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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.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    Several years ago, in a discussion of those two types of bond div accounting, Yogi coined "accrual" vs. "NAV flow" as handles for them, which has always seemed pretty transparent language to me.
    If we want to get accounting geeky, both are accruals: one to your account and the other to the NAV. The primary difference is where it is reflected.
    The secondary difference perhaps is if you sold (before ex-date) a fund whose NAV is pregnant with accrued dividend, you are treating the accrued dividend as capital in nature whereas if you sold the same fund on ex-div date then the accrued dividend will be paid to you (with an equivalent drop in NAV) and is ordinary income in nature (barring limited exceptions). The reverse also applies when you are buying into the fund. If you buy a fund whose NAV is pregnant with dividend, then you are paying to get some of it back as a dividend (ordinary income). These differences are magnified if the dividend is paid quarterly or annually, rather than monthly. You will also notice the difference if your holding in the fund is in seven figures or more. This time of transaction distinction does not apply to funds that accrue div to your account and not to the NAV. This tax chatter may be useful only if you hold the fund in a taxable account. However, it may not be wise to delay your sale for tax reasons.
    The third and minor difference is if you are transferring a fund from one brokerage to the other, more likely the fund that accrues div to the NAV transfers cleanly. But this is not a good reason to choose which fund one should invest in.
    The above is not an exhaustive listing or discussion.
    @Mona, please see this post as well.
  • OPINIONS ABOUT HBLIX FUND
    d
    @ducrow - You are correct that HBLIX is a bit more conservative than LOGIX. It holds considerably more fixed income / bonds and a lesser amount of equities. Both look like decent funds. “Year-over-year” LOGIX is up 21.74% (M*) while HBLIX is up “only” 18.91%. Both have been hot. So how much real risk reduction? Your plan might resemble leaping from the red hot frying pan into the bubbling stew pot. A bit cooler …..
    Sounds like the contemplated switch is based in part on the premise that interest rates will continue falling. Maybe they will … Personally, I’m not too sure about that. It’s not the Fed or politicians that will ultimately determine longer term interest rates (a popular misconception). It’s things like government debt-load, inflation, economic growth / recessions, geo-politics (including wars), the dollar on the foreign exchanges and “black swans” like the recent global pandemic. A 10-year bond at just over 4% seems very low to those of us here who came of age in the 70s when mortgages were running 15+%.
    I don’t think you can go wrong adding to cash after a couple very hot years. I also like a toe-hold in the precious metals - however they’ve been bid up a lot lately and could suffer a big correction. There’s not much out there that looks cheap to me right now in either fixed income or equities. Use a portfolio analyzer as one gage of where you are on the risk spectrum.
    I note you own DODBX. Excellent fund. I owned it for many years before finally selling a year or so ago as part of a “consolidation” of assets under one umbrella.
    Re Mike’s remark. if you type a fund’s symbol in capital letters the board’s software automatically highlights it and creates a link to a variety of sources. Good idea. I hadn’t paid much attention to that since I dwell mainly at the M* site and don’t mind entering symbols manually.
    Good luck.
  • Buy Sell Why: ad infinitum.
    @ hank. I'm wearing big-boy pants today.

    Yep. Thanks @WABC / There was someone here a month or so back who intended to do some stock or index shorting. Admire that kind of bravery.
    That was me. And I got my face ripped off as a result, but the total outlay was only $250 which helps offset my end-of-year gains elsewhere.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    Ended up holding on to CBLDX, it was actually up last Friday. It had positive returns in 2020 and 2022. That's the kind of bond fund I like. The five year returns are also pretty good, though I doubt we'll be in that sort of rate environment any time soon.
    Sold TBUX, USTB, XONE, and WSHNX. It was too many funds anyway. I will likely consolidate into USFR and VRIG or PULS. Yes, they are boring, but I'm holding onto MNHAX, CBLDX, THOPX, and WCPNX, so there is still some excitement in bond land. Eventually I'll have to consolidate those holdings, but I don't think this is the best time. If the rate environment continues to deteriorate I won't hesitate to lock in profits.
    Today I took a little less than half the proceeds from the sales above and put it into USFR. I divided the other half between VRIG and PULS. I'm watching MNHAX, CBLDX, THOPX and WCPNX like a hawk, and my finger is on the trigger. I can think of too many reasons for bonds to remain volatile into the new year.
  • Cambria TAX ETF may launch in December
    Thanks @hank for doing the legwork and posting this. From what I gather from rapidly reading from the links provided, most of those who participate on this board may not qualify for the new ETFs. The strategy appears aimed at people who have north of $500,000 invested in a limited number of highly appreciated stocks and who could « seed » a new ETF for the purpose of avoiding CG taxes. This does not appear to be a DYI mechanism, nor does it pass my whiff test.
    It sounds like something that cobbles together lots of different tax and investing rules to make it seem new, legitimate, and "democratizing". I agree that one should tread very carefully here.
    Start with the second line in the prospectus's description of principal investment strategies:
    Utilizing its own quantitative model, the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, Cambria Investment Management, L.P. (“Cambria” or the “Sub-Adviser”) selects value stocks with lower dividend distributions, which are generally taxed as ordinary income.
    Say what?? My dividends are taxed as cap gains, how about yours?
    The Bloomberg/Yahoo piece quotes Faber as saying that you exchange cap gain bearing securities for shares of the ETF in a tax free exchange. Bloomberg then goes on to say that this works like an "exchange fund" aka "swap fund" by way of explaining how your security exchange can be made tax free.
    Here's a good primer on "exchange funds".
    https://usecache.com/companion/what-is-an-exchange-fund
    In short, a bunch of investors pool their appreciated assets into a partnership (the exchange fund). Since that's done as a tax-free swap, each investor retains their original cost basis and gets a pro-rata share of the partnership. Voila, instant diversification.
    There are lots of government restrictions on exchange funds, including a seven year holding period and being limited to accredited investors. The $500K min does not appear to be a legal requirement, just a pragmatic one. The entity running the show doesn't want to deal with a lot of small potatoes in constructing the portfolio. It looks like that portfolio remains static (not sure about that).
    Where the magic comes in (I think): once seeded, the partnership is converted into an ETF. This is the part that to me looks suspicious. It has the effect of removing the holding requirement on fund seeders and possibly some restrictions on the exchange fund portfolio composition.
    I don't see how this "seeding" process (swapping securities for ETF shares) can continue once the ETF is up and running. The prospectus describes a conventional ETF where only Authorized Participants can buy and sell shares via creation units. To the rest of the world, this should look like any other ETF, including being open to all comers on the open market.
    From that perspective, I would evaluate it like any other fund that hasn't launched yet.
  • Cambria TAX ETF may launch in December
    Cambria founder / CEO Meb Faber was interviewed on Bloomberg today. The proposed fund is under review by the SEC. Faber anticipates a December launch date. It would be the first of 3 similar etfs, each focused on different types of investments. It is unclear how he intends to provide such focus. I thought the topic might be of interest to some here whether as consideration as a future investment / investment strategy or simply a discussion of existing tax codes, tax efficient investing and the tax advantages of etfs in general.
    This is not a recommendation. Nor can I vouch for the accuracy or impartiality of any sources linked. There are some very tax-aware folks on the board, so would enjoy hearing their take. Corrections / amplifications welcome.
    ”Tax-Busting Tactic Loved by Tech Millionaires Is Coming to ETFs”
    Bloomberg / Yahoo
    ”Cambria Partners with ETF Architect to Launch Innovative Tax-Aware ETF”
    Street Insider
    ”An ETF Strategy for Deferring Embedded Gains
    ETF/.com
    ”How ETFs can make capital gains more tax efficient” (general discussion)
    Invesco
  • MRFOX
    @staycalm, Appreciate your optimism.
    What is the redline if crossed is a no go for you? My redline - if the fund does not turn around by December and I am still holding it in January, call me out.
    I point us back to @Racqueteer suggestion that for each investment, each of us must have a set expectation at the outset and that one needs to execute whatever that plan is so there is no slippery slope mission creep. Given I do not have unlimited capital, each investment has to perform in line with or exceed alternative opportunity set. My alternate opportunity set is PRWCX (quite low expectation given MRFOX is not an allocation fund).
  • BONDS The week that was.... December 31, 2024..... Bond NAV's...Most positive. FINAL REPORT 2024
    NOTE:
    My intention, at this time; is to present the data for the selected bond sectors, as listed; through the end of the year (2024). This 'end date' will take us through the U.S. elections period, pending actions/legislation dependent upon the election results, pending Federal Reserve actions and market movers trying to 'guess' future directions of the U.S. economy. As important during this period, are any number of global circumstances that may take a path that is not expected; and/or 'new' circumstances. In the 'cooking pot' we currently have the big ingredients of the middle east and also, how much damage Ukraine may inflict upon Russia and the response.
    NOTE TWO: I MAY NOT have a report next week, as the Shop Vac comes out on Friday to remove my gall bladder. I don't know what condition, my condition will be in..... :)
    FIRST: The NEWS is very full of elections info and the terrible hurricane(s) reports and the resulting suffering. Ukraine and Russia are still busy with war. And is Lebanon entering a period of becoming a GAZA-fication relative to infrastructure and death? Song lyrics arise: "No where to run to, no where to hide."
    W/E October 11 , 2024..... Make your best guess week for bond NAV's
    --- I was away from market news for the week, so I only have bits and pieces of the weekly picture based on the NAV's. This week found the w/e NAV price results for many of the bond sectors to have followed the overall trend for the majority of the week; down, down, down. The weekly broad bonds sectors found the long duration to be out of favor, some of the short duration had modest gains and shorter duration TIPS were more happy. The MINT etf, to the best of my recall, has maintained a positive price for the year, each and every week; and these remains for this week.
    A few numbers for your viewing pleasure.

    NEXT:
    *** UST yields chart, 6 month - 30 year. This chart is active and will display a 6 month time frame going forward to a future date. Place/hover the mouse pointer anywhere on a line to display the date and yield for that date. The percent to the right side is the percentage change in the yield from the chart beginning date for a particular item. You may also 'right click' on the 126 days at the chart bottom to change a 'time frame' from a drop down menu. Hopefully, the line graph also lets you view the 'yield curve' in a different fashion, for the longer duration issues, at this time. Save the page to your own device for future reference. NOTE: take a peek at the right side of this graph to find the yield swings of the past week, and for the current yields for the last business day.
    For the WEEK/YTD, NAV price changes, October 7 - October11, 2024
    ***** This week (Friday), FZDXX, MM yield continues to move with Fed funds/repo/SOFR rates; and ended the week at 4.67% yield (no change). Fidelity's MM's continue to maintain decent yields, as is presumed with other vendors similar MM's. Theoretically, a new yield bottom is in place, until the next FED action. SO, one is still obtaining a decent MM yield. MOST MM's found a few hundreds basis drop in yield for the week.
    --- AGG = -.46% / +3.03% (I-Shares Core bond), a benchmark, (AAA-BBB holdings)
    --- MINT = +.14% / +4.75% (PIMCO Enhanced short maturity, AAA-BBB rated)
    --- SHY = +.02% / +3.57% (UST 1-3 yr bills)
    --- IEI = -.23% / +2.98% (UST 3-7 yr notes/bonds)
    --- IEF = -.63% / +2.06% (UST 7-10 yr bonds)
    --- TIP = +.08% / +4.02% (UST Tips, 3-10 yrs duration, some 20+ yr duration)
    --- VTIP = +.23% / +4.78% (Vanguard Short-Term Infl-Prot Secs ETF)
    --- STPZ = +.30% / +4.72% (UST, short duration TIPs bonds, PIMCO)
    --- LTPZ = -.76% / +2.11 % (UST, long duration TIPs bonds, PIMCO)
    --- TLT = -1.94% / -2.41% (I Shares 20+ Yr UST Bond
    --- EDV = -2.82% / -5.42% (UST Vanguard extended duration bonds)
    --- ZROZ = -3.19% / -7.78% (UST., AAA, long duration zero coupon bonds, PIMCO
    --- TBT = +4.09% / 11.98% (ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (about 23 holdings)
    --- TMF = -5.85% / -20.09% (Direxion Daily 20+ Yr Trsy Bull 3X ETF (about a 2x version of EDV etf)
    *** Additional important bond sectors, for reference:
    --- BAGIX = -.40% / +3.45% Baird Aggregate Bond Fund (active managed, plain vanilla, high quality bond fund)
    --- LQD = -.64% / +3.50% (I Shares IG, corp. bonds)
    --- BKLN = +.33% / +6.39% (Invesco Senior Loan, Corp. rated BB & lower)
    --- HYG = -.04% / +7.63% (High Yield bonds, proxy ETF)
    --- HYD = -.23%/+5.36% (VanEck HY Muni)
    --- MUB = -.21% /+1.67% (I Shares, National Muni Bond)
    --- EMB = -.49%/+7.33% (I Shares, USD, Emerging Markets Bond)
    --- CWB = +1.03% / +8.71% (SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities)
    --- PFF = +.24% / +11.65% (I Shares, Preferred & Income Securities)
    --- FZDXX = 4.67% yield (7 day), Fidelity Premium MM fund
    *** FZDXX yield was .11%, April,2022. (For reference to current date)
    Comments and corrections, please.
    Remain curious,
    Catch
  • Why Stay in Medigap Plan F?
    I'm not going to try to dissuade you from staying with Plan F. Peace of mind has a certain intangible value that for you exceeds $372.
    Regarding absence of bills with Plan F, that's the theory. And at worst, you may get a couple of bills that you're not responsible for paying. But you still have to deal with them. Crash gave an example. The result of our crazy quilt insurance system. [...]
    "require prior authorization ... probably the reason why most good doctors shy away from Advantage plans". We can test that theory. Do most good doctors shy away from all commercial insurance - employer sponsored, ACA, etc.? The vast majority of these policies also require prior authorizations. [...]

    Well, despite Crash's example, all I can say is that I have been on Plan F for over a decade and have never received a medical bill in my mailbox.
    Regarding prior authorization, I recently came across an article in a local paper (City&State) regarding the so far unsuccessful efforts by the City of NY to force its retired employees from Original Medicare into an Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan. Here is an excerpt: "Opponents of Medicare Advantage say that the privately-managed plan will make it more difficult for retirees to receive care, citing investigative reports in The New York Times and Kaiser Health News that documented how private plans were ripping off the federal government while restricting retirees’ access to critical medical care through pre-authorizations.
    The Times investigation, published in October, ran under the headline: “‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Health Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions – By next year half of Medicare beneficiaries will have a private Medicare Advantage plan. Most large insurers have been accused in court of fraud.”
    According to the Times, “eight of the 10 biggest Medicare Advantage insurers – representing more than two-thirds of the market – have submitted inflated bills, according to the federal audits. And four of the five largest players – UnitedHealth, Humana, Elevance and Kaiser – have faced federal lawsuits alleging that efforts to over diagnose their customers crossed the line into fraud. … The additional diagnoses led to $12 billion in overpayments in 2020, according to an estimate from the group that advises Medicare on payment policies – enough to cover hearing and vision care for every American over 65.”
  • Intrepid Small Cap Fund to be reorganized
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1300746/000089706924001946/497e.htm
    497 1 497e.htm
    Filed pursuant to Rule 497(e)
    Registration Nos. 333-282272; 811-21625
    Intrepid Small Cap Fund
    Institutional Class (Ticker: ICMZX)
    Investor Class (Ticker: ICMAX)
    Intrepid Capital Fund
    Institutional Class (Ticker: ICMVX)
    Investor Class (Ticker: ICMBX)
    Supplement dated October 11, 2024 to the
    Prospectus dated January 31, 2024
    We are pleased to announce the anticipated acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund by the Intrepid Capital Fund pursuant to the reorganization of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund. The acquisition, which is expected to become effective after the close of business on November 22, 2024, is described in more detail in the information statement and prospectus filed as part of a Registration Statement on Form N-14 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the reorganization.
    The information statement and prospectus will be sent to shareholders of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund. Shareholders of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund are urged to read the definitive information statement and prospectus when it becomes available because it contains important information about the reorganization. The information statement and prospectus may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by calling 1-866-996-3863.
    Upon the acquisition of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund by the Intrepid Capital Fund, each shareholder of the Intrepid Small Fund will receive shares of the Intrepid Capital Fund, which have an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the shareholder’s shares in the Intrepid Small Cap Fund. The Intrepid Small Cap Fund will then terminate. The shareholders of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund will not be assessed any sales charges or other shareholder fees in connection with the acquisition, and the reorganization has been structured with the intention that it qualify for federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code.
    Existing shareholders may redeem or exchange shares of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund in the ordinary course until the last business day before the closing of the reorganization. The redemption fee is waived with regard to the Intrepid Small Cap Fund in light of the proposed reorganization.
    You should review the definitive information statement and prospectus carefully when available and retain it for future reference. In connection with the reorganization, the Funds are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send a proxy.
    The Funds have filed an information statement and prospectus as part of a Registration Statement on Form N-14 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the reorganization. The definitive information statement and prospectus will be sent to shareholders of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund. Shareholders are urged to read the definitive information statement and prospectus when available because it will contain important information about the reorganization, including the reasons of the board of trustees for approving the reorganization. The information statement and prospectus may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by calling 1-866-996-3863.
    Please keep this Supplement with your Prospectus.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    I think the article correctly alludes to the AUM game being played by the mutual fund industry vs interval fund industry as the reason for the difference in marks. Too much manager discretion in marks makes timing / luck a big factor in trading these funds, causing frustration to some retail fund traders.
    Edit: The article also correctly predicted additional negative adjustments to NAV for CBYYX (-0.6%) and EMPIX (-0.10%). While SHRIX closed 2.72% higher today. EMPIX was even, CBYYX and SHRIX are -1+% related to Milton. Given the larger SHRIX is marking back up, I am guessing the worse of negative marks for Milton could be behind us.
    Did anyone here put their toe back into these today?
    This article implies Milton's impact on Cat Bonds is not yet clear and that "Greater clarity may emerge next week." https://www.artemis.bm/news/hurricane-milton-estimated-principal-loss-cat-bond-market-twelve-capital/
  • AlphaCentric Strategic Income Fund name change and sub-advisor change
    @Charles ; 'The SEC also filed a complaint in federal district court in Madison, Wisconsin, against Senior Portfolio Manager, Edward Walczak, for fraudulently misrepresenting how he would manage risk for the fund.
    When I googled his name , it show Jan. 2020,filed . Feb. 2022 judgement granted.
    Thanks , just filling in a few missing blanks.
    Derf
  • AlphaCentric Strategic Income Fund name change and sub-advisor change
    Thank you @davidsherman. For me, it's the association that took me aback.
    Catalyst, Rational, AlphaCentric all seem like asset gathers. Really high er. Front loads. 12b-1 fees. Multiple share classes.
    I came across Szilagyi back in 2017 profiling AlphaCentric Income fund. I absolutely loved Tom Miner and the folks at subadvisor Garrison Point, but I was skeptical of their association with Szilagyi's organization.
    An excerpt:
    Focusing on IOFIX, the adviser pays 0.33% “other” (mostly administrative and servicing). The remaining 1.16% “management fee” (after a 0.01% acquired fund fee) is then split between AlphaCentric and Garrison Point, or 0.58% each. Since another Jerry Szilagyi company “MFund Services LLC,” also gets paid to manage the overall trust, Szilagyi’s firms appear to receive more fee from the fund than GPC does.
    Interestingly, AlphaCentric is listed along with Eventide, Pinnacle and Advisory Research as a strategic partner in a firm called Multi-Funds, which describes itself as “A Premier Marketing, Consulting and Distribution Firm.” While this channel may indeed have helped bring attention to IOFIX, allowing the sub-adviser to focus on its strategy and portfolio management … what it loves to do, Multi-Funds hasn’t helped other funds in the AlphaCentric family achieve anywhere near the assets attracted by IOFIX.
    Jerry Szilagyi also runs Catalyst Funds, a collection of “Intelligent Alternatives … We understood that the market did not need another traditional family of mutual funds … we endeavor to offer unique investment products to meet the needs of discerning financial advisers and their clients … specialized strategies seeking to produce income and equity-oriented returns while attempting to limit risk and volatility.” There are 28 Catalyst Funds comprising $6.2B in AUM. Average age just under 5 years. Most come in three classes, including those imposing 4.75% front-loads and 12b-1 fees. Average fees: 1.76% (oldest share class, 2.01% all share classes).

    When you stood-up CrossingBridge, it just seemed like a horse of a different color.
    You're always 10 steps ahead of everybody else in the room, which puts me 20 steps back and surely missing something.
    Or, simply being a Pollyanna.
    But Szilagyi's brand also ran into regulatory issues, granted he's in good company, but still:
    SEC Charges Portfolio Manager and Advisory Firm with Misrepresenting Risk in Mutual Fund
    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against a New York-based investment adviser for misleading investors about the management of risk in a mutual fund. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC (CCA) and its President and Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Szilagyi, agreed to pay a combined $10.5 million to settle the charges. The SEC also filed a complaint in federal district court in Madison, Wisconsin, against Senior Portfolio Manager, Edward Walczak, for fraudulently misrepresenting how he would manage risk for the fund.
    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020-21
    Fund That Lost $700 Million on Bearish Bets Fined for Misleading Investors
    Catalyst Capital Advisors and CEO Jerry Szilagyi settled regulatory probes, will pay $10.5 million
    A mutual-fund manager that lost 20% with wrong-way bets against the stock market agreed to pay $10.5 million to settle regulatory claims that it misled investors about its procedures for limiting losses.
    Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC and its chief executive, Jerry Szilagyi, settled the regulatory probes Monday without admitting or denying wrongdoing. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission also both filed civil fraud lawsuits against Edward Walczak, the portfolio manager who ran the Catalyst Hedged Futures Strategy Fund.
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/fund-that-lost-700-million-on-bearish-bets-fined-for-misleading-investors-11580167076
    I'll post more later on the Catalyst, Rational, and AlphaCentric families.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    ^MOVE, the bond risk, is over 120 and indicates elevated risk.
    MOVE > 110 has a nice correlation to high volatility in bonds and in most cases, typical high-rated bonds don't do well.
    On 3-2-2020 it was at 125 = sell everything = correct. The week before it was already over 110.
    End of 02/2022 it was over 130 = sell and continue to get higher with some lower volatility.
    Also at the end of 2007, it was over 130 and higher in 2008.
    www.tradingcenter.org/index.php/trade/equities/stock-signals/354-move-index-bonds
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    conveniently? you're reading into my post in an odd way. i was simply offering up an explanation for those friday gains. it had nothing to do with buying or selling.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    junkster wrote: "Regarding CBYYX where a few are invested including me. I re entered this fund in July after Hurricane Beryl had no impact whatsoever. Hurricane Beryl was a cat 5 and broke all sorts of meteorological records. Yet none of the cat bonds got hit. Since Beryl the cat bonds have been the best performers in Bondville even outperforming the S@P. Oddly enough almost all the gains have come on Fridays."
    regarding Friday gains, i found this today on the artemis website that perhaps explains why that day is special:
    "Investment managers are working to incorporate their projections and estimations of potential losses from major hurricane Milton into their catastrophe bond and ILS portfolios. Managers of 40’s Act registered US mutual fund structures need to mark their portfolios with a fund price daily, based on net asset value. This is a challenge given the catastrophe bond market only marks its positions on a Friday ...."
    that being the case, it'll be interesting to see what this friday brings ...
    You conveniently didn’t mention the rest of my post where I said I was exiting CBYYX and why.
  • Preparing your Portfolio for Rate Cuts
    junkster wrote: "Regarding CBYYX where a few are invested including me. I re entered this fund in July after Hurricane Beryl had no impact whatsoever. Hurricane Beryl was a cat 5 and broke all sorts of meteorological records. Yet none of the cat bonds got hit. Since Beryl the cat bonds have been the best performers in Bondville even outperforming the S@P. Oddly enough almost all the gains have come on Fridays."
    regarding Friday gains, i found this today on the artemis website that perhaps explains why that day is special:
    "Investment managers are working to incorporate their projections and estimations of potential losses from major hurricane Milton into their catastrophe bond and ILS portfolios. Managers of 40’s Act registered US mutual fund structures need to mark their portfolios with a fund price daily, based on net asset value. This is a challenge given the catastrophe bond market only marks its positions on a Friday ...."
    that being the case, it'll be interesting to see what this friday brings ...
  • lovable losers? The WSJ on active ETFs
    There's a fascinating piece in the WSJ on the ascendance of active ETFs (Jon Sindreu, "Investment Industry Loses Active ETFs," 10/8/2024). Not quite sure what to say about it. Key points:
    1. Passive is a low margin, commoditize business which is "killing many midsize asset managers that lack the scale of compete."
    2. Smart beta was the industry's first attempt to raise its margins by offering passive-like (or "passive-light") ETFs with higher fees. That cascaded in ESG and other niche preferences.
    3. Active ETFs "are the latest attempt" to add to margins, and their investors "are paying more to get less performance." In particular, large cap active ETFs trail both large cap funds and passive ETFs in performance. Active mid-caps trail passive mid-caps. None of those calculations take volatility into account.
    4. Active ETF launches this year outnumber passive by 3:1.
    5. Active ETFs are outperforming in small caps and bonds.
    6. The largest active ETF is JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF, "which sells covered calls to reduce volatility," an activity that Mr. Sindreu describes as "a sure way to miss out on big gains during rallies while retaining unlimited downside risk."
    To which I say, "hmmmm..."
  • The Ensemble Fund will be liquidated
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103243/000141304224000794/enscls497.htm
    497 1 enscls497.htm
    A series of PFS Funds
    Supplement dated October 8, 2024
    to the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
    dated February 28, 2024
    This supplement updates information currently in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. Please retain this supplement for future reference.
    The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the PFS Funds (the “Trust”) has approved a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) relating to the Ensemble Fund (the “Fund”), effective October 3, 2024. Ensemble Capital Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), has recommended to the Board to approve the Plan due to the pending acquisition of the Adviser and the acquiring entity’s desire not to continue the mutual fund business. As a result, the Board has concluded that it is in the best interest of the shareholders to liquidate the Fund.
    In connection with the proposed liquidation and dissolution of the Fund called for by the Plan, the Board has directed the Trust’s principal underwriter to cease offering shares of the Fund immediately as of the date of this Supplement. Shareholders may continue to reinvest dividends and distributions in the Fund or redeem their shares until liquidation. While undergoing an orderly liquidation, the Fund will invest in cash equivalents and will not be pursuing its investment objective.
    It is anticipated that the Fund will liquidate on or about October 24, 2024. Any remaining shareholders on the date of liquidation will receive a distribution of their remaining investment value in full liquidation of the Fund. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your financial advisor directly or the Fund toll-free at 1-800-785-8165.
    IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTORS
    If you are a retirement plan investor, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the consequences of any redemption of Fund shares. If you receive a distribution from an Individual Retirement Account or a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA, you must roll the proceeds into another Individual Retirement Account within sixty (60) days of the date of the distribution in order to avoid having to include the distribution in your taxable income for the year. If you receive a distribution from a 403(b)(7) Custodian Account (Tax-Sheltered account) or a Keogh Account, you must roll the distribution into a similar type of retirement plan within sixty (60) days in order to avoid disqualification of your plan and the severe tax consequences that it can bring. If you are the trustee of a Qualified Retirement Plan, you may reinvest the money in any way permitted by the plan and trust agreement.
    This Supplement, and the existing Prospectus dated February 28, 2024, provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. Both the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information dated February 28, 2024, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference, and can be obtained without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-800-785-8165.
  • AlphaCentric Strategic Income Fund name change and sub-advisor change
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1355064/000158064224006059/alphstrategic-497.htm
    497 1 alphstrategic-497.htm
    AlphaCentric Strategic Income Fund
    Class A: SiiaX Class C: SiicX Class I: SiiiX
    (the “Fund”)
    October 7, 2024
    This information supplements certain information contained in the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for the Fund, each dated August 1, 2024.
    ______________________________________________________________________________
    Effective on or about November 1, 2024, the Fund’s name will change to “AlphaCentric Real Income Fund”.
    Effective on or before November 5, 2024, AlphaCentric Advisors LLC intends to retain CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC (“CrossingBridge”) as the new investment sub-advisor to the Fund, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. CrossingBridge is a boutique investment firm specializing in corporate credit, with an emphasis on high yield debt and opportunistic credit. CrossingBridge manages over $3.2B in assets across nine funds and includes a management team of nine investment professionals with an average of 20+ years of investment experience. The Fund’s investment strategy and focus on real estate related securities will remain intact. Additional information regarding the sub-advisory services provided to the Fund will be made available on or before November 5, 2024.
    Effective on or before November 5, 2024, Goshen Rock Capital, LLC will no longer serve as the investment sub-adviser of the Fund.
    * * * * *
    You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for the Fund, each dated August 1, 2024, which provide information that you should know about the Fund before investing. These documents are available upon request and without charge by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-844-ACFUNDS (1-844-223-8637) or by writing to 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022.
    Please retain this Supplement for future reference.