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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.
  • now in registration: FPA International Value
    Wonder if new fund will have a load like FPA Capital, Perennial or Paramount or will it be like Crescent and have no load?
  • Our Funds Boat, week - .34%, YTD +.75%, The dump truck's motor is running 10-8-11
    Reply to @catch22:
    Hi Catch. Just my opinion, but your question on bonds or equities (?), I wouldn't make it an either or. You need to be conservative as you say, but I believe some equity funds are worth holding in what ever percentage you feel comfortible with.
    What would I replace your Fidelity Value fund with? I think that's an easy one... my favorite funds have managers with capital preservation at the forefront and have a good history in bad markets would be either of the Yacktman funds, YAFFX is what I hold or the Parnassus Equity Income fund PRBLX. For small caps, the new ARIVX has been a standout. YAFFX and ARIVX are the only pure equity funds I'm holding on to right now. And they are "comfortable".
    Just my 2cents. Good luck.
  • Our Funds Boat, week - .34%, YTD +.75%, The dump truck's motor is running 10-8-11
    HI Investor,
    I'll do the old FA method for replies:
    "SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK:
    Sold entire postion in CAMAX, FSAVX and DHOAX, with all procedes going to FBNDX. We took it in the teeth with the first two......oh, well; tis how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
    It looks like you bought CAMAX close to the top and and after you sold, stock funds has actually rallied significantly this week. Buy high sell low huh?
    >>>>>As to CAMAX, bought high, relative to our sale price; but it remains to be seen if the sale price is the low. As to significant gains in the past week; it appears the fund was outperforming in up markets; but is having a hell of a time getting it right in a sideways market. The fund is acting like a long/short fund and having problems with the proper direction. So, gone it is. FSAVX.....really thought there would be more going forward, although not at the 2009 pace; so, gone, too. DHOAX...we had held this since May, 2009; but the fund was not holding up as well as the other HY funds....so, gone, too. All of this was and is still part of a "dump" waiting to be made.
    Anyway, I know at the 1st qtr, you were starting an imaginary portfolio of funds. Did you check how it performed recently?
    >>>>>The Grand Illusion fund. The portfolio mix is in place and the list is parked somewhere on this pc. I have not had time this summer to even look at the results so far. I will attempt to find this and place the list at MFO. Where we live in Michigan finds only about 2 more weeks of possible decent outside weather; to attempt to finish any outside projects. As we own and maintain our home (ah, the joys of home ownership :)...) some of the spring or fall months, and the summer days when there is no rain many times provide only "x" number of days to get anything accomplished. This summer, for me; had two downside kickers. I discovered I now have allergies to something outside and lost most of the month of June to do physical work outside; and my mother decided to buy a new home and move.........60 years worth of upwind at her previous home..........another month of unscheduled other work. Not the warmer weather project period I had envisioned last winter.
    Addition: I am also curious why you continue to hold the Fidelity Large Cap Value fund which you purchased by mistake. I don't think it is a great fund either. Why not reallocate that fund into another fund?"
    >>>>>This fund has had some very nice up days when the equity markets think they are happy. It isn't doing as poorly as many equity funds. What would you buy with the sale of this fund; knowing the overall moderately conservative mix we now have ?
    Summary: The last two years has found us being Euro-ized two times. In May of 2010 and 2011. I was much too optimistic with the willingness and ability of the EuroZone leaders to come to grips with their problems. Our equity holdings have suffered from this and downsized the returns we have been slowly gathering in the bond sector. We were also expecting continued value in the Treasury bond area; but that sector has far surpassed our wildest thoughts about this.
    Doing the silly rearview look at our portfolio: We would not have purchased many eqiuity funds in May, 2010 or 2011. We missed the equity move from the Sept. 2010 period. And we sure would have purchased a boat load of Treasury related funds in July of this year; had we known this area would exceed our optimistic view.
    Either the bond market or equity market area is wrong at this time; looking forward to the next 6-12 months. This is an easy statement to make; but not easy to "call" looking forward.
    As there are very few here (MFO) who have noted their holdings; I sure don't know how we measure against a similar portfolio, with the exception of Skeeter who notes his moves, but I don't know the holdings.
    Our main goal; as is indicated, is to preserve capital, as we are not far away from no cash flow from "work". We will not have any grand pension or health care plan into retirement; as is common for many in this state related to the large boomer population retired from the unionized auto industry and the related large group of retired from what was a very large group of folks in the gov't/teaching/public sector; all of whom have very nice retirement packages. Without a post retirement health care plan provided and pre-Medicare retirement; a family plan here for health/dental currently has quotes of about $20,000/year with fairly high deductibles. We have always been aware of all of this with our chosen careers and have planned accordingly with building our own pension fund via IRA's, 401k's and related. We skipped all of the toys one used to find among the families in our area....the boats, snowmobiles, jet skis, the second home or cottage at the lake, etc. When we wanted or needed these adventures............we rented. We are debt free, with the exception of the normal recurring expenses.....property taxes, utilities, home/auto insurance, food and gas, etc.
    So, there it is in a nutshell. We don't knowningly have a rich aunt, uncle or similar flowing inheritance money our way in the future, the self provided health care plan is going to cost an additional 9%/year at the current rate changes and we have our fingers crossed that we don't outlive our money.
    While still seeking perfection in the invesment world, we will continue to make mistakes from not having time for the best research and will also be whipsawed by the perverted markets. Other than all of this, life is good.
    I stepped through this reply fairly fast; and hopefully there are not many typos or mismatched thoughts; as I did not proofread the text.
    Bonds sector or equity sector going forward for the next 6-12 months ??? What say you ?
    Be well in Austin,
    Catch
  • David Wessel, WSJ: "Too Big to Fail" (poor Jamie...)
    Reply to @Old_Joe: When you search the article title via Google and access the article via Google you can often read the full article w/o membership.
    Search for "Big Banks Find No Comfort in Capital Cushion‎" on Google.
  • David Wessel, WSJ: "Too Big to Fail" (poor Jamie...)
    Reply to @johnN: Yes, John, that's exactly what I did, and I obtained the complete article. However when I test-transferred the link to MFO it produced only the truncated "preview" version. Since the results were inconsistent and unpredictable, I elected to not post the link. However, here is that link- it may or may not work properly: Wessel WSJ Article
  • David Wessel, WSJ: "Too Big to Fail" (poor Jamie...)
    Here's an excerpt from a good article in today's WSJ- I can't link it, as they require a subscription.
    "The two dozen or so big banks woven into the fabric of the global economy are a special case: If they go, it's not only their shareholders and creditors who get hurt; everyone does. Because of that, everyone expects governments to rescue them.That can be costly, and gives those institutions an edge in raising money, taking risks and attracting customers over banks that are "too small to save."
    Big banks can be vital to the global economy, though how big is big enough is a question yet to be answered. Big trucks are good for the economy, too. They can carry lots of stuff and do things cars can't. But you don't want to be on the road when a truck crashes and explodes. So we require tougher safety standards for trucks than cars, more training for their drivers, and so on.
    "The right response," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress this week, "is to put extra cost, extra supervision on these [financial] firms that will give them an incentive to eliminate unnecessary size, to eliminate unnecessary activities and to reduce their risk-taking."
    One approach to dealing with this small group of big banks: Make them hold even more capital, as a percentage of assets, than other banks. Leaders of big banks—mostly loudly J.P. Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon here in the U.S.—aren't happy. No surprise: The rule is likely to reduce their profits and limit their dividends."
    One more thing: There's an alternative to requiring the biggest banks to hold extra capital, which bankers would like even less: Break them up.
  • Our Funds Boat, week - .34%, YTD +.75%, The dump truck's motor is running 10-8-11
    Howdy,
    Again, a thank you to all who post the links and also 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.
    NOTE: For those who visit MFO, this portfolio is designed for retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep; if and when it returns. 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 equity dump truck has its motor running and we just about pulled the lever to dump the whole related batch last week. As the market blipped up a few days, we did sell CAMAX, FSAVX; as well as DHOAX, in the bond sector. DHOAX in particular, for a technical aspect; indicated a Relative Strength that would indicate a buy for some folks. The encounter with this is what is fair value or undervalued. While I don't have any writes to direct to this area from 2008; one must suspect that there were enough "professionals" in the investment world who continued to find stuff "undervalued" per their guage. Some of these folks likely continued to be surprised for the next 6 months from Oct. 2008, as to what undervalued might really become. We all have our own guage to measure what we feel may be undervalued today; versus the unknown forward paths, and how the investments fit into our risk/reward scenario.
    Most of Europe and the U.S. still find problematic conditions that remain paralyzed by both legal (Europe) and political circumstances. I can not begin to fully understand the most complex nature of the required interactions needed among the European nations that would offer a more positive prospect of corrective actions. The U.S.; well I sure don't find much comfort with the actions in D.C.; and sadly, there are some very decent folks there who work very hard and become road kill to the movers and shakers.
    I can only offer this video link; in regard to the machinations of those in Europe and the U.S. who fiddle while the fires burn. I believe I had previously posted at FundAlarm.

    VAN HALEN lyric:
    Don't wanna wait 'til tomorrow
    Why put it off another day?
    One by one, little problems
    Build up, and stand in our way. Oh
    One step ahead, one step behind it
    Now ya gotta run to get even
    Make future plans I'll dream about yesterday, hey!
    Come on turn, turn this thing around
    (Right now) Hey! It's your tomorrow
    (Right now) Come on, it's everything
    (Right now) Catch your magic moment
    Do it right here and now
    It means everything
    Miss a beat, you lose a rhythm
    An nothin' falls into place. No!
    Only missed by a fraction
    Slipped a little off your pace. Oh!
    The more things you get, the more you want
    Just trade in one for another
    Workin' so hard to make it easy
    Whoa, got to turn. Come on, turn this thing around
    (Right now) Hey, it's your tomorrow
    (Right now) Come on, it's everything
    (Right now) catch that magic moment
    Do it right here and now
    It means everything
    Said a lie to me
    Right now
    What are ya waitin' for? Oh! Yeah!
    Right now
    (Right now) Hey! It's your tomorrow
    (Right now) Come on, it's everything
    (Right now) Catch that magic moment
    And do it right, right now (Right now)
    Oh, right now!
    It's what's happening
    Right here and now
    Right now, it's right now
    Oh!
    Tell me, what are ya waitin' for?
    Turn this thing around

    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
    SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK:
    Sold entire postion in CAMAX, FSAVX and DHOAX, with all procedes going to FBNDX. We took it in the teeth with the first two......oh, well; tis how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
    Portfolio Thoughts:

    Our holdings had a -.34 % move this past week. And yes, we are satisfied with our risk adjusted returns YTD. If the portfolio can pull a +10 to 12% for the year; you will not hear any whining from this house. (This sentence was from an April write; and I/we suppose a +5% for the year may now look good, too !) Our portfolio is at - 5 % from the high point in mid-July.
    OMG. was the first word cluster from the mouth at this house when discovering the portfolio was still positive for YTD.
    DON'T like the recent action in the HY bond sector, not moving up much with the few equity blips. I take this as a traders market in equities with some "run and gun".....take some profits and run. Our sells this past week of the above indicated and moving to an IG bond fund tells you just about all you need to know about our feelings as to forward directions. More head scratching next week; without a doubt. We'll still maintain that if the kids in Europe get a real plan of value that is is accepted and not just show and tell; our portfolio will get a big kick down and those of you holding equity positions will smile. I/we here just don't feel the "love" of a plan of purpose headed down the path, anytime soon. So, we too; are in the darn if you, darn if you don't camp. And for the time being, we are stuck with PTTRX as the only bond fund in one particular account. At least its value is not yet negative. LSBDX may get a rework/trim job; as it is not happy in this current environment either.
    The old Funds Boat may make 5% or 25% this year. I expect some rough waters, changing winds and opposing currents; causing the most serious attention being given to a firm hand upon the rudder control. (April report text)
    The immediate below % of holdings are only determined by a "fund" name, NO M* profile this week
    CASH = 8.3%
    Mixed bond funds = 83.6%
    Equity funds = 8.1%
    -Investment grade bond funds 23%
    -Diversified bond funds 18.5%
    -HY/HI bond funds 23.2%
    -Total bond funds 14.6%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds 4.3%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 8.1%
    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 Fed High Income
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total
    PTTRX Pimco Total
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    APOIX 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
    TEGBX Templeton Global (load waived)
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FCVSX Fidelity Convertible Securities (bond/equity mix)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix)
    FFGCX Fidelity Global Commodity
    FDLSX Fidelity Select Leisure
    FSAGX Fidelity Select Precious Metals
    RNCOX RiverNorth Core Opportunity (bond/equity)
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    FDVLX Fidelity Value
    FSLVX Fidelity Lg. Cap Value
    FLPSX Fidelity Low Price Stock
  • Funds You Have Regretted Buying
    Thanks for reminding me Scott,
    I bought and sold WWNPX as well but my biggest disappoint came out of the momentum of the 1990s. Most funds got piled into after the money had been made...I fell victim to the classic "chasing a falling star" syndrome. There are a lot of these situations and funds we should try to avoid. Bill Miller's Legg Mason fund(s), Hebner's CGM Focus Fund, and most recently Bruce Berkowitz and FAIRX.
    This was also the case with my choosing Vanguard US Growth fund, VWUSX, back in 1998. I rode this fund up its last ascent and like most investors felt comfortable with the mantra of "buy and hold". As this fund bottomed so did the market and I tried to better educate myself as an individual investor. I stumbled across Roy's website FundAlarm and his "alarm system". I took my losses with VWUSX and moved the proceeds into "new" ideas. I also learned that selling is actually part of the "buy and hold" process. Selling is the realization of a gain or a loss. When I sold these shares I made other investment choices...I continued to hold investments...just not this "three alarm" fund. I came out of the 2000-2002 bottom holding better assets than if I had just held VWUSX. I owe FundAlarm, its contributors, and some luck for this.
    I linked Yahoo finance's chart which is merely a price chart, not a price and dividend chart. It paints a picture that we all wish to avoid. I included my "switch to" fund at the time, VHCOX, so that a "rear view mirror" comparison between the two funds could be illustrated. Again, Yahoofinance does not include dividends so these are not perfect performance charts but they do illustrate my point. By switching from VWUSX to VHCOX it provided me with better performance...larger gains...than if I had just "bought and held". I guess I am a "buy and and try to upgrade" type of investor now.
    Select "max" to see the funds 20 year performance comparison:
    http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=VWUSX+Interactive#chart2:symbol=vwusx;range=my;compare=vhcox;indicator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;source=undefined
    Remember that wealth is something we try to realize at the top of a markets (...only if we sell...take profits). Opportunity is what an investor looks for at the bottom of markets.
    bee
  • ONE fund you have regretted not buying
    VF, I've done the same thing all year with Vbltx, Vanguard's long term index. I own a tiny bit, but never ramped it up, while it's racked up huge gains maybe not to be repeated for the next century or so.
  • Our Funds Boat, week -.89%; YTD +1.09 Market Neutral Fund, eh? 10-1-11
    Reply to @CathyG: I think it's really tough - Managed Futures funds really do have the potential to gain during tough periods, but on the other hand, don't expect them to go to the moon during good times either. It's the risk trade-off. Arbitrage is similar -AQR has a good diversified arb fund. Sometimes these strategies also have off years. AQR has a new fund that places funds across several alternative strategies (including arbitrage, long-short, macro, managed futures and more; they can increase/decrease allocations to the strategies they feel will outperform and there are 9 strategies in the fund) I have confidence in AQR, although this fund has started off a little shaky for a fund of absolute return strategies. I do own it though, and will continue to keep it and may add a bit more.
    I have lessened risk in the past few weeks, and really think I've wrapped things up for the year (and getting a little tired of thinking about investing. I'll still chat here all the time, but I just don't want to be thinking about it as much otherwise.) However, while I think things could deteriorate further, I will not be shorting; I'd rather lessen risk than outright short because I just think that you'll continue to see reactionary and possibly increasingly desperate measures from policy makers to try and keep the status quo. People can be short fundamentally, then a rumor takes the market up 400 points in 45 minutes. I'd rather just dial down risk and volatility.
    I own Bluecrest Allblue on the London market, which had low double digit NAV gains in 2007 and 2008 (traded at a discount and lost slightly from a share price perspective in 2008, but the underlying NAV gained), then gained quite nicely in 2009, but as with anything else, past performance isn't necessarily indicative of future performance. It definitely might not do well in another downturn, but it has the *potential* (flexibility, tools, etc) to do so.
    I own (as of last week or so) Greenlight RE (GLRE), which is a reinsurance company whose float is invested, Berkshire Hathaway-like, with David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital hedge fund. Greenlight RE has not done well this year and the stock did not do well in 2008, but Einhorn has the long/short tools to perform in a tough market, and hopefully the next downturn will be different, but with anything else, no guarantees. Overall though, I like placing money with Einhorn - whose low-key, seemingly low-ego manner I respect and whose views I really agree with - over the long term, and I thought the price was right (trading closer to book value, as well, whereas the stock usually has traded at a more substantial premium - the stock does not track the underlying hedge fund's performance very closely - it can trade over/under) after the turn South the stock had taken earlier this Summer. It's certainly volatile, but again, trying to find funds and other investments with a wider variety of options and flexibility. Not a big investment, but felt comfortable with this as a long-term play after it was quite a bit higher not too long ago. Apparently other hedge fund managers are looking at this structure - popular hedge fund Third Point has started a reinsurance company whose float is invested in Third Point; that will apparently go public soon, although Third Point Offshore (TPNTF.PK) can be found on the pink sheets (but it's terribly illiquid and volatile; it traded at a huge discount to NAV in 2008.)
    AQR Risk Parity is an interesting, unique strategy - it's a different take on the allocation fund. It isn't going to gain in a 2008 scenario, but Risk Parity strategies did hold up pretty well during that downturn. There is a paper going over the strategy on AQR's website. The AQR fund's allocation is listed on their website - the way that the fund is structured (it is entirely derivatives-based, futures, etc; it does not invest in individual stocks, it invests in index futures around the globe) doesn't seem to be able to be listed on M*'s website. Asset allocation and top holdings are at the link below.
    http://aqrfunds.com/Our_Funds/Individual/FundID_13/Key_Facts/Risk_Parity_Fund.fs
    The EM debt situation has rattled a lot of good funds this year (TGINX, as well); I think the asset class has a good future and is something I'd recommend a portion of assets be devoted to for those with fixed income, but if one doesn't own any, I'd DCA in slowly over time.
    I think that it was really discussed as a safe haven and attracted a huge amount of inflows (I started selling TGINX when they announced that their assets under management had increased several times over in the span of about 10 months) to what is a relatively small asset class; when investors started leaving towards the "safer harbor" (heavy emphasis on the "'s) of US and developed market debt, it really seemed to cause ripples in the EM debt market and that could continue. Too many people ran in, now that they're going the other way, they're finding it difficult (as discussed in the article below.) I think that managers like Hasenstab are going to navigate this well over the mid-term, and if EM debt keeps heading South, I'd actually look at making some room for a little bit.
    It is definitely a volatile asset class; it has performed exceptionally well in 2009/2010, but be prepared for the kind of price action that TGINX (for example) took pretty quickly in 2008.
    This article spells out the worst case scenario for EM debt. Systemic crisis seems like a bit much, but it outlines what has been happening. If things start getting on solid footing around the world, you'll probably see the tension in this market start to cool a bit.
    http://www.globalpensions.com/global-pensions/news/2112073/em-debt-systemic-crisis
    "“There are a handful of enormous global bond investors with heavy exposure to local currency emerging market debt, with some owning over 50% of individual EM sovereign bond issues. If the end investor wants to sell, the fund has to sell, and what if there is no-one that wants to buy,” he said.
    “EMD has never had to deal with huge outflows before – in 2009 the foreign ownership was not as large – and liquidity is completely drying up.”"
  • Our Funds Boat, week -.89%; YTD +1.09 Market Neutral Fund, eh? 10-1-11
    Reply to @scott: Thanks for your follow-up, Scott... always informative. The Portfolio's I'm managing have weathered all this very well, under the circumstances. I squeezed out +.28 last 3 months and +4.94 YTD, so I consider myself lucky. As much as I liked the managers of my Asian Fund (MAPIX), I sold all almost a year ago (kept very minimal amount in MSMLX). My major stake in DBLTX has done very well, as has IAU (even with the recent drops). I'm a little worried about TEGBX's and Emerging market losses and their short-mid term future - my PGBDX has done a lot better during these awful markets. Small stake in long govt (VUSTX) has done very well, and short terms and multi-sectors hanging in there. One of the nice aspects of having such a small percentage (-14%) in equities (YACKX, ARIVX, those in BERIX, etc.) is I am ok keeping them as they help me with some gains (or less losses) in the few "good day" markets. So, overall, my Portfolio is close to as "peaceful" as I can get.... I'm just not familiar enough with awful market trends to know if these downturns could be normal for bear market.... or how bad the extremely high volatility, awful news everywhere, etc. could mean for even my very Conservative Portfolios. (And, on the "plus" side, the Portfolio I invested for Mom is still ahead 5+% over last 14 months.... whereas the same amount my sister invested with USB is now in negative territory, so that gives me some bizarre pleasure (even though it means loss to Mom).
  • Steven C. Leuthold is stepping down as Chief Investment officer
    http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000351/000089710111001691/leuthold114603_497.htm
    Effective as of the date of this Supplement, Steven C. Leuthold is stepping down as a portfolio manager of the Leuthold Funds and as the Chief Investment Officer of the Leuthold Funds’ investment adviser, Leuthold Weeden Capital Management. Douglas R. Ramsey has assumed the role of Chief Investment Officer for Leuthold Weeden Capital Management. All references in the Prospectus to Mr. Leuthold as a portfolio manager of the Leuthold Funds and as Chief Investment Officer of Leuthold Weeden Capital Management are hereby deleted from the Prospectus. Specifically, the Sections of the Prospectus identified below are deleted and replaced as follows:
    1. The first paragraph under the Section titled “Portfolio Managers” for the Leuthold Core Investment Fund, on page 5, shall read in its entirety as follows:
    “Portfolio Managers
    Andrew J. Engel, CFA, Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA, and Matthew B. Paschke, CFA, are the portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Engel is a portfolio manager and a member of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 1986. Mr. Ramsey is the chief investment officer and a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2005. Mr. Paschke is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2000.”
    2. The first paragraph under the Section titled “Portfolio Managers” for the Leuthold Asset Allocation Fund, on page 10, shall read in its entirety as follows:
    “Portfolio Managers
    Matthew B. Paschke, CFA, Andrew J. Engel, CFA, and Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA, are the portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Paschke is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2000. Mr. Engel is a portfolio manager and a member of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 1986. Mr. Ramsey is the chief investment officer and a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2005.”
    1
    3. The first paragraph under the Section titled “Portfolio Managers” for the Leuthold Global Fund, on page 15, shall read in its entirety as follows:
    “Portfolio Managers
    Matthew B. Paschke, CFA, Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA, and Chun Wang, CFA, are the portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Paschke is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2000. Mr. Ramsey is the chief investment officer and a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2005. Mr. Wang is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2009.”
    4. The first paragraph under the Section titled “Portfolio Managers” for the Leuthold Select Industries Fund, on page 18, shall read in its entirety as follows:
    “Portfolio Managers
    James E. Floyd, CFA, Chun Wang, CFA, and Matthew B. Paschke, CFA are the portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Floyd is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since November 1981. Mr. Wang is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2009. Mr. Paschke is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2000.”
    5. The first paragraph under the Section titled “Portfolio Managers” for the Leuthold Global Clean Technology Fund, on page 26, shall read in its entirety as follows:
    “Portfolio Manager
    David H. Kurzman is the portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Kurzman is a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2009.”
    6. Under the Section “Management of the Funds – Leuthold Weeden Capital Management manages each Fund’s investments,” on pages 44 and 45, (a) Mr. Leuthold’s biographical information is deleted; (b) Mr. Ramsey’s biographical information is revised to read in its entirety as set forth below; and (c) the table identifying the portfolio managers is revised to read in its entirety as set forth below:
    “Mr. Ramsey is the chief investment officer and a portfolio manager of the Adviser and has been a senior analyst of the Leuthold Group since 2005. Prior to joining the Leuthold Group, Mr. Ramsey served as the Chief Investment Officer for Treis Capital Management from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Ramsey served as a portfolio manager for Principal Global Investors from 1997 through 2003.”
    2
    “The following table identifies the portfolio managers for each of the Funds. The portfolio managers are equally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds that they manage.
    Fund PMs
    Leuthold Core Investment Fund Andrew J. Engel, CFA
    Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA
    Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Leuthold Asset Allocation Fund Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Andrew J. Engel, CFA
    Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA
    Leuthold Global Fund Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Douglas R. Ramsey, CFA
    Chun Wang, CFA
    Leuthold Select Industries Fund James E. Floyd, CFA
    Chun Wang, CFA
    Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Leuthold Global Industries Fund Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Greg M. Swenson, CFA
    Leuthold Global Clean Technology Fund David H. Kurzman
    Leuthold Hedged Equity Fund Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    James E. Floyd, CFA
    Greg M. Swenson, CFA
    Grizzly Short Fund Matthew B. Paschke, CFA
    Greg M. Swenson, CFA
    * * *
    The date of this Supplement is October 3, 2011.
    Please retain this Supplement for future reference.
  • Our Funds Boat, week -.89%; YTD +1.09 Market Neutral Fund, eh? 10-1-11
    Howdy,
    Again, a thank you to all who post the links and also 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.
    NOTE: For those who visit MFO, this portfolio is designed for retirement, capital preservation and to stay ahead of inflation creep; if and when it returns. 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..... Apparently, this house in reality, is running a market neutral fund. :) I jabbered enough about my market perspective and the challenges in the PRE funds boat note on the 30th; this section, this week will be about the "what to do now" aspect of our portfolio; if indeed any actions are required. A first note that M* indicates that the portfolio has an overall yield of 4.27%. This write generally reflects thoughts with our bond holdings, being the biggest chuck of our money; but must be countered with the actions of the equity holdings and forward directions, and in particular, our high yield/income bond funds with their more related linkage to actions of the equity cousins. A non-scientific look at HY bonds vs equity actions since August 1, shows that for every 1% decline in a broad U.S. equity index, one would find about a 1/3% price decline in the HY area. This changed this past Friday, Sept 30; when HY price declines just about matched the decline of pricing in the broad equity area; and finally pushed our HY funds to mostly negatives for YTD. 'Course this action has caused yields to increase to higher and tempting levels; but at the cost of lost NAV. A few considerations of cause and effect in the next 6-12 months; as I still feel that the complex nature of "fixes" for the U.S. and Europe will remain entangled by and with political and legal (in the case of Europe) problems with the likely overhang of whether any "fixes" or decisions are credible and/or proper to the point of being real fixes:
    1. The last quarter of the year for the fund managers is here and now. Some equity fund mgrs are in the "rock and hard place" zone, somewhat locked in place by the prospectus. Some bond funds are also similarly stuck. So, as usual; one must decide the who, what and where of matching a fund type to what one feels may be the market actions of the next 6-12 months. This is where the "flex" (in and out of a sector, without having to wait until the end of the trading day) of using an etf fund is of value; and no less, the ability via prospectus and finely tuned manager(s) decisions for a traditional mutual fund.
    2. Pension funds: These folks will always maintain a core bond postion of some flavor or another. Based upon their internal forecasts for forward equity actions; and their need to generate cash flow, I anticipate accelerated bond yield chasing, i.e.; reworking and re-allocation of their bond sectors. This may bode well for support in the HY and other bond sectors.
    3. Mutual funds: The same thinking applies to some bond funds. The "late to the party" crowd are moving more monies to U.S. bond issues.....Pimco, TCW and others. I suppose they have become believers to the serious problems. I sure don't know how Mr. Gross and co. missed this move, being Pimco gave birth to the "new normal".
    4. The continued strength of the U.S. dollar; albeit, perhaps only for the next 6-12 months does indeed affect values of funds. If and when this does flip downward again, one's dollar will buy more of whatever that is not denominated in $US; if you catch the near top, before the down move.
    So, what to do? Monday will tell this house more; but we may sell down some percentage (25%) of HY) and move the monies to a more flexible bond fund to allow for the decisions of management among what type of bonds to hold. We have no reason to "whine" about our HY/HI holdings, as these have been held since May/June of 2009 and have paid us well. 'Course this has not worked very well with having Pimco manage our holdings in PTTRX; and sadly, this is the only bond fund available in one retirement plan. So, we are stuck with this for now. Perhaps strange to some, is why we would hold FSAGX in such an economic environment. Our house will place this holding in line with the need to have insurance on the house and cars. The money is there for some protection that may never be needed; but may be foolish to "not" have. As to our current equity holdings, well; a real head scratcher with these, as our percentage is not very large, but continued down moves of these will still "nickel and dime" our losses. Fido Select Auto, Fido commodity holdings and CAMAX are the only real big dogs, YTD. Auto is in play as to some of the companies held that support select areas (Auto Zone/related) as many folks are going to fix and not buy good used or new vehicles. We are also "betting" on earnings of auto companies with sales in the asian markets. Fido commodities fund is a tough one, too. We still feel that the equity holdings here are being beat up with the rest of the equity markets, but not for any real and proper reason. Yes, some of the holdings are related to real demands in some sectors....copper, etc.; which have real uses in growing economies; but there is a "real" base of use and need for the energy and agriculture sectors of this fund.
    I thought this would be a more clear cut and easier write, that this house was just going to sell this or that; and move the monies to such and such fund(s). A weekend of pondering this has not brought forth a more clear vision. :):):) I sure as heck hope I/we have not just added to the "confusion" of the markets. I suppose that this house can not whine too much for our YTD performance; but, with what we are invested in, the ride down has been much slower for the past 2 months; but this portfolio also takes much more time to recover to higher YTD levels.
    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
    SELLs/BUYs THIS PAST WEEK:
    NONE
    Portfolio Thoughts:

    Our holdings had a -.89 % move this past week. And yes, we are satisfied with our risk adjusted returns YTD. If the portfolio can pull a +10 to 12% for the year; you will not hear any whining from this house. (This sentence was from an April write; and I/we suppose a +5% for the year may now look good, too !) Our portfolio is at - 4.7 % from the high point in mid-July.
    The old Funds Boat may make 5% or 25% this year. I expect some rough waters, changing winds and opposing currents; causing the most serious attention being given to a firm hand upon the rudder control. (April report text)
    The immediate below % of holdings are only determined by a "fund" name, NO M* profile this week
    CASH = 8.3%
    Mixed bond funds = 81.8%
    Equity funds = 9.9%
    -Investment grade bond funds 18.6%
    -Diversified bond funds 18.5%
    -HY/HI bond funds 25.8%
    -Total bond funds 14.6%
    -Foreign EM/debt bond funds 4.3%
    -U.S./Int'l equity/speciality funds 9.9%
    This is our current list: (NOTE: I have added a speciality grouping below for a few of fund types)
    ALSO, this week indicates yield/YTD data after the fund name
    ---High Yield/High Income Bond funds
    FAGIX Fid Capital & Income (6.4%/-6.5%)
    SPHIX Fid High Income (6.9%/-2.8%)
    FHIIX Fed High Income (8%/-1.2%)
    DIHYX TransAmerica HY (8.6%/-1%)
    DHOAX Delaware HY (front load waived) (6.7%/-4.9%)
    ---Total Bond funds
    FTBFX Fid Total (3.3%/+5.5%)
    PTTRX Pimco Total (3.3%/+1.9%)
    ---Investment Grade Bonds
    APOIX Amer. Cent. TIPS Bond (2.4%/+7.7%)
    DGCIX Delaware Corp. Bd (5.2%/+4.8%)
    FBNDX Fid Invest Grade (2.8%/+6.6%)
    FINPX Fidelity TIPS Bond (.8%/+10.2%)
    OPBYX Oppenheimer Core Bond (4.9%/6.2%)
    ---Global/Diversified Bonds
    FSICX Fid Strategic Income (4.5%/+1.7%)
    FNMIX Fid New Markets (5.2%/+2.4%)
    DPFFX Delaware Diversified (4.4%/+4.2%)
    TEGBX Templeton Global (load waived) (5.3%/-3.9%)
    LSBDX Loomis Sayles (5.7%/+1.2%)
    ---Speciality Funds (sectors or mixed allocation)
    FCVSX Fidelity Convertible Securities (bond/equity mix) (3.7%/-12.4%)
    FRIFX Fidelity Real Estate Income (bond/equity mix) (5.3%/-1.2%)
    FSAVX Fidelity Select Auto (0%/-32%)
    FFGCX Fidelity Global Commodity (1.2%/-24%)
    FDLSX Fidelity Select Leisure (.6%/-8.5%)
    FSAGX Fidelity Select Precious Metals (0%/-11%)
    RNCOX RiverNorth Core Opportunity (bond/equity) (2.9%/-8.2%)
    ---Equity-Domestic/Foreign
    CAMAX Cambiar Aggressive Value (.3%/-26%)
    FDVLX Fidelity Value (1.5%/-16.9%)
    FSLVX Fidelity Lg. Cap Value (1.4%/-12.6%)
    FLPSX Fidelity Low Price Stock (.7%/-8.6%)
  • M* Times - Marsico Mgr Leaves; Ex-Wasatch Mgrs Launching Grandeur Peak Funds
    Thanks Kenster,
    Cory G is also co-manager of MFCFX = Marsico Flexible Capital Fund. Keeping a close eye on this holding I own.
  • Only Flexibility Can Restore Growth
    Gundlach Has No Europe Bets, Likes Corporates
    Jeffrey Gundlach's DoubleLine Capital LP is invested only in U.S. dollar-denominated assets in a bid to avoid losses stemming from Europe's debt crisis.
    "All of our international exposure is in dollars," Gundlach, the founder and head of Los Angeles-based DoubleLine, said at a panel sponsored by the firm in New York today. "There's a big loss in Europe and all we want to do as investors is make sure as best we can that we're not the ones taking the loss. How do you do it? No investments in Europe."
    {...}
    "I like junk bonds a lot better than I did six months ago, but I am not ready to buy them yet," he said. "The high yield bond market is going to have a default problem in late 2012 or 2013."
    {...}
    "We're not going to be ready to jump back in to high yield basically until Greece is solved," said Bonnie Baha, head of DoubleLine's global developed credit group.
    Even with the yield on the 10-year Treasury notes below 2 percent, long-term government bonds make sense as a hedge, Gundlach said.
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-28/gundlach-s-doubleline-has-zero-euro-exposure-as-losses-loom.html
  • Only Flexibility Can Restore Growth
    Only Flexibility Can Restore Growth
    Rigidities in Global Markets are Impeding Recovery
    By Andrew Foster | Posted: 09-28-11
    http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/SubmissionsArticle.aspx?submissionid=128096.xml&part=1
    [Andrew Foster is the CIO and founder of Seafarer Capital Partners, a newly-formed firm focused on overseas markets. Prior to Seafarer, he worked at Matthews International, advisor to the Matthews Asian Funds, where he was a portfolio manager, director of research and acting CIO.]
  • pimco's muni perspective...plus few more reads
    Hi John and others,
    Quote From your link:
    interestng article for fix income minded investors
    http://advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/pimco_92111.php
    "...we place a lot of emphasis on downside hedging. Investors certainly want to participate in market upside, but, in our view, avoiding losses may have greater impact over the long term. Our belief is that no matter how strategies may perform in strong markets, if they do a terrible job during down markets, investors lose."
    My Question:
    What are some of these downside hedging strategies we all want to be aware of? I have to agree that losses have greater impact over the long term so how do you participate in the upside while hedging the downside?
    Here is what I try to use as strategies:
    I try to take profits (10-20% gains) from my temporary "alpha" investments and place these profits into a Total Return, Income or core Investments (PTTDX, TGMNX, USAIX, PFPFX). Most recently I took profits (20% gain) from a Precious Metal & Mining fund (USAGX) and established a position with these profits in USAIX (an Income fund)
    I try to take profits (10-20% gains) from my "alpha" investments and place these profits into other out of favor Alpha Investments. Here, I reference other sector investments and its position in the business cycle. There are always out of favor sectors. Some can stay out of favor for a very long time so this reinvestment can feel like drag on a portfolio but if you bought it at an out of favor price with profits you have minimized the downside risk as well as diversified your portfolio. Patience is required to reward you with this investment over the longer term.
    Here, I try to educate myself and then make some educated guesses as to what is a good value...out of favor. This could be a fund strategy or EFT strategy that is out of favor. FAIRX comes to mind as a fund (2 segments Banking & Real Estate) and PKN (nuclear power) comes to mind as a EFT. Right now FAIRX can be purchased at a 32% discount to its recent price. It may have some more downside but may be rewarded handsomely over the long term. Nuclear power can be invested in through PKN which is down 33% since the Japanese disaster. It also will be out of favor for the short term but may also be a big energy source for China and other countries.
    What are you downside strategies?
    bee
  • Our Funds Boat, week -1.72%, YTD +1.98%, Compare-o-matic 9-24-11
    A Saturday Morn'in Hello,
    On the go a bit today, and will do some Funds Boat writing later. The below numbers/list is from MSN finance and they do match return numbers from M*. Hopefully, following and matching the YTD and other time frames as you read across the page is not too nasty; as the format is the best I can provide.
    Obviously, the "large AUM funds" below do not have much relationship to our holdings for a comparison; but may be of value purely for looking at the numbers in these areas. The other two areas of conservative/moderate/balanced funds have more of a relationship to our holdings.
    This is the MSN link, and there is a "back" feature near the end of any funds group list to get one back to the fund type choices list...the easiest method to use:
    http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/partsub/funds/topfunds.asp
    Anyway, a quick and dirty look at some numbers.....
    Regards,
    Catch
    LARGE FUNDS*, by $'s invested/AUM
    Symbol Company Net Assets Morningstar Stars YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
    VTSMX Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv 58.72 Bil 4 -9.27 3.19 1.06 -0.25
    AGTHX American Funds Growth Fund of Amer A 57.08 Bil 3 -10.91 -0.26 -0.24 -0.35
    FCNTX Fidelity Contrafund 57.05 Bil 4 -5.76 4.71 3.19 3.05
    CAIBX American Funds Capital Inc Bldr A 55.90 Bil 3 -4.09 0.35 1.79 1.13
    AMECX American Funds Inc Fund of Amer A 51.18 Bil 3 -3.03 2.99 3.86 1.39
    VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Admiral 49.87 Bil 4 -8.33 3.04 0.79 -0.76
    CWGIX American Funds Capital World G/I A 48.36 Bil 4 -14.32 -8.40 -1.55 -0.48
    VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Adm 47.45 Bil 4 -9.22 3.28 1.16 -0.16
    AIVSX American Funds Invmt Co of Amer A 43.10 Bil 3 -11.09 -1.53 -0.21 -1.59
    DODFX Dodge & Cox International Stock 40.30 Bil 4 -21.23 -12.77 -2.39 -2.33
    CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION/BALANCED
    SHORT TERM*
    Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
    HSTRX Hussman Strategic Total Return 2.45 3.55 3.50 5.25 7.78
    WICAX Waddell & Reed InvestEd Cnsrv A -0.19 2.18 2.13 4.16 4.46
    SNSAX SAAT Defensive Strategy A -0.07 1.86 2.54 1.74 0.84
    MATRX GAMCO Mathers AAA NA -1.00 -2.08 -1.97 -0.30
    TPDAX Timothy Plan Defensive Strategies A -0.08 4.72 11.39 NA NA
    TPDCX Timothy Plan Defensive Strategies C -0.26 4.33 10.69 NA NA
    ASENX Aston Dynamic Allocation N -0.63 -0.21 9.18 5.18 NA
    FMUAX Federated Muni and Stock Advantage A -0.70 4.45 4.43 3.96 1.87
    FMUFX Federated Muni and Stock Advantage F -0.70 4.44 4.43 4.01 NA
    FMNBX Federated Muni and Stock Advantage B -0.89 3.92 3.65 3.18 1.10
    LONG TERM**
    Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
    APIUX API Efficient Frontier Income A -9.79 -6.69 -3.63 15.87 6.80
    AFFIX API Efficient Frontier Income C -9.81 -6.74 -3.74 15.36 6.08
    FFSAX Fifth Third Strategic Inc A -1.49 3.05 4.20 15.30 4.49
    FRACX Fifth Third Strategic Inc Inv C -1.59 2.53 3.48 14.49 3.82
    PRPFX Permanent Portfolio -3.96 0.61 9.69 9.41 9.26
    BERIX Berwyn Income -3.36 -0.88 3.10 8.67 7.16
    VWIAX Vanguard Wellesley Income Adm -1.47 3.41 5.61 8.52 5.67
    VWINX Vanguard Wellesley Income Inv -1.44 3.35 5.59 8.44 5.58
    DFIAX Delaware Foundation Cnsrv Allc A -5.04 -1.75 1.95 8.04 4.66
    DFIRX Delaware Foundation Cnsrv Allc R -5.11 -1.94 1.68 7.79 4.41
    MODERATE ALLOCATION/BALANCED
    SHORT TERM*
    Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
    JADHX JHT Core Diversified Gr & Inc Ser III 0.71 5.36 18.57 3.92 NA
    JADNX JHT Core Diversified Gr & Inc Ser NAV 0.71 5.45 18.74 4.11 NA
    SIRRX Sierra Core Retirement R -0.61 2.71 3.26 13.11 NA
    SIRAX Sierra Core Retirement A -0.49 2.66 3.05 12.89 NA
    CPMPX Changing Parameters -0.53 0.53 3.45 0.68 NA
    SIRCX Sierra Core Retirement C -0.65 2.17 2.32 NA NA
    AAXAX Adaptive Allocation A -1.69 -1.16 12.20 NA NA
    AAXCX Adaptive Allocation C -2.07 -1.71 11.12 7.98 2.31
    MOBAX Aston/Montag & Caldwell Balanced N -2.92 -1.41 4.28 3.58 4.42
    HBFBX Hennessy Balanced -3.17 0.27 4.19 3.53 0.91
    LONG TERM**
    Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
    SIRRX Sierra Core Retirement R -0.40 2.71 3.35 13.16 NA
    SIRAX Sierra Core Retirement A -0.70 2.49 2.91 12.85 NA
    BRUFX Bruce -6.67 1.78 11.68 12.79 3.93
    RNCOX RiverNorth Core Opportunity -10.19 -7.39 0.86 10.03 NA
    AAXCX Adaptive Allocation C -2.07 -1.71 11.12 7.98 2.31
    IBALX Transamerica Balanced A -6.17 -3.22 8.22 6.97 4.12
    ICMBX Intrepid Capital -6.69 -4.89 2.31 7.20 6.49
    FBLAX Franklin Balanced A -7.76 -5.34 2.36 6.69 2.12
    AZNAX Allianz AGIC Income & Growth A -9.16 -7.39 2.09 7.09 NA
    AZNDX Allianz AGIC Income & Growth D -9.13 -7.44 2.10 7.09 NA
  • PRPFX in taxable account?
    Hi folks,
    I disagree with Scott in the case that Permanent Portfolio is not a core fund. I feel it's the very best core fund available and that it's by design. If you read about Harry Browne, who developed the original concept you will see why.
    http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/04/20/fail-safe-investing-harry-brownes-permanent-portfolio/
    Compare this to PFPFX by clicking on the tab on their website:
    http://www.permanentportfoliofunds.com/
    Now, as to tax efficiency - they're great because of such low turnover. They're not playing the market like so many funds because their asset allocation is fixed. Sure, it requires some rebalancing, but that's minimal. As for holding 20% gold and 5% silver, that's not a problem with taxes because being a mutual fund, you're taxed as with any mutual fund. This is completely different from holding one of the bullion ETFs as a stand alone investment. The gains on these are taxed at 28% as 'collectibles'.
    Lastly, for those wishing to hold gold in a taxable account, please investigate the Central Fund of Canada. They're still taxed at 15% on LTCGs although being Canadian, and a PFIC so you need to keep this in mind.
    http://commoditybullmarket.blogspot.com/2010/06/gold-tax-rates-and-collectible-tax.html
    Good luck,
    rono