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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.
  • New Thread: Open Discussion (What are you buying, selling, considering?)
    Sold AQRNX in Jan. (yeah, I know it is closed). Put the money in a bit in GLRBX, ARTKX, FMIJX. It was a relatively small amount anyway.
    Also sold of last bit of RWGFX today. I got into it in December. Not a bad fund but I decided that my other holdings AKREX and YAFFX is providing enough focused asset coverage.
    Update: Decided to sell ARIVX down to a token value.
  • RidgeWorth Investments Up for Sale Again
    David was preparing a call with managers of RWGFX. Perhaps the future of funds can be asked.
  • Funds for my Roth at Fidelity
    One bond fund I like at Fido is FSICX. This is a multi-sector fund that has a pretty good track record. It holds goverment bonds, hi-yield corporates and emerging market bonds. So, it has a barbell like structure.
    Of Equity funds, Fidelity has many index funds for you to choose. Recently they lowered the entry level for index funds.
    If you prefer at actively managed funds:
    FLPSX is my favorite. It has grown to a go-anywhere type of fund with 1/3 in International equities. It is typically value biased.
    FCNTX is a conservative growth fund to consider.
    From non-fidelity funds AKREX, YAFFX are funds to look. These are generally on the conservative side. Also take a look at RWGFX if you want something more aggressive. It is a newish fund but has better downside protection than some other aggressive growth funds.
    On the international side:
    FIGFX is an international fund to consider as a general purpose International fund. FEDDX looks promising in the emerging markets area.
    Non-Fidelity funds, take a look at ARTHX, ARTRX, GPGOX and GPIOX. These are rather high ER but from Fund shops/managers that has good track record. If you are looking for something conservative FMIJX should be on your radar.
    For balanced funds:
    Consider GLRBX. Also take a look at GRSPX.
  • Using allocation and balanced funds in a portfolio
    I went both ways.
    I currently own just one fund in multiple portfolios at this time: GLRBX. I used to own PRPFX, OAKBX, LCORX, IVWIX.
    LCORX was my biggest disappointment of these type of funds. IVWIX did not live up to my expectations. OAKBX performance cooled down as fund became bigger. PRPFX returns are highly dependent on its gold/silver as manager stock and bond picking is mediocre (as demonstrated by performance of his other pure funds).
    I use balanced funds as a conservative holding and my hope that in a correction, this will hold up or go down less so that I can sell to buy more of riskier assets after the correction. In other times, I am expecting slightly better return than bonds.
    However, when I sold PRPFX, I bought PONDX (1/2), SUBFX (1/4), RWGFX (1/4). I am hoping that this will perform better than PRPFX. I certainly made my share of mistakes and I will only know if these moves were better after the fact.
  • Portfolio Construction Help
    Hi forch,
    First, I don't disagree with Investor's choices below, from his post to you. This is a nice spread.
    Domestic: RWGFX YAFFX AKREX FLPSX BCSIX SSSFX
    International: FIGFX GPIOX MAPIX
    Global: GPGOX ARTHX ARTRX
    NOTE: the below is with the presumption that aggressive may be for you; 85% equity and the remainder of other.
    As to FLPSX: a few more notes. This equity fund = 65% U.S. exposure, with the remainder foreign, with the 3 largest holding areas of consumer discretionary at 27%, IT at 18% and healthcare at 11%; which consists of Megacap at 11%, very large cap at 3%, large cap at 11%, midcap at 42% and small cap at 33%. A most decent fund within Fido.
    Domestic:
    FLPSX, per above
    FCNTX, (longtime proven management, somewhat defensive (although a very large fund) and middle of the road growth
    Specialized sectors
    FIREX, a more aggressive and int'. real estate fund
    FRIFX, U.S. oriented equity/bond real estate fund.....a steady provider fund at this time
    FSHOX, domestic play on construction and housing, with a mix of suppliers, builders and some REITs
    International:
    FTIEX, Total Int'l. Equity. Fidelity's most diversified int'l. equity fund in my opinion, with 8% U.S. exposure, 92% foreign and has about a 2% yield.
    - developed markets growth and value= 65%
    - " " small cap = 12%
    - emerging markets = 23%
    - mega cap=29%,large cap=31%, midcap=27%, small cap=12%
    - financials=22%, con.staples=14%, industrials=13%, con. discretionary=10%
    FEDDX, EM Discovery. Fido's look towards EM consumer markets in my opinion, and via the mid and small cap area (95%), at this time. Asia is currently about 40% of the exposure, but the fund is invested everywhere.
    Bonds: for whatever you may choose to not have in equity. These include exposure to developed and emerging market equity and bonds.
    -FNMIX, dollar denominated EM bonds exposure
    -FTEMX, " " EM equity and bond
    -FAGIX, Fido's highest risk junk bond fund with a solid long term record; and generally (during normal times :) ) will track up/down about 80% of the movement in the SP-500 index. May also range from 5-15% of equity holdings.
    -SPHIX, less aggressive than FAGIX; but still in the high yield bond area, with a decent long term record
    -PAUDX, a Pimco fund of funds, with a respected manager
    -LSBRX, global bonds of all flavors and generally 15-20% equity exposure, too. Status on this fund for us, which we hold; would be the retirement of Dan Fuss, the long time, 79 year old manager.
    Outside of Fido, I would look at any of Pimco's funds, keeping in mind that I consider their funds to be using what is likely the "new normal" for many equity and bond funds, being the steroid tools of options, futures, derivatives and all other known tools in an attempt to manage a fund's direction and stablity. I do not have a problem with this; but that those who choose any fund should be aware of potential added risk, using such tools, in the hands of the unskilled. ALSO, including non-Fido funds from Investor's list.
    This is a nice tool to use at Fido Fidelity compare; and one doesn't need an acct. to use this area.
    This will already be set with one fund, PAUDX. You may overwrite this ticker with another and add others for a quick and dirty scroll down list. For details about any fund, after entering a ticker symbol, click "GO". Once the fund name is loaded (blue lettering), you may then click onto the fund name to obtain more details about a fund, including prospectus info.
    Pimco mutual funds list. This page may load showing "A" shares. Change the "FILTER" to "D" shares in the drop down menu to the left side of the page. Clicking upon a ticker symbol will take you to a most inclusive list of data to select about a particular fund. Lots to read, if you choose.
    Okay, this is all for now. If something else pops up this weekend, I will add a separate post at this thread.
    Take care and good fortune with the homework, eh?
    Regards,
    Catch
  • Portfolio Construction Help
    Reply to @forch: Here is a few funds to look at:
    Domestic: RWGFX YAFFX AKREX FLPSX BCSIX SSSFX
    International: FIGFX GPIOX MAPIX
    Global: GPGOX ARTHX ARTRX
    Actually you can consider FLPSX as kind of global as well. 1/3 of the portfolio is international.
  • Our Funds Boat, Year-End, + 13.04%, 12-31-12
    Reply to @catch22:
    Hi Catch,
    FLPSX is about 5% of my total retirement portfolio. I have not made any changes to this position. I'm happy with the fund.
    I've made several changes to my portfolio at year end.
    I've sold PRPFX to buy 1/2 PONDX, 1/4 SUBFX and 1/4 RWGFX.
    I've reduced FDGRX to add more to RWGFX.
    I've reduced ARTKX and FMIJX and added the proceeds to create roughly equal allocation to ARTHX, ARTRX, GPGOX and GPIOX.
    There are some other small changes at the margin that does not change the overall character.
    I think RWGFX is similar to FDGRX in terms of asset style (growth stocks) but on down quarters it seems to have better downside performance.
  • Which fund (that you own) disappointed you the most in 2012?
    Reply to @Sven:
    I've put half of the monies in that was in PRPFX into PONDX. A quarter also went into SUBFX and the rest went to fund purchases into RWGFX.
  • Open Thread (Buying/Selling Thoughts/Ideas)
    Today I started a token investment in RWGFX in my self-directed 401k account.
    I've also sold all of my PRPFX. I'll probably going to redeploy some of this on my other funds on Monday.
  • our October updates are posted
    I'll just register a vote for the conference call approach to digging into newer, interesting, and innovative funds-- that is, if it's worth David's time considering the number of participants. The board's had a number of mentions of funds like that recently, so there'd be a pretty good menu to draw from. I'm recalling Whitebox, ARLSX, BRTNX, and RWGFX, just off the top of the cabeza here.
    If it turns out not to be worth the time to do the calls as a regular feature, the interview approach David used for SFGIX would be great too.
  • Forbes - Q&A with RiverPark/Wedgewood Fund
    For those that missed it, RWGFX was profiled here on MFO late last year: http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/2012/01/riverparkwedgewood-rwgfx-september-2011/
    I moved into this fund a few months ago to give my portfolio some growth exposure. Besides David's commentary, I looked through the "Wedgewood Insights" and liked the steadiness and consistency of their approach. So far, so good. I do think the expense ratio is a little high, but hopefully it will go down as assets increase.
  • Forbes - Q&A with RiverPark/Wedgewood Fund
    Forbes
    David Rolfe believes the market serves up far too many curveballs. With that the case, it’s best to limit aggressive choices.
    The highly concentrated portfolio that Rolfe manages underscores his position. Twenty stocks compose the $424 million RiverPark/Wedgewood fund (RWGFX; expense ratio 1.25%). These are selections made from only high-conviction ideas: easy-to-hit pitches, that is.
    “Ted Williams once said, If it’s not a strike don’t swing. It’s part of the business. There are no called strikes. You can leave the bat on your shoulders as long as you want,” says Rolfe.
    Rolfe seems an undiscovered power-hitter. The fund is tiny, yet the performance suggests the possibility for bigger things. Launched 18 months ago, the fund has returned 40.6%, while the S&P 500 returned 33.4%. It broadly outperformed peers last year, gaining 5.6% as rivals lost an average 2.5%. The fund is up 19% this year—so far, another strong performance. It compares to an average 13% rise for peers.
    RiverPark/Wedgewood is described as a large cap growth fund. Nonetheless, to earn these outsize returns, Rolfe combines tenets of both growth and value investing. An investor is greatly limited by sticking with only one strategy, he says. To be sure, it’s also a way to differentiate his fund from the multitude of available growth funds.
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2012/09/25/investors-will-starve-on-growth-stocks-alone/
  • Q & A With Bill Smead, Manager, Smead Value Fund (SMVLX)
    Thank you, Ted. This one could be a contender. According to the M* X-Ray (Premium access), BRK.B is the only stock SMVLX shares with RWGFX yet both of these more focused portfolios are doing really well. Good find. Rick
  • Did anyone else notice Vanguard's website changes today?
    These changes are slowly being rolled out. I have seen reports of it on Bogleheads for a few weeks, but the changes haven't hit my accounts yet. (One of my accounts did get notified that changes are "coming soon.") Anyway, just pointing this out in case other readers get confused.
    Btw, I also hold RWGFX and RPHYX. Becoming quite the MFO junkie here...
  • Did anyone else notice Vanguard's website changes today?
    When you log in to your own portfolio balances, the very first column shown for each fund is "expense ratio". I don't want to see this every time I check my portfolio but that's what Vanguard wants me to see. The fact that they didn't post the ER's accurately was even more disappointing. I only checked 6 of my funds that seemed most out of line and they were all way overstated. ER for RWGFX was reported as 3.71% (vs. 1.25 on M*). RHPYX was reported as 2.18% (vs. 1.25 of M*). If you're a Vanguard brokerage customer, recommend doing your own research before hitting the sell button.
  • Need a new Large Cap Growth Stock Fund because manager of MFCFX is leaving
    I think MFCFX is technically more "multi-cap" than large growth. But if you do want large growth then you can consider RWGFX which was reviewed on this site: http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/2012/01/riverparkwedgewood-rwgfx-september-2011/
  • Fund Reveal-- Please try it out
    I signed up for the trial but was so intrigued by FundReveal that I went ahead and opted for the $150 package. The screener tool is useful for discovering loaded, closed, and institutional mutual funds with a high entry price tag. The screener offers little for me as I’m looking for no-load, open, NTF mutual funds that cost less than $5k to purchase through Schwab. That doesn’t mean I can’t locate what I’m after with the screener. I found several possibilities that meet my criteria that I may have overlooked without it. It’s simply a tedious process to shuttle back and forth between FundReveal’s screener and Schwab. It’s probably too soon to tell but for now the screener has proved not worth the extra fifty bucks. More will be revealed.
    The analyzer is a different animal, especially since I’ve been chastened by the tech/internet implosion of the early last decade and seen what happened to just about everyone in 2008. I’m more risk averse than before. Lesson learned. The analyzer appears to be a useful tool for this given their Risk/Reward “A” rating system. Suddenly, the high fliers that might have gotten my attention and cash in the past don’t look so hot. Watching them move around on the Universe Comparison Graph through the years is sobering. It’s also useful to research funds to see if their investment strategy actually matches their performance. RWGFX has done well for its short life span, for instance.
    Yet FundReveal’s screener is an incomplete tool. For my needs, it still takes MFO to generate the ideas along with Schwab’s Advanced Fund Screener. Then follows Lipper Leaders and Morningstar Premium for deeper drilling. And no, I don’t work for Schwab, M* or Lipper. I don’t even play them on TV. Rick
  • Has anyone invested in any of the "Stars in the Shadows"?
    Just started an exploratory position with RWGFX. I'm fascinated with the focused aspect and high tech/Healthcare. We'll see.
  • Schwab NL/NTF Roth Portfolio
    I was a regular contributor to FundAlarm 1999-2002 but had to put investing on hold since entering seminary in August 2002. It’s great to see so many familiar names from those days! Looks like I missed an interesting time in the markets from 2003 until now. No? Gone is any trace of irrational exuberance from my expectations going forward. My wife and I are debt free other than a reasonable mortgage at 5.25% and a smallish student loan at 3.25% interest. We will be able to fully fund 403bs at TIAA-CREF and Fidelity soon. We also have an inherited IRA invested in Windhaven’s ETF managed moderate portfolio at Charles Schwab. The below proposed portfolio will be in our Schwab Roth IRAs and will only be invested in no-load, NTF mutual funds, rebalanced every January. Our time horizon is at least 10 years. We will dollar cost averaging into cash in these Roths beginning January 2013 making appropriate rebalances every January going forward. At least that’s the plan. Any input from MFO, particularly regarding VAFGX v FVALX and WTIFX v GPIOX, would be appreciated. For any other options I’ve most certainly overlooked, please feel free to advise. I’m not interested in sector plays at least for this initial return to investing. I’ll let the active managers make those calls because that’s what they’re paid to do. I have a glass half full perspective and don’t think the sky is falling. Some may say I’m a dreamer…but I’m not the only one. Jonas Ferris at MaxFunds really spoke for me last October. Anyway, thanks in advance for the input. Rick, the glampig
    http://www.maxfunds.com/?q=node/602
    20% MVPFX-Marathon Value Portfolio
    10% RWGFX-RiverPark/Wedgewood Retail
    10% WSCVX-Walthausen Small Cap Value
    10% VAFGX-Valley Forge
    or FVALX-Forester Value N
    10% HLMNX-Harding Loevner International Eq Inv
    05% WTIFX-Westcore International Small Cap
    or GPIOX-Grandeur Peak Intl Opportunities Inv
    20% MWTRX-Metropolitan West Total Return Bond M
    10% LSGLX-Loomis Sayles Global Bond Retail
    05% RPHYX-RiverPark Short Term High Yield Retail