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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.
  • Looking for Unique Global Equity Fund
    Hi @VintageFreak,
    I took a look at WGRNX and from a quick review of its M* report I went no further as it seems ...
    @JoJo26 pulled the hat trick selecting MSFAX and thus far it is the top dog from what I am finding in looking through a good number of world stock funds. MSFAX has a threshold to purchase at a cool five mil; however, I have found another share class MGGPX of this fund that I can purchase with a much lower threshold but with a sales load. For now, I plan to continue with THOAX as a member of my global growth sleeve and thus far over the past five plus years I have owned it, it has served me well. Besides, I'd have a sizeable capital gains tax bill (for me) if I sold it.
    Thanks again JoJo26 for the tip on MSFAX ... I'm now thinking you've selected the winning fund. It would be nice to hear form @ep1 as to what he thinks ... since, he picked our brains so-to-speak.
    Have a good day!
  • Should You Sell In May & Go Away?
    Hi Tony, I'll have to check out the last two indicators you mentioned - not familiar with them. I've kept it pretty simple on my end, just trying to avoid larger than the "normal" drawdowns in my fairly conservative retirement portfolio and picking spots here and there for buys with a decent probability of gains. -- AJ
  • ETF's
    I'm also not a fan of ETFs. Though I can't speak for David, I suspect some of my objections overlap with his.
    - bid/ask spread. With an ETF you're almost guaranteed to lose. (Even if you put in a limit order, that's primarily going to protect you against momentary market jiggles, not spread.) An OEF gives you 100c on the NAV dollar.
    - tracking error. Not vs. the index (OEF index funds have the same propensity), but vs. the NAV (even after allowing for bid/ask spread). Authorized participants act to keep the price close to NAV, but only if their cost (trading the underlying securities plus the fee to convert creation units) is less than the deviation of the market price from NAV. They are less inclined to act when the market is in turmoil, i.e. when you're more likely to want to get out of a position.
    There is a counter argument for foreign funds, viz. the market can price foreign index funds better than an OEF fund board using fair value pricing. Color me skeptical here. Even ETFs use fair value pricing when generating intraday indicative values.
    - petty SEC Section 31 fees on ETF sales.
    - often no cost advantage (e.g. Vanguard Admiral class shares vs. Vanguard ETF class shares of the same portfolio).
    On the plus side for ETFs, in theory ETFs are more tax-efficient. I say in theory because many OEF broad based funds are well managed and distribute little if any cap gains as well. Nor does this matter in tax-advantaged accounts.
    Another plus is that you can buy ETFs with lower commissions than you can buy TF funds.
  • MFO Ratings Updated Through March 2017
    Some background ...
    MFO's Fund Family Scorecard measures how well funds run by the same management company have performed against their peers since inception.
    We first published the card in June 2014 commentary with How Good Is Your Fund Family?, followed by updates in May 2015 and May 2016. Beginning in June 2016, our premium site updates the card monthly and provides fund family metrics.
    Scorecard ranking is based on absolute total return, reflecting reinvested dividends and expenses, but excluding any load, since first full month of fund inception (or back to Jan 1960, which starts our Lipper database).
    A "fund family" comprises at least 3 funds, excluding money market, age 3 months or more, oldest share class only. The methodology is strictly quantitative, based on past performance of existing funds. It does not account for survivorship bias, category drift, management or strategy changes.
    OK, with that out of way, this month seven new fund families entered the scorecard. They are: Alambic, Amplify, Leader, MML, Polen, Vest and W E Donoghue.
    Alambic and Polen both entered the scorecard with a "Top Fund Family" rating. All of their funds have beaten their peers since inception (click on image to enlarge):
    image
    image
    Alambic Investment Management LP was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, CA.
    Polen Capital Management LLC was founded in 1989 and is based in Boca Raton, FL.
  • John Waggoner: Listed Funds Offer Access To Private Equity With Liquidity
    @MFO Members: The ALPS | Red Rocks Listed Private Equity Fund is an open-end mutual fund that provides investors with exposure to private businesses by investing in publicly-traded private equity companies that trade on global exchanges. These listed private equity companies have direct ownership, control and influence over the privately held businesses in their portfolios. The Fund assembles approximately 30-50 holdings and is diversified by stage of investment, geography, industry, and capital structure. Investors enjoy daily liquidity and valuation, and the primary mission of the Fund is to maximize total return. Regards,
    Ted
    (Source) Fund Website
    Fund Holdings:
    http://www.alpsfunds.com/holdings/alps-red-rocks-listed-private-equity-fund
  • John Waggoner: Listed Funds Offer Access To Private Equity With Liquidity
    Actually Ares Capital (ARCC)--described inaccurately in the story--invests primarily in the debt of private companies, not equity. Only a handful of these BDC securities in the U.S. and proxies in foreign markets invest mainly in private equity.
  • Lewis Braham: How To Sidestep Common Investment Mistakes
    " High levels of portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account."
    Straight from the prospectus. It's got several more sentences about how turnover affects costs and how short term gains affect taxes. Can't say the fund isn't upfront about things. It even lists high turnover as an investment risk.
    Hard to tell whether this high turnover is an anomaly or to be expected. The AUM have fluctuated wildly, though the correlation with turnover here isn't obvious:

    2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
    AUM $49K $8.6M $10M $0.85M $4.3M
    turnover 76% 64% 89% 108% 194%
    Near the end of 2015, AllianzGI Behavioral Advantage Large Cap Fund was reorganized into this fund. So the earlier figures are substantially meaningless. Same management but different "principal investment strategies, as well as fees and expenses." (Again, quoting prospectus.) Without knowing more, I'm inclined to attribute the plummet in AUM to the reorganization of the fund.
  • What are you ... Buying ... Selling ... or Pondering? (March 2017)
    @The Pudd
    WSBFX and BTBFX is practically the "Same" fund. One of them claims to be "socially responsible" version of the other.
    VWELX I already got, not sure I need VWINX
    Looking for go anywhere managers with BVAOX and not looking for small cap fund, so not sure DISSX compares.
    BULLX, again is go anywhere and capital preservation is a mandate. PARWX is from Parnassus, the company that holds Wells Fargo. Pass.
    GTSOX is expensive? 0.85% ER. Please do tell alternative option.
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to reopen to new investors
    Nothing is zero risk. Wells Fargo funds shouldn't be bought on first principles.
    Take a look at SIRIX and SSIIX. ER is very high, but these guys seem to be navigating portfolio well and do actively focus on capital preservation. I've had SIRIX in my IRA for a while along with RPHYX and RSIVX.
  • Barry Ritholtz: Don't Mourn the Death Of Stock-Picking Just Yet
    Indexing depends on active management to allocate capital; thus the two are parts of an ecosystem. The question is what is the equilibrium for the two, in the sense of stable shares of the market? We're not there yet, but at some point we will be.
    Nick de Peyster
    Undervalued Stocks
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to reopen to new investors
    "I'm looking at the 5-year tax adjusted returns for RPHYX and it's 1.40%. Three years is 0.90%. "
    Okay, but what are you saying? That this is better than cash, or that it's worse than more volatile funds?
    If someone was in the top marginal tax bracket (that's how M* computes tax-adjusted returns), then they probably owned RPHIX that gave an extra 1/6% or so in return (after taxes). You can also add another 0.1%/year to the after tax return to account for the capital loss writeoff when cashing out. (Shares were around $10/share until about 3 years ago; they're now around $9.75.)
    So over five years, the after tax return looks closer to 1.65%. Not bad compared to a five year CD (offered five years ago). Even before taking out the 30+% (top rate) taxes on that CD.
    http://www.bankrate.com/banking/cds/historical-cd-interest-rates-1984-2016/
    The after-tax return also looks good compared to short-intermediate muni funds like BTMIX, VMLUX, or FSTFX. (I'm inclined to look in this duration range for muni funds; anything shorter doesn't seem to pay enough to beat cash, and anything longer seems to have too much interest rate risk.)
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to reopen to new investors
    I don't have any money with this horse and will not; but was curious. I checked with my favorite site for total return, and the graphic is at the below link.
    I also checked performance at M*, with their closest return indicator at 5 years and the total return numbers since inception are very close.
    I fired up my handy-dandy HP-12C and did rough numbers.
    RPHYX data is for a time period of 6 years; and has a total return of 17.75% in this time frame. The rough math indicates an annualized return of 2.89 (M* reads 2.76% at the 5 year return), before any taxes, if held in such an account.
    Stockcharts by default, uses adjusted calculations for returns. The adjustments are for common items as; dividends, cap. gains, splits and assumes everything reinvested; whatever affects total return. I prefer this method versus the commonly used price/NAV only shown at many charts. I want the whole picture for the investment return. If one wants price only appreciation, an _ is placed in front of the ticker symbol.
    The below linked chart is "active", meaning that you may add up to 9 more tickers separated by a comma; if you want to compare something else. Save the page for future use, if you have not. Lastly, Stockcharts will not chart a ticker that has not yet attained an age of 2 years.
    One may move the slider bar under the graphic to change the begin and end period if you want to view a particular period.
    Pillow time here,being a bit to the tired side ......hoping for no errors in the above; .
    http://stockcharts.com/freecharts/perf.php?RPHYX&n=1519&O=111000
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to reopen to new investors
    While I also have the impression that most (i.e. more than 50%) of fund families reopen funds through all channels, limited reopenings are not unusual. For example, Sequoia Fund SEQUX, T. Rowe Price Health Sciences PRHSX, Vanguard Capital Opportunity VHCOX.
    Often funds do the reverse - go from being completely open to limiting new accounts to direct investments. American Century Midcap Value ACMVX, Wellington VWELX (since then completely closed), etc.
  • Your Way Of Life Would Not Be Remotely Possible Without Wall Street
    Click here
    https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-30/the-amount-of-etf-shares-being-traded-has-eclipsed-u-s-gdp
    Then click here:
    sifma.org/factbook/
    The amount of speculation--paper trading hands--versus the amount of actual capital raised to ostensibly grow business (or to buy back stock and not grow business) is staggering. Just the ETF volume alone is about nine times the total amount of capital raised and larger than the U.S. GDP, and that doesn't include volume on individual stocks and bonds. If one believes in buy and hold investing and that market timing is impossible as I believe folks like MJG have claimed this is not a productive use of resources. It is one trader selling an already existing share of Microsoft stock to another who then turns around and sells it to another and another ad infinitum without providing Microsoft any additional capital to grow its business. Speculation has become Wall Street's primary business, while raising new capital is secondary.
  • Your Way Of Life Would Not Be Remotely Possible Without Wall Street
    MJG writes about 1792, as if Wall Street served the same function today as it did then. Some part of it does, and if Wall Street kept to that knitting, you wouldn't be seeing some of the posts here. But let's not confuse that with the last four decades of financial "innovation".
    We can start with Drexel Burnham Lambert.
    http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/financial-planning/junk-bond1.htm
    Even the insurance industry prohibits insuring a life in which you're not related. This is called the insurable interest doctrine. But not Wall Street.
    "When the British Parliament passed the Life Assurance Act in 1774, it acknowledged that the opportunity to insure a stranger would create a 'mischievous kind of gaming' that allowed one person to profit from the death of another." Just for those who like financial history going back to the 1700s.
    http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/04/can_i_buy_life_insurance_on_a_stranger.html
    But Wall Street in its infinite wisdom decided that trading credit default swaps that guaranteed bond payments was just fine, even if you have no interest in the income stream. CDSs as they became to be traded in the past couple of decades have no apparent use, at least in MJG's 1792 sense.
    http://www.robinskaplan.com/resources/articles/credit-default-swaps-from-protection-to-speculation
    See also, FT (2010): Call for ban on CDS speculation.
    Rolling Stone pretty well wraped it up in one of its intro paragraphs on Bain Capital in 2012:
    "Romney wants us to believe that critics of private equity are against capitalism. They’re not. They’re against a predatory system created and perpetuated by Wall Street solely to pump its own profits."
    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-private-equity-firms-like-bain-really-are-the-worst-of-capitalism-20120523
  • RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund to reopen to new investors
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1494928/000139834417004560/fp0025080_497.htm
    497 1 fp0025080_497.htm
    RiverPark Funds Trust
    RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund
    Institutional Class (RPHIX)
    Retail Class (RPHYX)
    Supplement dated April 5, 2017 to the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (the “Disclosure Documents”) dated January 27, 2017.
    This supplement provides new and additional information beyond that contained in the Disclosure Documents and should be read in conjunction with the Disclosure Documents.
    IMPORTANT NOTICE ON PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
    Effective as of the close of business on April 5, 2017 (the “Re-Opening Date”), the RiverPark Short Term High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) will be publicly available for sale on a limited basis as set forth below.
    The following groups will be permitted to purchase Fund shares after the Re-Opening Date:
    1. Shareholders of record of the Fund as of the Re-Opening Date (although if a shareholder closes all accounts in the Fund, additional investment in the Fund from that shareholder may not be accepted) may continue to purchase additional shares in their existing Fund accounts either directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary and may continue to reinvest dividends or capital gains distributions from shares owned in the Fund,
    2. New shareholders may open Fund accounts and purchase directly from the Fund (i.e. not through a financial intermediary), and
    3.Members of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, persons affiliated with RiverPark Advisors, LLC or Cohanzick Management, LLC and their immediate families will be able to purchase shares of the Fund and establish new accounts.
    The Fund may from time to time, in its sole discretion, limit the types of investors permitted to open new accounts, limit new purchases or otherwise modify the above policy at any time on a case-by-case basis.
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
  • These Tools Help You Hit The Mark With Target-Date Funds
    I believe Target Date Funds could be used in a totally different manner than they are typically advertised which usually means these funds "target a retirement date".
    I propose using these funds to provide a glide path of risk that "targets income needs in retirement" over future 5 year time periods.
    Let's say I am 57 years of age in 2017 and I see a need for my investments to provide me an income of $X/month (adjusted for inflation) starting in three years (age 60).
    So, a 2020 Target Date Fund would be funded with 5 years of spending (for age 60-64). So in 2020, I would begin disbursements from this 2020 fund and spend this fund down over the next 5 years (2020-2024). A Target Date Fund remains invested very conservatively after it reaches its target date which is perfect for spend down.
    At age 57, I also would fund a 2025 Target Date Fund to begin disbursement in 2025 (from age 65-69).
    I also would fund a 2030 Target Date Fund to disburse in 2030 (from age 70-74)
    and so on...
    Beyond the first 15 years I would then use 10 year increments such as,
    2040 Fund for years 75-84
    2050 Fund for years 85 - older
    5 Funds all done.
    For emergencies I might conservatively fund an additional 3-5 years of spending and replenish as needed.
    All other resources could be aggressively invested without the worry of spending these resources at the wrong time (a bear market).
    The beauty of a Target Date Funds is that they glide away from risk as they approach the spend down date (target date) and remains low risk during the 5 year spend down period.
    Longer dated funds have time to deal with the risk/reward of the market serving as the inflation hedge.
  • Fund for Grandparents to Give: BBALX/MASNX
    There's the tax advantage of a 529 fund -- the gains are not taxed (as long as the withdrawals are used for college education).
    I opened an account for each grandchild -- two of them with T Rowe Price (Alaska state plan) and three with Nebraska state plan. I don't use their target date funds -- there are some regular mutual fund choices (that's what I looked for when starting). It's mostly on automatic pilot -- $100 per kid per month out of my checking account. With an extra contribution at birthday and Christmas. It's hard to find time to examine the results closely, but the total has grown nicely and the individual funds' numbers stack up pretty well with S&P 500. The two older boys are in the sixth grade now, so in a few years I'll see how complicated it is to get the money out.
  • Two more AQR Funds to close June 30, 2017
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1444822/000119312517110128/d350531d497.htm
    497 1 d350531d497.htm AQR FUNDS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
    AQR FUNDS
    Supplement dated April 4, 2017 (“Supplement”)
    to the Class I Shares and Class N Shares Prospectus dated May 1, 2016, as amended (“Prospectus”), of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Long-Short Equity Fund, AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Style Premia Alternative Fund and AQR Style Premia Alternative LV Fund (the “Funds”)
    This Supplement updates certain information contained in the Prospectus. Please review this important information carefully. You may obtain copies of the Funds’ Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling (866) 290-2688, or by writing to AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248.
    Effective at the close of business on June 30, 2017, the AQR Long-Short Equity Fund and AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund will be closed to new investors, subject to certain exceptions as set out below under the heading “Closed Fund Policies.”
    Additionally, effective April 5, 2017, the section entitled “Closed Fund Policies” beginning on page 165 of the Prospectus is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:
    Closed Fund Policies
    Effective at the close of business of the below dates (each, a “Closing Date”), the following Funds (each, as of its Closing Date, a “Closed Fund”) were or will be closed to new investors, subject to certain exceptions.
    Closed Fund Closing Date
    AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund June 29, 2012
    AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund September 30, 2013
    AQR Style Premia Alternative Fund March 31, 2016
    AQR Style Premia Alternative LV Fund March 31, 2016
    AQR Long-Short Equity Fund June 30, 2017
    AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund June 30, 2017
    Existing shareholders of a Closed Fund as of the applicable Closing Date are permitted to make additional investments in that Closed Fund and reinvest dividends and capital gains after the Closing Date in any account that held shares of the Closed Fund as of the Closing Date.
    Notwithstanding the closing of a Closed Fund, you may open a new account in the Closed Fund (including through an exchange from another series of the Trust (each, a “Series”)) and thereafter reinvest dividends and capital gains in the Closed Fund if you meet the Closed Fund’s eligibility requirements and are:
    ● A current shareholder of the applicable Closed Fund as of the Closing Date—either (a) in your own name or jointly with another or as trustee for another, or (b) as beneficial owner of shares held in another name—opening a (i) new individual account or IRA account in your own name, (ii) trust account, (iii) joint account with another party or (iv) account on behalf of an immediate family member;
    1
    ● A qualified defined contribution retirement plan that offers the applicable Closed Fund as an investment option of the plan (or another plan sponsored by the same employer), as of the Closing Date purchasing shares on behalf of new and existing participants;
    ● A financial advisor, wrap-fee program or model portfolio who as of the Closing Date has included the applicable Closed Fund as part of a discretionary fee-based program or model portfolio purchasing shares on behalf of a new or existing client;
    ● An investor opening a new account at a financial institution and/or financial intermediary firm or a client of an investment consultant that (i) has clients currently invested in the applicable Closed Fund or clients for whom the Adviser provides advisory services implementing a similar principal investment strategy and (ii) the new account to be opened has been pre-approved by the Adviser to purchase shares of the applicable Closed Fund. Investors should contact the firm through which they invest to determine whether new accounts are permitted;
    ● Clients of a financial institution, financial intermediary or consultant that submitted a letter of intent to invest in the Closed Fund that was accepted by the Adviser on or prior to the Closing Date;
    ● A shareholder of a Fund (including a Closed Fund) or another account or fund managed by the Adviser transferring, either by exchange or redemption and subsequent purchase, into a Closed Fund with a similar principal investment strategy where the Adviser concludes, in its judgment, that the transfer will not adversely affect the applicable Closed Fund;
    ● A participant in a tax-exempt retirement plan of the Adviser and its affiliates and rollover accounts from those plans, as well as employees of the Adviser and its affiliates, trustees and officers of the Trust and members of their immediate families; or
    ● A current shareholder of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund transferring, either by exchange or redemption and subsequent purchase, into AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund where the Adviser concludes, in its judgment, that the transfer will not adversely affect AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund.
    ● A current shareholder of the AQR Long-Short Equity Fund transferring, either by exchange or redemption and subsequent purchase, into the AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund where the Adviser concludes, in its judgment, that the transfer will not adversely affect the AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund.
    ● A current shareholder of the AQR Equity Market Neutral Fund transferring, either by exchange or redemption and subsequent purchase, into the AQR Long-Short Equity Fund where the Adviser concludes, in its judgment, that the transfer will not adversely affect the AQR Long-Short Equity Fund.
    The ability to permit, limit or decline investments in accordance with the eligibility requirements set out above relating to accounts held by financial institutions and/or financial intermediaries may vary depending upon systems capabilities, applicable contractual and legal restrictions and cooperation of those institutions and/or intermediaries.
    Investors may be required to demonstrate eligibility to purchase shares of a Closed Fund before an investment is accepted.
    Each Closed Fund reserves the right to (i) allow investments in Closed Funds that do not fit within the eligibility requirements above pursuant to guidelines approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees, (ii) reject any investment, including those pursuant to eligibility requirements detailed above, and (iii) close and re-open the Closed Fund to new or existing shareholders at any time.
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUR FUTURE REFERENCE...
    2
  • B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund eliminates investment minimums
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1396092/000120928617000225/e2088.htm
    497 1 e2088.htm
    B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund (the “Fund”)
    (Investor Class Shares – BRDRX)
    (Institutional Class Shares – BRDZX)
    (Class A Shares – BRDAX)
    8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205
    Richmond, Virginia 23235
    Supplement dated April 4, 2017
    To the Fund’s Prospectus dated May 1, 2016
    (as supplemented from time to time)
    * * * * * * * *
    Elimination of Investment Minimums for the Fund
    Effective immediately, all references to investment minimums and minimum subsequent investments in the Fund are hereby removed. B. Riley Asset Management, a division of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund, determined to no longer require investment minimums or minimum subsequent investments for the Fund.
    Previously, the minimum initial purchase or exchange into the Fund was $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, $10,000 for Institutional Class Shares, and $3,000 for Class A Shares. Subsequent investment amounts were previously $2,500, $2,500 and $100, respectively, for Investor Class Shares, Institutional Class Shares, and Class A Shares.
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE