+1
Nice write-up @Tarwheel. I’d been a happy camper with TRP since the mid to late 90s. Kept anywhere from 40-60% of my retirement funds there over more than 25 years with the rest spread around different fund houses. I left about 3 years ago after noticing their phone based client support had become abysmal to the point where i began to worry about (unwanted) paper statements ending up in someone else’s mailbox. Repeated calls didn’t help. Couldn’t stop the unwanted sporadic and unpredictable statement mailings. And when I finally moved out, they screwed up the transfer to Fidelity royally.
Their fixed income funds lagged up until the late 90s when a very talented woman took over. For a few years, under her leadership they got a lot better. Not sure when she moved on. ISTM she left sometime after 2000 to take a government position in Washington DC. Fixed income fell back to mediocre not long after.
The Giroux affectionados here love the guy and everything he touches - with good reason. Maybe they’ll discover a way to clone him and put the clowns clones in charge of everything. But I agree with you that their allocation funds ain’t what they once were. Likely it’s the fixed income component that’s causing the lackluster performance. I do own a slug of TRRIX (a 40/60 fund). ISTM it lost 10-12% in 2022. Worst showing I can ever remember (umm … other than 2008). It keeps most of its fixed income component in their New Income Fund (PRCIX) and most of the remainder in a short-immediate term TIPs fund. The former has always been a bit of a dog.
The world turns over every 24 hours. I’m sure the move to ETFs is hurting their bottom line and maybe (a guess) causing either some talent drain or cut-backs in research. Just guesses. BTW - their offerings have multiplied at least 5X since I joined them in the mid-90s. Not sure that kind of shotgun approach is in their best interest. But definitely got problems in River City Baltimore.

Rossby commented, "Investing After Retirement” forum on the M* of the olden days.
It seems to me more retirees commenting here than non-retirees. Maybe I'm off base ?
CD's at 3% would be my cut off point. Well , guess I'll have to wait & see if that will hold true !
Happy New Year to All, Derf

As a Super Senior, CDs are very important in our savings and planning.
They offer security and liquidity and beat the low savings offered at our local CU. We have about 20% in Mutual funds and that makes us over extended if one uses the 100-age rule.
A change if our life style, Assisted Living, may be around the corner.
To make things simple for my wife and our heirs we have investments in only 2 firms. I am shortening our CD ladders to one year with many rungs.
The stability of the bank offering the CD is more important than a few tenths of a % in the interest rate.
Our pension and SS income is well greater then our current living expenses but would be gobbled up in a cared living facility.
I miss the “Investing After Retirement” forum on the M* of the olden days.

Rossby, I am also focused on my age, and my desire to avoid unnecessay stress in protecting my retirement assets. I keep hearing these statements about how investors think they can "guarantee" that other asset classes will make much more than CDs, but I keep experiencing market changing events that are "unique" that cause unexpected changes in total return reality. I am about to turn 76, starting to experience noticeable changes in my health conditions, starting to think about potential changes in my living options, etc. I have no idea what the age of each poster is, who are making comments, but younger persons can look at this thread as just a money making accumulation decision, while they go to work each day, and enjoy a variety of employment fringe benefits. I no longer work, and I must adjust my investing decisions based on the absence of employment pensions and accommodations for age related investing decisions. Everyone has a unique set of life circumstances that must be considered what risk you are able to take.

As a Super Senior, CDs are very important in our savings and planning.
They offer security and liquidity and beat the low savings offered at our local CU. We have about 20% in Mutual funds and that makes us over extended if one uses the 100-age rule.
A change if our life style, Assisted Living, may be around the corner.
To make things simple for my wife and our heirs we have investments in only 2 firms. I am shortening our CD ladders to one year with many rungs.
The stability of the bank offering the CD is more important than a few tenths of a % in the interest rate.
Our pension and SS income is well greater then our current living expenses but would be gobbled up in a cared living facility.
I miss the “Investing After Retirement” forum on the M* of the olden days.

LINK
https://www.barrons.com/magazine?mod=BOL_TOPNAV
INTERNATIONAL TRADER. EM BONDS are attractive, especially the local-currency EM bonds (LEMB). Dollar-denominated is EMB.
FUNDS. Hot-hand managers are coming to active equity ETFs (TCAF, QLTY, FBCG, CGDV, DCOR, ARKK, etc). There is a flood of active ETFs with 240 new YTD. Much of the growth has been for active equity ETFs after the SEC approved several models a few years ago. The ETF wrapper offers tax-efficiency due to its in-kind creation/redemption. However, most indexes (broad or customized/special) also tend to be tax-efficient. So, active managers have headwinds vs indexes. The active ETFs may have significant differences from their OEF cousins even when both are run by the same team(s) – the ETFs may have fewer stocks or use fewer portfolio strategies. Active ETFs may be only a bit cheaper than their OEF cousins.
FUNDS. @DavidSHERMAN (58) uses value strategies for short-duration (0.75-2 years) HY bond fund CBLDX (ER 0.91%). He also looks for event-driven opportunities – early redemptions, change in control, selloffs following disasters, etc. He expects the yield-curve to normalize in 2024.
INCOME. Higher rates came and went. But bond funds with short/intermediate duration offer high current rates and will benefit from rate declines. Barbell strategies are also good. Mentioned are OEFs STYAX, VMBSX; ETFs AGG, TOTL, PSK (preferreds); CEF PMM (muni).
ECONOMY. FUNDS. Boring won in 2023. This skinny bull driven by Magnificent 7 did wonders for index funds. So, investors who didn’t do much deep analyses and just dumped some money into the SP500 or total market index did well. The SP500 index funds are now 10.7% of the fund universe, the total stock market 6.8%, with both accounting for 17.5% vs 8.76% in 2013. Very interesting considering that the 1st retail SP500 fund in 1976 (Vanguard) was a flop – it raised only $11.3 million in its initial period vs $150 million expected; it could afford only 280/500 stocks; Vanguard total market index fund followed in 1992 and many TDFs hold it. How has the tide turned from the humble beginnings? The SP500 index funds with only 2-4 bps ERs are formidable benchmarks to beat.
Q&A. Joel TILLINGHAST, Fidelity Small/Mid-Cap FLPSX (almost global). He has managed the Fund since its 1989 inception. Considering the regime shifts going on (inflation, taxes, regulation, energy transition, AI, etc), this market is too calm and cheerful, almost like 1999-2000. He likes to see steady and predictable cash flows. Investors may have an edge on small/mid-caps as they are less followed by analysts and institutions. Indexing is very popular now, but active managers will do fine in the long-term. Peter LYNCH taught him to be flexible when things/facts change; to accept errors and move on. He is retiring in 2023, leaving FLPSX in good hands (PECK, CHAMOVITZ), and will devote more time to mentoring, traveling, gardening, and book writing. Previous book, Big Money Thinks Small, 2020.
EXTRA, RETIREMENT. The good news is that Social Security payments will rise +3.2% in 2024 (old news), but the bad news is that it won’t be enough due to high inflation. Although inflation has moderated, that doesn’t mean lower prices. Significantly up are auto insurance, rents, medical care, Medicare Part B Premium. Almost 20% of 65+ are still working.

We are making small changes as part of our rebalancing:
1. Increase bond % and duration (short to intermediate and some long duration). Prefer investment grade. Funded from stocks, CDs, and T bill.
2. Increase oversea bond exposure both via index as well as active managed (new position)
3. Swap some junk BL/FR funds to IG and treasury floating rate funds/ETFs.
4. Consolidate stock funds via both index and active managed ETFs.
5. Increase US smaller cap stock exposure, prefer value
After gaining a modest return this year is more than enough for us. We want to spend more time with our family and enjoy life as we coast into retirement.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1552947/000158064223006794/superfund_497.htm
497 1 superfund_497.htm 497
Superfund Managed Futures Strategy Fund
(the “Fund”)
Class A SUPRX
Class C SUPFX
Class I SUPIX
a series of Two Roads Shared Trust
Supplement dated December 19, 2023
to the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”)
of the Fund each dated March 1, 2023
The Board of Trustees of Two Roads Shared Trust (the “Trust”) has concluded, based upon the recommendation of Superfund Advisors Inc., that it is in the best interests of the Superfund Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) and its shareholders that the Fund be liquidated. Pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) approved by the Board of Trustees, the Fund will be liquidated and dissolved on or about March 29, 2024.
The Fund is closed to all new investments as of December 19, 2023. The Fund will no longer pursue its stated investment objective. The Plan provides that the Fund will begin liquidating its portfolio as soon as is reasonable and practicable. On or about the close of business on March 29, 2024, the Fund will distribute pro rata all its assets in cash to its shareholders and all outstanding shares will be redeemed and cancelled.
Prior to March 29, 2024, you may redeem your shares, including reinvested distributions, in accordance with the “How to Redeem Shares” section of the Fund’s Prospectus. Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, you will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes (and for most state and local income tax purposes) on a redemption of your shares, whether as a result of a redemption that you initiate or upon the final liquidating distribution by the Fund, based on the difference between the amount you receive and your tax basis in your shares. The Fund may make one or more distributions of income and/or net capital gains on or prior to March 29, 2024, in order to eliminate Fund-level taxes. Please refer to the “Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions” section in the Prospectus for general information. You may wish to consult your tax advisor about your particular situation. Plan sponsors or plan administrative agents should notify participants that the Fund is liquidating and should provide information about alternative investment options.
ANY SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED THEIR SHARES OF THE FUND PRIOR TO MARCH 29, 2024 WILL HAVE THEIR SHARES AUTOMATICALLY REDEEMED AS OF THAT DATE, AND PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS OR ACCOUNT OF RECORD.
______________________________________
This Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus and SAI. This Supplement, and the Prospectus and SAI, each dated March 1, 2023, provide relevant information for all shareholders and should be retained for future reference. The Prospectus and the SAI have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are incorporated by reference. These can be obtained without charge by calling 1-866-866-4848

From
LINK
https://www.barrons.com/magazine?mod=BOL_TOPNAV
FUNDS. In the ETF performance race YTD, #1-ARKK, #2-FBCG, but they got there in very different ways. Also, FBCG is a long-term winner.
FUNDS. HEDGE-funds are suing the SEC over new reporting and disclosure rules for short-selling, swaps and securities-lending. They are arguing that the interrelated nature of these activities makes these rules problematic. Some fund firms (Price/TROW, etc) and university endowments (Harvard, etc) are also complaining about the new rules. New rules may affect how the activists operate – they make the news, but their long-term influence on valuations has been mixed.
FUNDS. Forget cheap small-caps (R2000), the micro-caps are super-cheap. The economy avoiding recession and the Fed cutting rates in 2024 will provide the needed spark as these companies live and breathe in debt. Mentioned are several micro-caps with P/B in the range 0.8-1.9 – AVALX, BRSIX, BRSVX, FRMCX, OBMCX, PVIVX, WAMVX; ETF IWC; included for comparison are R2000 IWM (P/B 1.6), SP500 SPY (P/B 3.6). (P/B is fine for newer companies and most financials; but even Warren Buffett has given up talking about P/B for BRK, although others continue to do so.) (By @LewisBraham at MFO)
EXTRA1, FUNDS. Now BlackRock/BLK has core-plus active ETF BRTR (earlier, multisector BINC). It will be a cousin of its OEF MDHQX / MAHQX (NTF/no-load at Fidelity and Schwab). Vanguard also introduced core VCRB and core-plus VPLS. (Of course, active bond ETFs have been around for years – BOND, FBND, TOTL, etc, so these late entrants are just catching up, but making noises about a new ETF revolution that is in the active equity ETFs, not active bond ETFs.)
EXTRA2, FUNDS. There is always hope that stock-pickers will do better. Several active large-cap OEFs are mentioned – CGWRX, DODGX, HHDVX, HWAAX, LGVAX, MRFOX, OAKLX, OAKMX, SVFAX.
EXTRA3, FUNDS. BREAKING News – Allocation 60-40 has been found alive again, this time by Vanguard. (of course, Vanguard also has a very comprehensive and solid lineup of allocation funds).
RETIREMENT. Fidelity says that 20% of retirees haven’t yet taken their RMDs. Deadline is 12/31/23 (really, 12/29/23 this year) and there are stiff penalties for missing RMDs. They are based on prior yearend balances and some consolidation rules apply. Several firms offer RMD services. Those who don’t need RMDs for expenses may consider QCDs that don’t flow through income.
(EXTRAS from online Friday that didn’t make the weekend paper version)

About half my wife's retirement portfolio is at at TIAA from two different institutions. About 33% is in their "traditional" accounts, or whatever they call them. I moved most of the rest to money markets back in June. But I know that isn't a sensible long-term plan.
We had a chat with a peppy rep back in the spring. Tried to learn from their web site. But, man o man, the whole experience sure makes me feel stupid.
Still a ways off from RMD's.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825063/000174177323004048/c497.htm
497 1 c497.htm MS P5 1222
MS P5 12/23
FRANKLIN MUTUAL SERIES FUNDS
SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 15, 2023
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2023, OF
FRANKLIN MUTUAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND (A SERIES OF FRANKLIN MUTUAL SERIES FUNDS)
The Board of Trustees of Franklin Mutual Series Funds recently approved a proposal to reorganize the Franklin Mutual Financial Services Fund (the “Fund”) with and into the Franklin Mutual Global Discovery Fund, each a series of Franklin Mutual Series Funds.
It is anticipated that in the first quarter of 2024, shareholders of the Fund will receive a proxy card and a Combined Prospectus/Proxy Statement requesting their votes on the reorganization. If approved by the Fund’s shareholders, the transaction is currently expected to be completed on or about April 26, 2024, but may be delayed if unforeseen circumstances arise.
Effective at the close of market (1:00 p.m. Pacific time or close of the New York Stock Exchange, whichever is earlier) on or about January 29, 2024, the Fund will be closed to all new investors except as noted below. Existing investors who had an open and funded account on January 29, 2024 can continue to invest in the Fund through exchanges and additional purchases after such date. The following categories of investors may continue to open new accounts in the Fund after the close of market on January 29, 2024: (1) clients of discretionary investment allocation programs where such programs had investments in the Fund prior to the close of market on January 29, 2024; and (2) Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans or benefit plans and their participants where the Fund was available to participants prior to the close of market on January 29, 2024. The Fund will not accept any additional purchases or exchanges after the close of market on or about April 24, 2024. The Fund reserves the right to change this policy at any time.
Please retain this supplement for future reference

@hank- well, Baseball_Fan does make a good point regarding the desirability of having a reasonable amount of secure fixed income for a number of years immediately after retirement. That happened to us- immediately after our retirement the great events of 2009 did a real number on our investments generally. However our SS and pension income allowed us to ride that out without disaster.
We were really lucky, but I do have to say that my spreadsheet planning for some twenty years prior to retirement had included such a scenario. You might remember many exchanges between me and MJG regarding my approach and his vaunted Monte Carlo alternatives.

Already explained the WTF portfolio. If you need less than 3%(2.5% is...I need under 2%) annual withdrawal, then you can do whatever.
Someone who doesn't have enough must take a lot more risk than the above.
I always found better ST trade in bond OEFs and the rest is in MM. MM gives me more flexibility and is easier to trade than CD/TR.
As usual, the red zone DEPENDS. There is a difference between retirement at age 55, 65, or 70.
Never in my life, have I owned a CD or US treasury, as you see at https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/fi/FILanding.
From retirement in 2018 to 2022(5 years), I was at 10/90 (stocks/bond OEFs) and did well. In 2023, I'm at 100% bond OEFs doing pretty well. I keep changing my style according to the market. When MM pays over 5%, even 4%, all I need is 3 trades at 2+% to have a great return with very low SD/risk. Owning 2-3 funds makes my life easier.

@Baseball_Fan, there are several recent studies, including by Pfau, that include basic immediate annuities (SPIAs) in the withdrawal mix. So, that is one way to address the SOR risk.
"Rising equity glide path" indeed follows a lower equity exposure around retirement (few years before and after).

Prudential offers this PDF on The Red Zone: https://www.prudential.com/media/system/cda/rrz/downloads/redzone_brochure.pdf
Many refer to The (Investor) Red Zone as the 5 years prior to retirement. Others, like me, refer to it as the 5 years prior to and after retirement.
We had never owned a dedicated bond fund and were always 95%-99% in stocks until entering The Zone pre-retirement. We bought our first allocation and dedicated bond funds when we entered The Zone pre-retirement. If we had it to do all over again, we would have not bought any dedicated bond funds - for us, a waste of time, money and effort. The only bonds we hold now are via three allocation funds with bonds being less than 5% of total portfolio. We do own a 5-yr CP CD ladder in lieu of any individual bonds or dedicated bond funds.
I think there is likely a tendency of many to become TOO conservative in The Zone, but the prevailing theme of it is better to be safe than sorry, though one's choice may be for one and end up resulting in the other.
Pulp Fiction is oft referred to as a cult classic of director Quentin Tarantino.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/
Musta seen it at least 15 times by now. Stellar cast offers up stellar performances. One iconic scene after another. Not recommended for the faint of heart.

a comment and a question....
Not sure if it was Pfau who stated this...but there's a concept that the riskiest time for investors are 5 to 7 years prior to retirement and 5 to 7 years after retirement...the ole' sequence of return risk...so thinking is to be extremely "safe" positioned in your portfolio during those times...as you can really get dinged with your funds at the worst possible time with no time for portfolio to recover
Also, curious if any of the class annuitized any of their portfolio going into retirement? and please also indicate if you are comfortable doing so if you have a gov't or other pension (reason being is that I consider a govt pension a better than equivalent of an annuity) I also do believe that Pfau has mentioned annuitizing part of one's portfolio going into retirement.
btw..never saw the movie Pulp F...only have seen snippets and always had no idea what if was about or what was going on, LOL!
Best Regards,
Baseball Fan

hank

Portfolio risk late in retirement? It’s a personal matter, I think, based more on temperament than anything else. If you still don’t have “enough” to survive on for the rest of your life when you reach 75 - 85 may God help you

Unfortunately, most/many retirees are in that situation.

Chock full of nuts for us retirement squirrels.
jpmorgan.retirement-insights/guide-to-retirement-us

What is a "What The F--k" portfolio? All caution to the wind?

I’ve researched it Mike. It’s military lingo: ”Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”
Portfolio risk late in retirement? It’s a personal matter, I think, based more on temperament than anything else. If you still don’t have “enough” to survive on for the rest of your life when you reach 75 - 85 may God help you. It’s unlikely any particular allocation model is going to make much difference at that point. WTF.
Notwithstanding the above, the referenced study (in the OP) doesn’t deal specifically with appropriate equity / risk exposure per age. It simply asserts that an all stock portfolio (50% domestic / 50% foreign) will outperform a “balanced” (60/40) portfolio over just about any relevant time span.

After I read many of these papers, I liked the idea of FLEXIBILITY which is what I have been practicing during the accumulation phase.
It also depends on how big is your portfolio.
- If you don't have enough, you don't have a choice but to own a high % of stocks for longevity.
- If you have WTF portfolio=enough, you can be at 20/80 to 80/20
- The biggest problem is in the middle. How to split between stock to bonds? 35-65% in stocks/bonds makes sense. Another good idea is "a rising equity glide path". You start with 35-40% in stocks and increase by 1% until you get to your sleep-well %.
In my case: since 2018=retirement, I have used at least 90% bonds + flexibility=trading.

@sma, Wade Pfau has done several recent studies on retirement withdrawals. Basically, he has looked at various ways to modify/improve Bengen's 4% w/COLA Rule. He was a Professor at the American College of Financial Services, so he is not pushing any one idea, but has analyzed various possible variations.
https://risaprofile.com/about-us/
https://retirementresearcher.com/about/wade-pfau-bio/
https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Planning-Guidebook-Navigating-Important/dp/194564009X
One of the ideas he has mentioned is "rising equity glide-path" (not sure who first came up with the idea). So, one starts with lower equity exposure around retirement to account for high SOR risks, and then increases equity exposure gradually as retirement progresses. These increases are not dramatic.
"What’s the solution?
There are four ways to manage the sequence-of-return risk. One, spend conservatively. Two, spend flexibly. If you can reduce your spending after a market downturn, that can manage sequence-of-return risk because you don’t have to sell as many shares to meet the spending need. A third option is to be strategic about volatility in your portfolio, even using the idea of a rising equity glide path. The fourth option is using buffer assets like cash, a reverse mortgage or whole life policy with cash value.
What is a rising equity glide path?
Start with a lower stock allocation at the beginning of retirement, and then work your way up. Later in retirement, market volatility doesn’t have as much impact on the sustainability of your spending path, and you can adjust by having a higher stock allocation later on. "
Subscription Link https://www.barrons.com/articles/retirement-4-percent-rule-downturn-strategy-51642806039