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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.
  • Most Disappointing Fund, redux (OAKBX)
    You can, of course, do whatever you want with OAKBX. But I think you would be very shortsighted to dump it. Assuming that it is just one piece of your portfolio, this fund's manager has always managed for risk, NOT for capital appreciation. First of all, I would quit comparing OAKBX with funds that are not even closely related to it. This is certainly the case with M*'s crappy method of forcing every fund into one of its boxes and categories, no matter that it is a square fund in a round box. PRWCX and DODBX and VWELX and in no way similar to OAKBX. It is managed very differently from the others. It has a very low bear market rank by comparison, has a better worst 3-month return since inception, has a lower 5-yr downside capture ratio, and a lower Beta. These are all good things.
    Hang on to OAKBX. Let it be your lower-risk "balanced" option. Use something else for that big alpha play.
  • Most Disappointing Fund, redux (OAKBX)
    You can, of course, do whatever you want with OAKBX. But I think you would be very shortsighted to dump it. Assuming that it is just one piece of your portfolio, this fund's manager has always managed for risk, NOT for capital appreciation. First of all, I would quit comparing OAKBX with funds that are not even closely related to it. This is certainly the case with M*'s crappy method of forcing every fund into one of its boxes and categories, no matter that it is a square fund in a round box. PRWCX and DODBX and VWELX and in no way similar to OAKBX. It is managed very differently from the others. It has a very low bear market rank by comparison, has a better worst 3-month return since inception, has a lower 5-yr downside capture ratio, and a lower Beta. These are all good things.
    Hang on to OAKBX. Let it be your lower-risk "balanced" option. Use something else for that big alpha play.
  • Seeking advice for managing a non-profit's reserve funds
    I've been on both sides of this issue, having served as a board member of a non-profit who outsourced the investment decision making, and being the investment advisor for a non-profit organization's assets.
    The most important thing you can do (and must do) is creat an Investment Policy Statement for the account(s). This should outline the goals for the account(s), the income needed and the frequency it will be taken, the risk profile, the kinds of investments you will use, and those that you will not (some non-profits have specific exclusions in the kinds of investments they can own), who is going to manage the account(s), the kind of reporting that will be done and how the account(s) will be monitored and re-balanced.
    One of the non-profits we currently work with has three accounts: an emergency fund, a cash & capital fund, and a development fund. The first two have been restricted to CDs and investments in various kinds of U.S. government securities. We are working to have that restriction amended for obvious reasons. The third is a very diversified mix of non-commission funds including domestic & foreign bonds, domestic & foreign stocks, and alternative investments that use 40-Act funds. The organization has another RIA who monitors the accounts to be sure the investments are appropriate and fall within the policy statement guidelines and allocation targets. We meet with the board's investment committee quarterly to look at the numbers and report our observations. We have discretionary authority to make changes. This has worked out really well.
    We have a potential new client in another non-profit. They just want to give us a large chunk of dollars and get it invested. We told them it does not work that way. They may decide to work with someone local (we are in Ohio, they are in California) who will shortcut the process, but I hope for their sake they do not. Managing a non-profits dollars requires everything to be done with a fiduciary understanding. If these folks cut corners and do not get their ducks lined up, the organizations members would have good cause to press legal action if things turn sour with the accounts.
    Our church's endowment accounts were at one time managed by the trustees. That was a real mistake. As another poster noted, managing by committee is just asking for trouble. At my suggestion and insistence, we interviewed three RIA firms and hired the one that took the long process very seriously. That was more than 10 years ago, and they are still handling the church's dollars.
    My advice, forget about managing the dollars yourselves. Pay a qualified firm to do it right and then monitor the process and results. We charge our non-profits a much lower fee than other clients, and that seems fair. Search out 2-3 companies with experience doing this, interview them, ask good questions (like the policy statment requirements), make a decision, and move on. A good company will ask how much of the total might be needed in the next 12-36 months and invest that accordingly. And for Pete's sake, don't work with anyone who is going to be paid by commission. The opportunities for conflict of interest are too great.
    I hope this helps.
  • PONDX, continues defying technical charts
    Dear Catch22: A little TA for you. PONCX & PBDCX are both in my capital preservation portfolio. Another nice day in my capital appreciation portfolio, SPY, QQQ, PFF, PRHSX are up. S&P 500 finished above 1,456 a technical resistance point. I once again suggest you get out of the bond closet by switching your asset allocation to a 21st century one. At least 30% equities
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.barchart.com/quotes/funds/PONDX
  • Bond funds have been a real debacle the first five trading days of 2013!!
    Through the first five trading days of 2013 on a *total return* basis (including dividends) those who have heeded the multitude of year end 2012 calls to "run don't walk to the nearest bond exits" have proved premature - to say the least. Thanks to a red hot non agency mortgage backed securities market the past two days, one of the bond leaders in 2013 has been ANGIX with 2013 returns of 1.40%. And junk bonds have adhered to probably one of the strongest anomolies in trading/investing - i.e. their January propensity to outperform - have racked up returns over .80%. Board fave PONDX, is also up over .80%, thanks to non agencies. PPSIX while not a bond fund but a yield fund specializing in preferred securities is up almost 1.25%.
    While these returns lag the S&P, .80%+ over five trading days is nothing to sneer at in Bondland. I am as worried about the bond/yield bubble bursting as anyone. It could happen tomorrow or the next day or whenever. But in the meantime, why not enjoy the ride and wait for signs of weakness before throwing in the towell or being unduly influenced by the self proclaimed experts. There is a lot more to the bond markets than simply plain vanilla Treasuries.
    Edit: #1 How could I forget, oft mentioned SUBFX is also off to a stellar 2013 start with gains close to 1%.
    Edit #2 For those who live in a literal world, my title was sarcasm.
  • Mairs and Powers Growth
    I've had several similar questions about Lipper's tax efficiency scores in the past, and since they don't explain them, I mostly use M*'s tax pages, which give you columns of data rather than just one unexplained rating number. The "tax cost ratio" M*calculates, tempered by "potential capital gains exposure," is a good starting point to make an informed judgement on tax efficiency. For example:
    http://performance.morningstar.com/fund/tax-analysis.action?t=MPGFX&region=USA&culture=en-US
    The tax-cost ratio of MPGFX doesn't look excessive for a stock fund, and it ranks in the top decile for tax-adjusted return. But the unrealized cap gain number is pretty big, so maybe that's where Lipper is getting the "1".
  • Re Post Ping Scott
    Scott,
    Awhile ago you mentioned TPNTF, which trades on the pink sheets and is invested in Dan Loeb's Third Point Offshore. I know it was mentioned that he was looking at publicly listing his reinsurance, a la Greenlight Capital with Einhorn but hadn't pulled the trigger yet. If I was interested in investing would you recommend going the pink sheets route or waiting for the reinsurance company to be listed publically whenever that is. I think he has had an great year in 2012 and wanted to put some money his way as a sleave with my alternative investments. What are your thoughts? Anyone else with a thought would be greatly appreciated.
  • Our Funds Boat, Week - .05%, YTD - .05%..... J & E..... 1-6-13
    Howdy,
    A thank you to all who post the links, start and participate in the many fine commentaries woven into the message threads.
    For those who don't know; I ramble away about this and that, at least once each week. The perspectives and investments are based, not upon a formal economic studies background; but from the "School of Hard Knocks & Studies", in which, we are still enrolled.
    NOTE: This portfolio is designed for retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep. This is not a buy and hold portfolio, and is subject to change on any given day; based upon perceptions of market directions. All assets in this portfolio are in tax-sheltered accounts; and any fund distributions are reinvested in the funds. Gains or losses are computed from actual account values.
    While looking around.....J & E, jealously and envy. What a perfect first week of the equity market year to bring forth and stir these emotions. Neither has to be or have a negative affect upon a person. The cheap and easy advice is to use any such feeling for further insight and study. Poster Ted related to one of these emotions in another post and I blipped a note here to the subject. Good gosh, talk about J & E; who else at this board has started the year in the negative, eh? Even our straight forward 529 account of 50/50, VITPX and VBMPX is at a + 2.55% YTD. Well, our house can't support that VITPX or another broadbased U.S. equity index is on pace for a + 132% year. 'Course the scary part is that we added an equity fund this week (below). Yikes, a short term equity sell signal if there is one, from this action. We'll temper the J & E to the positive side of life, as always, and continue to sort through some of our short list of equity considerations for 2013 (below). We anticipate a reversal in both directions for some bond and equity sectors from the first week of the year moves. Worse case, if we move more monies into other positions; will likely find selling chunks of 1/3 of a given holding (averaging).
    As to sector rotations below (Fidelity funds); for the past week: (Note: any given fund in any of these sectors will have varying degrees of performance based upon where the manager(s) choose to be invested and will not directly reflect upon your particular fund holdings from other vendors.) Sidenote: The average weekly return of 200 combined Fidelity retail funds across all sectors (week avg = +2.9%, YTD +1.8%).
    --- U.S. equity + 3.1% through + 6.1%, week avg. = +4 .8% YTD = + ...%
    --- Int'l equity + .7% through + 4.1%, week avg. = + 2.4% YTD = + ...%
    --- Select eq. sectors + 1.3% through + 7.7%, week avg. = + 4.8% YTD = + ...%
    --- U.S./Int'l bonds + .1% through - 3.6%, week avg. = - .67% YTD = - ...%
    --- HY bonds - .10% through + .84%, week avg. = + .47% YTD = + ...%
    A Decent Overview, M* 1 Month through 5 Year, Multiple Indexes
    You may consider our portfolio to be quite boring, but you may be assured that it moves and bends each and every day; from forces beyond our control.
    I have added a few blips related to our portfolio and market observations at the below SELLs/BUYs and Portfolio Thoughts.
    SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK: = Some of both FBNDX and FINPX were sold, with proceeds moving a new fund; FSHOX and an old friend of FAGIX.
    Portfolio Thoughts: Our holdings had a - .05 % move this past week. Bond funds generally ranged as follows for the week: IG, -.50%, TIPs, - 1.0%, Long term gov't, -3.5%, GNMA/MS, +.1% and high yield, +.50%. No losers in equity sectors of consequence. The U.S. equity area strongly outpaced international equity sectors. Although numerous equity sectors had some strength in the last quarter of 2012 and in particular, the last week of 2012; a few sectors are of note, although these may only be trading houses and machine plays going into the new year. Most energy funds returned less than 5% for all of 2012, and this first week of 2013 found these funds returning as much as 7.7%; and most funds reviewed found a larger % return in this first week; than they returned for all of 2012. Perhaps this will be the year of equity value plays or the 2012 dogs, however many there remains. As a group, it appears the overall winner relative to Fido funds was the small cap area.
    We'll continue to watch; and do have plans, at this time, to add some equity this year, 2013. Our current short list, not in any order, of equity fund watches include: PAUDX, PAAIX, MAPIX, MACSX, SFGIX, GPGIX, ARTHX, FMIJX, FTIEX, FBALX, FTEMX, FEDDX, FIREX, FJPNX, FSVLX, FLPSX, FGHNX, PMZDX as well as some other Pimco funds, as PSTDX, etc.
    Still plodding along, and we will retain the below write from previous weeks; as what we are watching, still applies.
    --- commodity pricing, especially the energy and base materials areas; copper and related.
    --- the $US broad basket value, and in particular against the Euro and Aussie dollar (EU zone and China/Asia uncertainties).
    --- price directions of U.S. treasury's, German bunds, U.K. gilts, Japanese bonds; and continued monitoring of Spanish/Italian bond pricing/yield.
    --- what we are watching to help understand the money flows: SHY, IEF, TLT, TIPZ, STPZ, LTPZ, LQD, EMB, HYG, IWM, IYT & VWO; all of which offer insights reflected from the big traders as to the quality/risk, or lack of quality/risk; in various equity/bond sectors.
    The Funds Boat is at anchor, riding in the small waves, watching the weather and behind the breakwater barrier. To the high praise of MFO and the members, it is very difficult to find a topic to note here that has not been placed into the discussion boards. Excellence, as usual.
    I have retained the following links for those who may choose to do their own holdings comparison against the fund types noted.
    The first two links to Bloomberg are for their list of balanced/flexible funds; although I don't always agree with the placement of fund styles in their categories.
    Bloomberg Balanced
    Bloomberg Flexible
    These next two links are for conservative and moderate fund leaders YTD, per MSN.
    Conservative Allocation
    Moderate Allocation
    A reflection upon the links above. We attempt to establish a "benchmark" for our portfolio to help us "see" how our funds are performing. Aside from viewing many funds within the balanced/flexible funds rankings (the above links), a quick and dirty group of 5 funds (below) we watch for psuedo benchmarking are the following:
    ***Note: these week/YTD's per M*
    VWINX .... + .96% week, YTD = + ...%
    PRPFX .... + 1.22% week, YTD = + ...%
    SIRRX ..... + .13% week, YTD = + ...%
    TRRFX .... + 1.66% week, YTD = + ....%
    VTENX ... + 1.33% week, YTD = + ...%
    Such are the numerous battles with investments attempting to capture a decent return and minimize the risk.
    We live and invest in interesting times, eh? Hey, I probably forgot something; and hopefully the words make some sense. Comments and questions always welcomed.
    Good fortune to you, yours and the investments.
    Take care,
    Catch
    ---Below is what M* x-ray has attempted to sort for our portfolio, as of Nov. 1, 2012 ---
    From what I find, M* has a difficult time sorting out the holdings with bond funds.
    U.S./Foreign Stocks 2.9%
    Bonds 92.9% ***
    Other 4.2%
    Not Classified 0.00%
    Avg yield = 3.99%
    Avg expense = .57%
    ***about 18% of the bond total are high yield category (equity related cousins)

    ---This % listing is kinda generic, by fund "name"; which doesn't always imply the holdings, eh?
    -Investment grade bond funds 27.2%
    -Diversified bond funds 22.4%
    -HY/HI bond funds 14.5%
    -Total bond funds 32.4%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds .6%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 2.9%
    This is our current list: (NOTE: I have added a speciality grouping below for a few of fund types)
    ---High Yield/High Income Bond funds
    FAGIX Fid Capital & Income
    SPHIX Fid High Income
    FHIIX.LW Fed High Income
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total
    PTTRX Pimco Total
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    ACITX Amer. Cent. TIPS Bond
    DGCIX Delaware Corp. Bd
    FBNDX Fid Invest Grade
    FINPX Fidelity TIPS Bond
    OPBYX Oppenheimer Core Bond
    ---Global/Diversified Bonds
    FSICX Fid Strategic Income
    FNMIX Fid New Markets
    DPFFX Delaware Diversified
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles
    PONDX Pimco Income fund (steroid version)
    PLDDX Pimco Low Duration (domestic/foreign)
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix)
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    FSHOX Fidelity Select Construction & Housing
  • PAUDX - 12/31 special dividend
    Reply to @AndyJ: To correct the "2013 dividend" mention in my post just above this one, Vanguard has accounted for the 12/31 dividend paid in January as 2013 income, and that's not right -- here's what IRS Pub 550, Investment Income, says on the subject:
    "Dividends received in January. If a mutual fund (or other regulated investment company) or real estate investment trust (REIT) declares a dividend (including any exempt-interest dividend or capital gain distribution) in October, November, or December, payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of those months but actually pays the dividend during January of the next calendar year, you are considered to have received the dividend on December 31. You report the dividend in the year it was declared."
  • Did PCRAX (Pimco Commodity Real Return) pay a 12/27/12 dividend?
    I own PCRDX (Class D) and it did pay a very small div on 12/27/12.
    On 12/12/12 it also paid Long and Short-term gains (again, very small).
  • M* 2012 Fund Managers of the Year
    Hi Bud. I missed this and just re-posted...I apologize.
    In any case, good to see T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation PRWCX back on top with David Giroux leadership.
  • The burning leaves of the equity market place......
    Reply to @scott: ok, neither one is quite correct.. it is technically the same it was for all households making less than 250K (200K for individuals) and many indeed fall into this bracket. above these amounts, divs are getting the health care tax on 'unearned' income of 3.8%... (this applies to all unearned income, including rents, cap gains, etc.) finally, those households with income (or AGI?) of 450K (400K individuals) will have their lt cap gains and divs taxed @20% for a total of 23.8%. phew.
  • PAUDX - 12/31 special dividend
    Right, phil, applicable Pimco funds had cap gains 12/12, the 'bonus' dividend 12/27, and the regular dividend 12/31. The latter just showed up as paid in my Vanguard account this morning ... and it's accounted for as a 2013 dividend, fwiw.
  • The burning leaves of the equity market place......
    Catch: Pray do tell us what's in that smoldering pile of leaves you seem fixated on? Might it be altering some of your perceptions.?
    I think trying to make sense of short term market moves is difficult. But I'll admit to the same proclivity. Just a snippet on the news about long term cap gains going to 20% - hope I got that right. If correct, not as bad as some expected. That might explain why the NASDAQ sold off before the "deal" and than yesterday recaptured some of the loss. These securities tend to offer higher cap appreciation (vrs income yielding equities) so probably dance more to the tax tune.
    Nothing smoldering around here except the glow In the fireplace this morning. Regards
  • The burning leaves of the equity market place......
    Yo, Ted. What's up wit dat? Catch 22 has shared his portfolio here and explicitly told us that it's a portfolio intended for capital preservation in retirement. He's holding so MANY different funds, it would leave me overwhelmed. But forget that. I don't see why he should not be able to just come in here and contribute whatever he feels like offering, or asking, or evaluating or sharing or..... whatever. If you're just trying to get a giggle out of the rest of us, you're being much too blunt.
  • The burning leaves of the equity market place......

    Burning leaves
    So, this image is a pretty decent fire, without much smoke at this time. For those who have burned leaf piles; you know there are many factors of the physical sciences world that affect the burn; and for that matter, the start; and the continued burn, which may be without flames eventually, but with enough heat energy to continue to change the physical condition of the remaining leaves; albeit perhaps, with much smoke. The burn stops eventually, when the leaves are no longer leaves.
    Evening,
    Today was a real rip-tear for equity markets and one may suspect a further transistion to Asia again. I'll be watching Japan; although no money is parked there for this house.
    The smoldering equity markets; or at least the big trading houses who really itch for some movement to make a trade and hopefully money, were likely happy today; if they were indeed on the good side of the trade.
    Not doubting that some of the rally was in relief to some issues being removed from the work tables in D.C.-land. Also, that those holding short positions were forced to unload those positions.
    The question(s).
    1. how much of the gains will be shaved back;
    2. and after how many days of an equity rally?
    Or do some feel there will be a straight line rally for the month of January and beyond?
    I'll guess a 50% equity retreat within 5 trading days. Gotta a guess?
    Ah, heck....have some fun and take a guess. No prizes will be awarded.
    Regards,
    Catch
  • funds-newsletter monthly news
    Quite right, I'd say. It took nerves of steel to stay the course and to even just be IN the market after the '08 Crash, but that's what I did, and have been adding and reinvesting gains, too. I'm not unhappy about that today, especially, Mr. Market can be exceedingly pleased with himself today. Everything did well, virtually everything. I am especially glad about owning my small-cap fund today. The Russell 2K is now at a new 52 week high. I'll take it! But of course, we'll see profit-taking tomorrow, eh?
  • funds-newsletter monthly news
    market weekly news - RBC website
    Market Week: December 31, 2012
    The Markets
    Ending with a whimper: As the year wound to a close with no grand bargain out of Washington, equities took their own trip over the fiscal cliff last week. The last positive day for the S&P 500 was the Thursday before Christmas, and five straight down days took the Dow back under 13,000, the Nasdaq below 3,000, and the S&P 500 perilously close to 1,400. Though all four domestic indices are in far better shape than they were on last New Year's Eve, they also seem likely to end in negative territory for the quarter, handily outpaced--at least for Q4--by a resurgent Global Dow.
    Market/Index 2011 Close Prior Week As of 12/28 Week Change YTD Change
    DJIA 12217.56 13190.84 12938.11 -1.92% 5.90%
    Nasdaq 2605.15 3021.01 2960.31 -2.01% 13.63%
    S&P 500 1257.60 1430.15 1402.43 -1.94% 11.52%
    Russell 2000 740.92 847.92 832.10 -1.87% 12.31%
    Global Dow 1801.60 1998.76 1984.57 -.71% 10.16%
    Fed. Funds .25% .25% .25% 0 bps 0 bps
    10-year Treasuries 1.89% 1.77% 1.73% -4 bps -16 bps
    Equities data reflect price changes, not total return.
    Last Week's Headlines
    With the fiscal cliff dead ahead, last-minute negotiations seemed to produce more questions than answers. The stalemate left the country facing tax increases and spending cuts and wondering what fresh uncertainties the new year might bring.
    Orders for new durable goods orders rose 0.7% in November despite a drop in defense-related aircraft orders, according to the Census Bureau. It was the sixth increase in the last seven months, and the best news was a strong jump in new orders by businesses for capital goods, which were up 2.7% for the month.
    Home prices measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index in October were up an average of 4.3% from a year earlier. Though 12 cities saw price declines from the month before, many of the cities showing the strongest improvement--Las Vegas, Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco--are the ones that had been hardest hit by the housing collapse. Average home prices represented by the 20-city index are now at roughly the same levels that they were in the fall of 2003.
    Sales of new homes soared 4.4% in November. According to the Commerce Department, that's the highest level since April 2010 and 15.3% higher than a year earlier. The $299,700 average sales price was up almost 20% from last November.
    As it did in 2011, the U.S. Treasury will have to adopt "extraordinary measures" to avoid problems once the country hits the debt ceiling on New Year's Eve. A letter to congressional leaders from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the accounting measures are expected to extend the deadline for roughly two months.
    Eye on the Week Ahead
    Friday's monthly unemployment numbers and reports on both the manufacturing and services sectors may paint the last portrait of the pre-cliff economy.
    Key dates and data releases: Federal Open Market Committee minutes, U.S. manufacturing, construction spending, auto sales (1/2); unemployment/payrolls, U.S. services sector, factory orders (1/4).
  • Our Funds Boat, Year-End, + 13.04%, 12-31-12
    Howdy,
    A thank you to all who post the links, start and participate in the many fine commentaries woven into the message threads.
    For those who don't know; I ramble away about this and that, at least once each week. The perspectives and investments are based, not upon a formal economic studies background; but from the "School of Hard Knocks & Studies", in which, we are still enrolled.
    NOTE: This portfolio is designed for retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep. This is not a buy and hold portfolio, and is subject to change on any given day; based upon perceptions of market directions. All assets in this portfolio are in tax-sheltered accounts; and any fund distributions are reinvested in the funds. Gains or losses are computed from actual account values.
    While looking around....."The bells are ringing for me and my bonds" or perhaps "Bonds on the Run" (from; Me and My Gal, Judy Garland/Gene Kelly, 1942, & Band on the Run, Paul McCartney/Wings, 1973). Numerous bond death announcements continue; and causes one to wonder whether they may awake from a deep sleep to find a neat stack of paper bonds upon their bed with blood streaming down the paper edges, not unlike hot chocolate poured upon one's favorite cake top. There has been a 10% increase in the yield of the 10 yr Treasury during the past few weeks. Is this a sign from the great bond gods? I don't know. All of us enjoy a well thought critique of an investment area. Whether I read a report about the equity or bond sectors; and an author states that this or that is go'in to hell in a hand basket, I will surely expect supporting details. Be as critical and watching of supporting evidence as possible; not just a statement from a perpetual equity bull. Yes, I include myself in this, too; be it equity or bond articles. I am picking on bonds and related stories now, because of all of the banner chat and headlines recently.
    A few data trinkets related only to Fido funds and year 2012: U.S. oriented equity funds (51) returns ranged from +11.3 through +29% (avg.=+17.4%), Int'l equity funds (29) returns ranged between +4.1 through +36% (avg.=+19%) and Fido's select sector funds (39) ranged between +2.4% through +38% (avg.=+17.2%) (excluding their gold fund).
    Equity or bond; there will be the happy and not so happy among them.
    In the end, some bond funds will be happier than others with a sustained yield increase. Too many variables exist among active managed funds, etf's or indexes to determine the winners today.
    As to the bond fund choices for us and their resulting managers, or lack of management; the range is far and wide, not unlike the equity world. Would you prefer government, corporate, muni or high yield? Where on the planet would you like the bond mix; U.S., Europe, Japan, perhaps emerging market debt? Quality. Would that be investment grade or down the ladder of qualilty into the junkiest stuff around? The same questions have to be asked of equity investments. For a taste of each area, one could get a little of each. Buy Verizon equity for quality of the stock and bond issues. Buy Frontier Communications (who bought, among other stuff; the throw aways of Verizon) and get a bit junker equity and bond offering. The same applies between Comcast and Charter Communications (cable provider). Comcast is in cruise mode at the time, more or less. Charter is playing in bankruptcy land. One pretty good and the other is trying to dig out of a hole. Combining the four, one may find a comfort zone between the stock and bond issues.
    Stock etf list
    Bond etf list
    Perhaps a fully happy list of funds blended between bonds and equities; with the selected funds having their own balance, too; bond and equity funds with the full flexibility to "go with the flow" for their given mandate. Make a list of 10 each; to compensate for management problems here and there, and plant the money.
    Lastly, as to the death of some bonds via a substantial and continued yield increase. I can not add anything further to what I or others have already detailed here during the past several months.
    The futures have a real equity fire going as of Jan. 1, 5pm EST and perhaps some bonds will get burned tomorrow or for the remainder of this week, month or year.
    Added note: Our 529 educational account is a straight forward 50/50 of VITPX and VBMPX, and managed an average of 10.4% for 2012. Our house will have to continue to review the more laggard funds we have, potential impacts and the hardest part; whether and/or what to sell and where to move the monies.
    As to the funds list below, I had added after the tickers; the year return data. As to be expected with any holdings; there were some helpers and some laggards.
    Good fortune to you, yours and the investments.
    Take care,
    Catch
    ---Below is what M* x-ray has attempted to sort for our portfolio, as of Nov. 1, 2012 ---
    From what I find, M* has a difficult time sorting out the holdings with bond funds.
    U.S./Foreign Stocks 1.9%
    Bonds 93.9% ***
    Other 4.2%
    Not Classified 0.00%
    Avg yield = 3.99%
    Avg expense = .57%
    ***about 18% of the bond total are high yield category (equity related cousins)

    ---This % listing is kinda generic, by fund "name"; which doesn't always imply the holdings, eh?
    -Investment grade bond funds 28.2%
    -Diversified bond funds 22.4%
    -HY/HI bond funds 14.5%
    -Total bond funds 32.4%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds .6%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 1.9%
    This is our current list: (NOTE: I have added a speciality grouping below for a few of fund types)
    ---High Yield/High Income Bond funds
    FAGIX Fid Capital & Income +16.4%
    SPHIX Fid High Income +14.9%
    FHIIX.LW Fed High Income +14.3%
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY +14.9%
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total +6.5%
    PTTRX Pimco Total +10.4%
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    ACITX Amer. Cent. TIPS Bond +6.1%
    DGCIX Delaware Corp. Bd +14.9%
    FBNDX Fid Invest Grade +6.2%
    FINPX Fidelity TIPS Bond +6.5%
    OPBYX Oppenheimer Core Bond +10.2%
    ---Global/Diversified Bonds
    FSICX Fid Strategic Income +10.9%
    FNMIX Fid New Markets +20%
    DPFFX Delaware Diversified +7.1%
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles +15.1%
    PONDX Pimco Income fund (steroid version) +21.9%
    PLDDX Pimco Low Duration (domestic/foreign) +5.9%
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix) +18.9%
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    NONE outright, with the exception of equities held inside some of the above funds.
  • Mutual Funds That Beat The Market - Part 5 (Money Market)

    The last of this thread - money market funds, which tend to offer lowest risk, but with attendant lowest return over the long run. There have been times, however, when money market or "cash" has ruled, like from 1966 - 1984 when cash provided a strong 7.8% APR. Here's a reminder from Bond Fund Performance During Periods of Rising Interest Rates:
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    Some observations up-front:
    - There are only 500 or so money market funds.
    - The earliest inception date is 1972. It belongs to American Century Capital Presv Investor CPFXX. (But it is not one of better offerings.)
    - Few new money market funds have been created in recent years.
    - Few MFO readers discuss them and none have been profiled. M* does not appear to rate them or provide analyst reports of money market funds.
    - No money market funds have loads, but many impose 12b-1 fees. The average EP is 0.5%.
    - Fortunately, none have a negative absolute return over their life times.
    - There are two main categories of money market funds: taxable and tax-free. The latter have existed since 1981 and represent about a third of offerings today.
    - This plot summarizes average performance for the two types compared to the T-Bill:
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    - Since 1981, the annualized return for T-Bill is 5.0%. For money market funds, the average APR is 4.6% for the taxable (about the difference in average EP), and 2.9% for tax-free.
    - Only 1 in 3 taxable money market funds have beaten the T-Bill over their life times. And virtually no tax-free funds have beaten, as you would expect.
    Because of the strong tax dependency with these funds, I broke out this distinction in the tabulation below. Purple means the fund was a top performer relative to T-Bill over its life time, and yellow represents worst performing APR. (For the money market funds, I did not break-out top Sharpe in blue, since APR ranking relative T-Bill is fairly close to Sharpe ranking.)
    Here's the break-out, by fund inception date:
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    For those interested, I've posted results of this thread in an Excel file Funds That Beat The Market - Nov 12.