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.
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MikeM
I know you are not a fan of his, Mona (understatement :) )
Another Bills fan!!! Junkster just sent me a note saying the same. GO BILLS! They will be right down the road from me when training camp starts next week at St. John Fisher College. But tickets sold out in hours, so I won't be going. Are you from the area, Western NY?
I think a global fund makes sense just because I think domestic bonds may be at the starting stage of a bear bond market right now. And given that, I do not plan to hold to much in bond specific mutual funds going forward. I'm holding onto MAINX and…
Good article. Bottom line, the biggest question mark whether your nest egg is going to out live you is the economy-stupid, the economy you retire into.
Hey, that's pretty much what monte carlo says too.
More importantly to me, how are people's portfolios holding up? Individual funds will have their day, what holds up now still may not be the best option to hold over time.
So if anyone wants to share, how's the portfolio doing YTD now that we have…
@rono, did you miss this tweet? Maybe we should be buying :) What can go wrong... (tongue firmly in cheek).
Trump Says Trade Wars Are ‘Good, and Easy to Win’
@bee, I also find it very confusing on TRP's side. The funds named "Retirement" are essentially asset allocation funds. I don't believe they change much if at all in equity/bond allocation. They should be called more appropriately '60:40 fund', or '…
@bee, not sure if you know the difference between the TRP "Target Date" funds and the TRP "Retirement" Funds. My understanding is the target date funds reduce equity as they get closer to the stated date. The retirement funds keep the same equity bo…
...are cash/CD viable alternatives to bond fund, at least for the next 6-12 months?
@Sven, I guess it all depends on what you believe total return on your bonds funds will be over the next year. If you believe intermediate and multi-sector funds wil…
More and more I'm "pondering" why I should be in bond funds at all. Why hold a category that most likely going forward, it's best benefit is to lose less than equities? Especially as "cash" investments like CD's and even money market accounts are qu…
@AndyJ , I've been a die-hart follower of SU basketball since the 80's, loved the Big East. But I have to admit I did not even know UB had a division 1 basketball program until a few years ago. They went to the NCCA's a couple years ago too when Bob…
@AndyJ , yes, I noticed Duke has been playing zone more often. Coach K and Boeheim are buddies and Boeheim assists coach K with the Olympic teams, so I'm not surprised Duke uses it occasionally.
Stayed up 'till midnight watching Buffalo clobber mi…
Bond funds are tough to judge - for me. I have 3, IOFAX, PONDX and MAINX. MAINX has done the best YTD by a lot and I believe in it long term. . I'm thinking (pondering) I should cut ties with PONDX. Great history, but history isn't making money now…
I believe history shows gold is not a good investment. That said, I believe my robo-portfolio holds 4-5% as a diversifier. Somewhere in their portfolio algorithm Schwab believes it has a place. So-be-it. I personally do not think it's needed, so I …
Thanks for the link @Ted. I know you watch the chatter in different posts and respond with more info. Appreciate it.
By he way. The Bears "could of" had Tyrod Taylor! You guys lost out. :) Ok, maybe not.
Very good stuff @bee and @msf. Actually bee, what made me think about the prospects of an annuity was another article you posted a few months ago that described setting up a retirement income stream to match your budget as two tiered, or a range bet…
investing in DSEEX would give similar diversification to a vanilla hybrid fund that had a roughly 50/50 stock/bond mix. The difference is one of magnitude of performance (i.e. getting hammered harder).
You know @msf, when I made the statement that …
@Crash, Fidelity has a nice website and calculator that lets you see what you would receive monthly given your age and $ you are investing (attached below). There are lots of different options that would guarantee income for your wife also if you we…
@Crash, have to respectfully disagree with you. I happen to think annuities could be a good option for many people if they buy correctly. There is something to be said about a guaranteed income stream, especially during a bear market. I have conside…
Lewis, that's ridiculous. Didn't the "greatest generation" say the same about baby boomers? I think I heard all that in the late 60's and early 70's!
millennials are privileged, cocky, entitled, lazy, impatient and so much more. However, in my exten…
@bee, you are heads and tails above me with this kind of thinking. Are you talking about investing a bucket of money that will "guarantee" a 3.7% COLA return to compensate (for inflation) your annuity year after year? I don't see how that differs fr…
Thanks @Bobpa for continuing your questions on bonds. Hearing the responses kind of strengthens my feeling on direction. At this point in the rate cycle, if given the option of short term bonds or a CD ladder, there is no question for me. I'll take …
8-10% is obviously a pipe dream. 5-7% likely doable, but when you're talking about trying to guarantee things one should be conservative. Any pension, IMO, should assume an annual rate of return of less than 5%.
Yes, and that's my point. Companies u…
It is my understanding that many pensions have became underfunded because of the interest-return assumptions many companies used to calculated to show being fully funded or at least above government mandates.
If a company is telling it's retiree's,…
On Wednesday evening, the president became "unglued," in the words of one official familiar with the president's state of mind.
Trump, the two officials said, was angry and gunning for a fight, and he chose a trade war...
God damn, aren't these some…
He's once again throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks with his ever shrinking base. He most likely will walk it back, again. He can't be that stupid, right? Or quite possibly, just another diversion from dealing with current issues.
@johnN
Elizabeth Warren Operah is next president/ vp duo 2020! Learn how to spell Oprah. Crazier things have happen, ala 2016.
It's also good if we only have one healthcare system so everyone is happy and every one is covered. You said something s…
Agree, all your eggs in one basket doesn't work for me.
A Target date fund is as diversified a portfolio as you can get, likely more diversified than yours or mine. Not one basket at all. They are actually like holding 25 or so baskets (funds) with …
...4-5y worth. Taxable, alas.
@davidrmoran, what do you mean by that? My 4 year bucket #1, MM and CDs, would remain tax deferred if that was what you referred to.
I don't think bee's "bucket #1" fits my definition at all. I always considered or read that the "safe" #1 bucket contains $$$ you do not want any or very little, chance of losing principle. It is the safe bucket you draw living expenses from.
My b…
