Monday sold VG 2025 retirement fund. No more retirement funds for me ! Took a L o n g time to recover from 2022 !

FICO is corrosively sad; they serve up big errors to the reporting oligopoly when needed most, or needed not at all.
3 years after early retirement, FICO show :
my home address of ~3 moves ago which is ~9 years old.
my highest score ever....not much room left.
all this despite opening a new bank and credit card after retiring.
what are the repercussions of getting all these things wrong? none, just like the business credit raters.

Stable-Value (SV) Rates, 7/1/24
TIAA Traditional Annuity (Accumulation) Rates
25 bps decreases.
Restricted RC 5.50%, RA 5.25%
Flexible RCP 4.75%, SRA 4.50%, Newer IRAs 4.75%
(TIAA Declaration Year 3/1 - 2/28)
TSP G Fund hasn't updated yet (previous 4.635%).
Edit/Add. July rate is 4.500%
Options outside of workplace retirement plans include m-mkt funds, bank m-mkt accounts (FDIC insured), T-Bills, short-term brokered CDs.
#StableValue #401k #403b #TIAA #TSP
https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1534/thread

What do the seasoned investors on this board think of capital groups ETF’s as a whole? But In particular, CGUS, CGDV, CGGR?
I’ve never invested in Capital Group funds until they entered the ETF market. I currently hold double-digits in CGUS and CGDV. I’ve been pleased with their performance so far, although they have a little more overlap (per etfrc.com).
I like to invest in active funds to compliment the passive funds I own. FYI : I only hold a handful of funds.
There seems to be enough uniqueness because they often zig/zag somewhat.
Any comments or thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thx. Matt

AF equity products have largely become closet index funds. That said these ETF's have less than 10billion in assets so don't necessarily have the bloat. I assumed originally that these were largely ETF versions of their larger flagships but as of now they are slightly different.
for me they are different enough to pay attention to but I also feel like eventually they'll become more aligned with their indexes than they should.
CGGR is the only one i've tracked and as of now it is underperforming its index but 2 months ago it was beating it and 2 years is really not much of a record to make a decision on.
I think the real value for these are people who invest outside of retirement accounts. regardless of performance the tax implications of AF funds are pretty big. the ETF wrapper allows you to stay in AF but not have the huge tax hits year in and year out.

My parents are retiring soon and want some additional income to help fund their retirement. They're considering these options: PSTL yields 7.28% and pays quarterly, O yields 5.9% and pays monthly, PFE yields 5.85% and pays quarterly.
Please let me know what board members think of these options? Any other suggestions for a fairly dependable yield?
Thanks in advance for any and all replies!!

Capital Group/American Funds is the class champion. It has up to 19 OEF classes - load, no-load (529, taxable, Retirement), and now has several ETFs. It has funds for many price points.
I have had some lowest ER R6 classes in 403b.

....Which is why I've steered clear. How many stinking fund-classes do ya NEED? Nothing should be that complicated.

Capital Group/American Funds is the class champion. It has up to 19 OEF classes - load, no-load (529, taxable, Retirement), and now has several ETFs. It has funds for many price points.
I have had some lowest ER R6 classes in 403b.

”It's hard to believe I'm retired 7 years already … “

Watched an MLB game last night between Seattle & Miami. Ruined the evening when the announcer mentioned that Seattle’s starting pitcher was born the same year I retired. To make things worse I lost $2 on the game.
Enjoy retirement @Pudd. Try to stay healthy. Careful with those longnecks.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92500/000119312524165867/d854673d497.htm
497 1 d854673d497.htm 497
STEWARD FUNDS, INC.
on behalf of its series
Steward Covered Call Income Fund
Steward Equity Market Neutral Fund
Steward Global Equity Income Fund
Steward International Enhanced Index Fund
Steward Large Cap Core Fund
Steward Large Cap Growth Fund
Steward Large Cap Value Fund
Steward Select Bond Fund
Steward Small Cap Growth Fund
Steward Values-Focused Large Cap Enhanced Index Fund
Steward Values-Focused Small-Mid Cap Enhanced Index Fund
(the “Funds”)
Supplement dated June 21, 2024 to the Currently Effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated August 28, 2023
This Supplement reports the following changes to information in the Funds’ Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated August 28, 2023.
A.Upon the recommendation of Crossmark Global Investments, Inc., Steward Small Cap Growth Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), the Board of Directors of Steward Funds, Inc. has authorized, on behalf of Steward Small Cap Growth Fund, the Fund’s liquidation and termination, which will be effective on or about August 23, 2024 (the “Liquidation Date”). Accordingly, the Fund will redeem all of its outstanding shares on the Liquidation Date. The liquidation will be effected pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation and Termination. The operational costs of the liquidation, including the mailing of notification to shareholders, will be borne by the Fund but reimbursed by the Adviser, after taking into account applicable contractual expense caps then in effect by the Adviser to waive or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund. As the Liquidation Date approaches, the Fund’s assets will be converted to cash or cash equivalents and the Fund will not be pursuing its investment objective.
The Fund will be closed to new investors effective at the close of business on June 28, 2024. After that date, existing shareholders may continue to invest in the Fund and retirement plans that currently offer the Fund as an investment option may continue to offer the Fund to their participants until the Liquidation Date.
Prior to the Liquidation Date, shareholders may exchange their shares for shares of the same class of another Steward Fund or redeem their shares prior to the Liquidation Date, in each case at net asset value. Shareholders whose shares are redeemed by the Fund on the Liquidation Date will receive the net asset value per share for all Fund shares they own on the Liquidation Date. The exchange or redemption of Fund shares, on or before the Liquidation Date, generally will be a taxable event for shareholders, other than shareholders that hold Fund shares in a tax-advantaged account (e.g., an individual retirement account, 403(b), 401(k) or other defined contribution or defined benefit plan), but it is important that you consult your personal tax advisor and/or plan provider if you have any questions.
Shareholders that hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary if they have questions.,,

@MikeW - I haven't looked closely lately. At the time I sold FCNTX I considered the retirement of Tillinghast at FLPSX, who I thought Fidelity might have to pry his cold dead hands off the keyboard, and wondered how much longer Danoff would stick around. I was, and still am, trying to consolidate my portfolios into something easy enough for my kids to take over and deal with. Booking it into the S&P 500 seemed like an easy and prudent move. That's all.

Does this new policy apply to clients enrolled in a 401k at work? My daughter has a Vanguard retirement plan from her employer and she is being kicked out of Wellington and being automatically migrated to a JP Morgan age appropriate TDF unless she opts out. Luckily she still has VPMAX.

That's just a rotten thing to do.

Does this new policy apply to clients enrolled in a 401k at work? My daughter has a Vanguard retirement plan from her employer and she is being kicked out of Wellington and being automatically migrated to a JP Morgan age appropriate TDF unless she opts out. Luckily she still has VPMAX.

Go with the crowd because the crowd makes self-fulfilling decisions? Lots of people buy because prices go up because lots of people buy?
By that reasoning, the S&P 500 (TR) should be outperforming the S&P Top 50 (TR), and yet ...
          500       Top 50
YTD  15.82%  22.62%
1yr    26.33%  34.10%
3yr    11.33%  14.84% (annualized)
5yr    15.35%  18.75% (annualized)
10yr  12.93%  15.11% (annualized)
All figures through June 18, 2024. The last (10yr) is a hypothetical number provided by S&P Global, since the launch date of the Top 50 index was Nov 30, 2015.
https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500-top-50/?currency=USD&returntype=T-#overview

Yes but how many people invest in the Top 50-ish? Is there any ETF or OEF that has decent volume along those lines? I haven't looked, but I doubt it. (BBLU maybe?) Ergo pretty much everyone buys the index b/c that's what their retirement plans offer.
(I prefer more concentrated funds myself, fwiw saying.)

@stillers. Perhaps another universe is oddly phrased, but my financial life would be entirely different if I had a pension check roll in every month. Many decisions would be looked at differently.

Oh, now I get it!
And agreed, our collective SS and Pension incomes result in negligible, if any in some years, annual income gap. Makes a world of difference in all of our financial and investment decisions. We played it close to the vest in our first five years of retirement, but have swung for the fences in our last seven. To our credit though, we started planning for our retirements and this very situation on Day 1 of our first professional jobs in 1980. Well, I did at least. The missus got on board a wee bit later!

Nice chart in this article:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/07/success/pensions-retirement-savings-explained/index.html
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/06/demiseofdbplan.asp#:~:text=Key Takeaways,to manage than pension plans.
https://www.the-ifw.com/retirement/why-did-pensions-go-away/#:~:text=In the 1980s, the United,voluntary contributions towards retirement plans.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1545440/000158064224003191/westwoodcapappinc_497.htm
497 1 westwoodcapappinc_497.htm 497
June 17, 2024
WESTWOOD CAPITAL APPRECIATION AND INCOME FUND
Class A Shares Ticker Symbol: WWTAX
Class C Shares Ticker Symbol: WTOCX
Institutional Shares Ticker Symbol: WLVIX
A Series of Ultimus Managers Trust
Supplement to the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information
dated February 28, 2024, as supplemented
On May 24, 2024, the Fund discontinued all sales of its shares, except shares purchased by existing shareholders through an established automatic investment plan, or shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Effective July 16, 2024, shares of the Fund are no longer available for purchase and, at the close of business on July 16, 2024, all outstanding shares of the Fund will be redeemed at net asset value (the “Transaction”).
The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), in consultation with the Fund’s investment adviser, Westwood Management Corp. (the “Adviser”), determined and approved to discontinue the Fund’s operations based on, among other factors, the Adviser’s belief that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to discontinue the Fund’s operations. Through the date of the Transaction, the Adviser will continue to waive investment advisory fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund, as necessary, in order to maintain the Fund at its current expense limit, as specified in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Summary Prospectus.
In connection with the Transaction, the Board directed that: (i) all of the Fund’s portfolio securities be liquidated in an orderly manner not later than July 16, 2024; and (ii) all outstanding shareholder accounts on July 16, 2024 be closed and the proceeds of each account, less any required withholding, be sent to the shareholder’s address of record or to such other address as directed by the shareholder, including special instructions that may be needed for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) and qualified pension and profit sharing accounts. As a result of the Transaction, the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be reduced to cash or cash equivalents. Accordingly, going forward, shareholders should not expect the Fund to achieve its stated investment objective.
Shareholders may redeem all or a portion of their shares of the Fund on any business day prior to July 16, 2024 as specified in the Fund’s Prospectus.
The Transaction will be considered for tax purposes a sale of Fund shares by shareholders, and shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to ensure its proper treatment on their income tax returns. In addition, shareholders invested through an IRA or other tax-deferred account should consult the rules regarding the reinvestment of these assets. In order to avoid a potential tax issue, shareholders generally have 60 days from the date that proceeds are received to re-invest or “rollover” the proceeds into another IRA or qualified retirement account; otherwise, the proceeds may be required to be included in the shareholder’s taxable income for the current tax year.
If you have any questions regarding the Fund or the Transaction, please call the Fund toll free at 1-877-FUND-WHG (1-877-386-3944).
Investors Should Retain this Supplement for Future Reference.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/06/16/fareeds-take-europe-america-pace-gps-digvid.cnn

Insightful, but does the current US/Euro gap indicate future trend or represent a possible turning point? One thing for sure, the US will not stay this far ahead forever. There is good growth in the US, but possibly better value may be found overseas.

Ya, I ventured overseas years ago. The "old saw" was that Europe was "old money." I was looking for a bargain. And I had some EM holdings, too. These days, Europe is even more complicated: Ukraine war, Right-wing election gains. One currency, but many different national budgets.... I did well investing in EM bonds through the GFC and for a while beyond, and then I got out, following some good advice from someone in here.
Politically, China is uninvestable these days. Authoritarian. Curtailed civil and human rights. They're putting the screws to "special territories" Hong Kong and Macau, too. After having visited there in early 2019, it makes me so sad and angry to see it happening. The Markets have no conscience. But this whole business in China is morally distressing. I'm sworn off of foreign investments in my mutual funds; funds are still the lion's share of what I own. My fund managers have me in UK and Europe, just a tiny bit. I own a Canadian stock with a great dividend; is that "foreign?" Also, a Luxembourg-based maker of oil drilling pipes. Two still very tiny single-stock holdings. In retirement, I like YIELD. My (junk) bond funds provide most of that. Keeping a close eye on them--- a "short leash." Currently, my portfolio provides a 4.05% yield, as calculated by the ever-reliable (LOL) Morningstar.

guaranteed-income or lifetime-income ... Old name for these is annuities but that tainted term is now avoided.
Love it. See George Carlin's bit on euphemisms (shell shock)

Defined-benefit (DB) pensions have gone away except for some federal & state employees.
It certainly seems that way, but according to the latest BLS statistics, 15% of private industry workers have access to DB plans. More like an endangered species than extinct.
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/15-percent-of-private-industry-workers-had-access-to-a-defined-benefit-retirement-plan.htm

Like almost everything else, it’s best not to generalize about pensions. My wife and I both have pensions with the state of North Carolina. It is very conservatively managed, although I’m sure it has some private equity. The pension is funded roughly half from employees paychecks and the rest from the state legislature. The state also has an optional 401k plan, but does not contribute to that except for state troopers. Unlike Social Security, the NC pension has no automatic inflation adjustments. I have been retired 7 years and my wife 9 years, and we have not received any inflation increases, although the legislature has awarded a few one-time bonuses some years. So, for those people whining about fat government pensions, that certainly isn’t true for NC. I would wager that most private workers with 401k plans have more generous retirement plans than NC government employees. The NC pension plan is essentially an annuity with no inflation adjustments. Fortunately, my wife and I both voluntarily contributed to the state 401k plan, which provides our inflation adjustment— again with no contributions from state taxpayers.

What does it matter guys if one has a gov't pension?
Next door neighbor retired grade school teacher..wonderful and spunky gal...her deal is her deal, props to her, she was completely dedicated to educating the youngsters. There is no crying in baseball..
However, bullet proof. Guaranteed payout by state law. No matter if stock market draws down by over 50% ...she is going to get her monthly payment no matter what.
Tax payers on the hook for all of it. Period.
Folks bailing out of state in droves, soon as the kids get out of high school and if their job is portable/remote and/or retirement...adios.
Property taxes went up for most at least +20%, many +25-30%...
It's all a Ponzi, all based on bullshit numbers....what is really behind the curtain, don't look, you might not like what you see.