Short Term Bond Funds @MikeM - exactly what I was going to say! Along with FLRN there's also FLOT. They're not quite indistinguishable, but pretty close.
The knock against IG floating rate funds is that they don't do as well in falling interest rate environments. Or so I've read. And until this month (Oct) WCPNX was slightly outperforming them YTD, though not now.
A question is what you are looking for.
RPHYX/RPHIX may be unique in how it invests. This results in after-expense returns that are extremely steady and IMHO worth the cost. Funds like FLRN and FLOT invest more traditionally and have slightly higher volatility and slightly lower returns. They are still well within the ultra-short duration and volatility ranges.
WCPNX is a traditional short term bond fund. As such, it can get jostled by market disruptions (see, e.g. 2022 and March 2020). The floating rate funds also got hit in March 2020, a market "blip" that affected pretty much everything. They held up nicely in 2022. Also, Schwab imposes a fee if you sell WCPNX within 90 days of purchase.
So WCPNX is a good fund if you're anticipating holding it for awhile (at least a year), but perhaps there are better choices if you are looking very short term.
Be advised that WCPNX changed name and strategy at the end of 2016. It had been Weitz Short-Intermediate Income Fund.
Portfolio Visualizer comparison - RPHIX (benchmark), WEFIX, FLRN, FLOT
Short Term Bond Funds I believe RPHYX is no TF at Schwab, but that doesn't help you with the higher than normal ER (1.19%). I don't think to much about the ER since, even being on the high side, the risk reward is so good. FWIW, I've also held FLRN (SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate) for years as a steady-eddy income fund, though this one has had a couple hiccups along the way.
Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts As the old joke goes: The secret ofcomedyistiming.
Bought CBLDX on September 12 for 9.76$ per share. It closed Friday at 9.7549. So it could be around for a while. If M* can be believed, it's return of .05% last week was less than SPAXX's return of .07. M* also had VRIG and USFR ahead of SPAXX, CBLDX, RSIIX, RPHYX. CSOIX was a winner last week, but a loser by too much for me in 2022.
Things liable to go if we start poorly on Monday are TBUX, USTB, XONE, and WSHNX.
Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts I'm just looking for some things to beat SPAXX
My goodness. No jumping needed. Any of the Riverpark or Crossbridge funds have been doing that since the start of 2023 with the smoothest ride you can ask for (RSIVX, CBLDX for example). Heck, even the ultra-conservative RPHYX has done as well or better than CDs and MMs. Take a look at CSOAX/CSOIX for another smooth ride with a bit more horsepower. 5-star and a great owl fund. I'm sure there are many other examples too.
MM's, treasuries and CD's have been great if you want zero risk, and that is understandable for many here. But more lucrative options may have opened up many many months ago.
I'm already underwater with CBLDX.
I have a limited appetite for junk.
@WABAC You seem to have as good a handle on bonds as anyone here. So surprised by your comment on CBLDX. On a total return basis it is at an all time high. Or am I missing something. I hold a position in CBLDX as a sub for cash - at least for now.
https://stockcharts.com/sc3/ui/?s=CBLDX
Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts I'm just looking for some things to beat SPAXX
My goodness. No jumping needed. Any of the Riverpark or Crossbridge funds have been doing that since the start of 2023 with the smoothest ride you can ask for (RSIVX, CBLDX for example). Heck, even the ultra-conservative RPHYX has done as well or better than CDs and MMs. Take a look at CSOAX/CSOIX for another smooth ride with a bit more horsepower. 5-star and a great owl fund. I'm sure there are many other examples too.
MM's, treasuries and CD's have been great if you want zero risk, and that is understandable for many here. But more lucrative options may have opened up many many months ago.
I'm already underwater with CBLDX.
I have a limited appetite for junk.
Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts I'm just looking for some things to beat SPAXX
My goodness. No jumping needed. Any of the Riverpark or Crossbridge funds have been doing that since the start of 2023 with the smoothest ride you can ask for (RSIVX, CBLDX for example). Heck, even the ultra-conservative
RPHYX has done as well or better than CDs and MMs. Take a look at CSOAX/CSOIX for another smooth ride with a bit more horsepower. 5-star and a great owl fund. I'm sure there are many other examples too.
MM's, treasuries and CD's have been great if you want zero risk, and that is understandable for many here. But more lucrative options may have opened up many many months ago.
September Commentary, The Young Investor’s Indolent Portfolio What's more fun than complaining about kids these days? I say: Giving the indolent ne'er do wells advice they won't take.
Here are what I call Grumpy Grampy's Simple Portfolios for Widows, Orphans, and Kids that probably don't wash behind their ears. Can Grumpy Gramp's portfolios beat the clones? Let's find out together.
The first mimics the beta of the ICMUX/FPACX:
Dinky linky.
And this portfolio mimics the beta of the LCORX/
RPHYX portfolio:
YADL.
Disclaimer: I am not a grandfather or an investment advisor.
Edit to add: PV does not seem to be accounting for fixed annuals contributions of 6500$. Suggestions and solutions are welcomed
September Commentary, The Young Investor’s Indolent Portfolio Time to bring out Devo's replicating portfolio exercise.
A 50/50 portfolio of LCORX and
RPHYX generate a beta of .26 over ten years. So the clone is 26% SPY and 74% the 3 month T-Bill. Here is the result:
Dinky linky.
The second portfolio recommends a 50/50 split of FPACX and ICMUX. The clone works out to 46% SPY and 54% 3 month t-bills. Here is the result of that run:
YADL.
What advice would you give any indolent youths known to you?
Edit to add: PV does not seem to be accounting for fixed annuals contributions of 6500$. Suggestions and solutions are welcomed
BONDS The week that was.... December 31, 2024..... Bond NAV's...Most positive. FINAL REPORT 2024 @Crash, I don't think it is any more volatile than other funds in its category. Probably the same volatility, standard deviation, as your HY fund you hold now. I just meant it is more so than what I already hold, CSOAX, RSIIX, CBLDX,
RPHYX. IGIB seems to trend along with Catch22's bond fund, BAGIX (a good bond fund imo), but I think has returned a bit more than BAGIX over time.
Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts Thanks
@Junkster. I really appreciate your input. Out of all the options you mentioned, DHEAX strikes my fancy. I have to say, you sure do find the smooth trending funds, but I know that is your forte. I invested in CSOAX a few months ago. I know it is labeled HY by M*, but it has strategic in its name, so I'm guessing, hoping, it adjusts to changing conditions. I also started buying IGIB to get some intermediate corporate bond exposure, but that trend, though positive lately, is pretty bumpy. I've held the more conservative
RPHYX, RSIVX and FLRN in my conservative withdrawal bucket for a while now.
I haven't closed a post with this in a while, but it is getting to that time... GO BILLS.
Buy Sell Why: ad infinitum. Looking to replace MMKT funds and still try for 5% per year after rates are reduced, with low volatility. RSIVX (RSIIX)and RPHYX (RPHIX) are getting initiated, and will sit next to HMEZX and CBLDX. Boring is desirable in this bucket.
The Fed should just leave the darn rates alone.
Stashing cash, Summer 2024 I like FLRN a lot. A nice steady trend. If you extrapolate out the 1 and 3 month results, it is returning in the range of 6.8% and 7.2% respectively, very close to it's 1 year return of 6.9%. I also hold RPHYX in this space.
Going out a bit farther on duration, I really like the RiverPark/Crossbridge products, RSIIX and CBLDX.
On tax efficiency, I admit I don't pay attention since these are all held in an IRA. So maybe they don't fit as well for you.
Yeah, this is in taxable, so a fair amount of FLRN will get double-taxed for me. :( I'm leaning towards USFR at the moment for the tax benefits.
Stashing cash, Summer 2024 I like FLRN a lot. A nice steady trend. If you extrapolate out the 1 and 3 month results, it is returning in the range of 6.8% and 7.2% respectively, very close to it's 1 year return of 6.9%. I also hold RPHYX in this space.
Going out a bit farther on duration, I really like the RiverPark/Crossbridge products, RSIIX and CBLDX.
On tax efficiency, I admit I don't pay attention since these are all held in an IRA. So maybe they don't fit as well for you.
MINT etf versus CD's versus MMK'Ts MINT has always been talked about as a cash-like substitute on this board, since I've been coming here. I've never owned it but do own similar, steady-eddy funds, FLRN and RPHYX in my withdrawal bucket.