had neve…
Although the context in which I heard the following comment was not investing, it seem apt here: It’s OK to look back at the past, but don’t stare. I find it a helpful maxim to apply when I experience intense regret.
@hank: you’ve discovered the secret sauce with which to promote your new investment advisory service. I fear you and I are of the age when we would shun making the service a podcast or a reel. Why the human voice speaking prose needs tinkling music …
@sma3: I grew up 10 miles from New London. My father’s small company built wooden boats by hand using skilled craftsmen. After the Nautilus was launched around 1955, Electric Boat (now part of General Dynamics, I think) as a defense contractor could…
Interesting analysis in today’s Times suggesting the rebellion was really a sign of the increasing weakness of Mr P and his Wagner Group. Does not sound as though he is gaining power, but losing it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/world/europe/…
@davidrmoran: I had never heard of RWGV, so I searched and found a chart on effrc.com that traces the fund’s AUM as they rose and then fell precipitously until, quite literally, there is an ominous flat-line as if the fund pulse resembled the vitals…
I think @Sven’s latest posting this thread points to the difficulty in knowing exactly when Giroux’s OEF bought and sold its non-equity assets. Many of the commentators here speak of the effect of those assets on overall performance, but what we out…
The reporter (maybe David Pogue ex-of NYT) said during Here and Now yesterday that the submersible is "controlled" by a video game controller. Good grief! By transporting the sub on another boat, then launching it in international waters, the compan…
Decent reports on NPR today. Had no idea these thrill seekers paid $250K person for the trip. Reporter said he’d been aboard in the past and trips often had major glitches, rarely delivering much time below seeing the Titanic.
I think it’s hard not to feel more bullish while the Nasdaq rises faster than the other major indices. The problem is figuring out if it’s a temporary phenomenon. For my part, I have dialed back on value (esp. COWZ) and put proceeds into growth (CGG…
The tales above regarding the medical profession are horrifying. Our youngest daughter is in med school and I am concerned for her future.
On a lesser scale, but completely in keeping with the topic of the evils of Private Equity, the Chapter 11 fi…
The preliminary list of holdings in TRP link above looks like a plain vanilla USLCG fund to my eye. In the event, Schwab is not trading it as of 1:09 PM EDT. The holdup is due to one of our enthusiastic MFO traders who is tying to buy all 500,000 sh…
@yogibearbull: I admire your work from which all the members here benefit. I also wonder how you get all these data and links out so well and so quickly. The answer may lie in your experience with your new dishwasher. From my reading of your tale I …
I have switched my default search engine to DuckDuckGo and it is working fine. I do have a query about the DDG browser that some of the members have mentioned here and elsewhere. I have used Firefox on my devices (iMac, iPad, iPhone) for as long as …
@LewisBraham: I had a similar reaction as you to the Barr comments. On second thought, I asked myself, “When has DT ever paid any attention to legal advice?”
The day last week it was reported that Phoenix may limit housing tract permitting, water ETFs (PHO and FIW) jumped. I have owned the latter through thick and thin since 2018. SPY has returned about 55% for those 5 years, while the two water funds ha…
Yes, @Mark, that would be quite a development. Such a market move might get folks on the board to talk about equity funds (as opposed to interest rates, CDs, treasuries, and MMFs).
@Derf: your Camry experience shows me that cars really have improved in this century. I sold a 2007 Honda Odyssey at 113,000 miles with its original brake pads and rotors. Unfortunately later model Odysseys are equipped with thinner brake rotors to …
I have not bought a dishwasher in some 15 years, so I may be out of the loop. Bosch, and other European brands, did not have a built in garbage disposer or heated drying, these being American features as I understood it. You are right about the inna…
I had a similar experience with someone impersonating a friend of mine. My friend had warned her contacts that her email account had been hacked, but I still thought the scam was legit. In this case the fraudster tried to get me to purchase an Amazo…
@davidrmoran: one aspect on the increases in food prices and the loss of small grocery stores that this article does well to highlight is how « deregulation » during the Reagan administration had such a negative effect. I mentioned what I had read t…
