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Re: Modern Portfolio Theory

Is anyone here dabbling with Harry Markowitz's Modern Portfolio Theory for portfolio optimization/design? Thanks, Nathan In order to use Markowitz's optimization model (efficient frontier), you need to know the future standard deviations and returns of each of the investment instruments (stocks, bo...
by mpt follower
Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:15 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Modern Portfolio Theory
Replies: 74
Views: 4072

Re: TIPS. Inflation protected sec inst. What to do

why? All bonds and bond funds are going through tough times. Unless you are considering a different asset class, it really does not make sense to me.
by mpt follower
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:54 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: TIPS. Inflation protected sec inst. What to do
Replies: 13
Views: 1242

Re: Investing at retirement

Fair enough The idea of the Wall Street Casino is that trying to "beat the house" is a fool's game. There is nothing wrong as such with stocks and bonds. What you want to do , one way or another is to own the house. I am a firm believer in stock index funds and have about 60% of the pot i...
by mpt follower
Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:38 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Investing at retirement
Replies: 16
Views: 1725

Re: Investing at retirement

Why not keep it all in Wellesley as you seem satisfied with that investment? Note that Wellesley is most definitely an offering of the "Wall Street Casino" as much as anything else you might consider. Assuming we are talking about Vanguard Wellesley, if I may ask, why are you saying that?...
by mpt follower
Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:22 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Investing at retirement
Replies: 16
Views: 1725

Re: Investing at retirement

Why not keep it all in Wellesley as you seem satisfied with that investment? Note that Wellesley is most definitely an offering of the "Wall Street Casino" as much as anything else you might consider. Assuming we are talking about Vanguard Wellesley, if I may ask, why are you saying that?
by mpt follower
Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:22 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Investing at retirement
Replies: 16
Views: 1725

Re: Ben Bernanke's Commencement Address

A beauty. Required to all of our children. A test will be given to them to make sure that they got the point!
by mpt follower
Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:06 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ben Bernanke's Commencement Address
Replies: 9
Views: 913

Re: What to do when a parent's money runs out?

I wonder if any of you find yourselves in a similar situation... My (single) mother has, counter to all advice and despite about $200k in inheritance, retired early and managed to spend down everything, including a mortgage on her house. :confused (If I sound a little bitter it is because it could ...
by mpt follower
Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:28 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do when a parent's money runs out?
Replies: 70
Views: 6757

Re: Bond Fund Question

The discussion here has focused on reinvesting the bond fund yield. But what happens to those in retirement that need that income, are they suppose to only cash out that part of the yield over the advertise SEC yield when they purchased the fund to stay even? Sorry, I meant to only take the SEC yie...
by mpt follower
Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:03 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bond Fund Question
Replies: 42
Views: 1992

Re: Bond Fund Question

The discussion here has focused on reinvesting the bond fund yield. But what happens to those in retirement that need that income, are they suppose to only cash out that part of the yield over the advertise SEC yield when they purchased the fund to stay even?
by mpt follower
Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:40 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bond Fund Question
Replies: 42
Views: 1992

Re: Why Invest in bonds at all?

I think there's a lot of assumptions underlying the question. What do YOU think the point of investing in bonds is? roymeo For people in retirement, it is well defined: risk mitigation plus INCOME. If one needs $1M to generate $25,000 a year, for most retirees the risk mitigation becomes less of a ...
by mpt follower
Mon May 27, 2013 5:48 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Why Invest in bonds at all?
Replies: 21
Views: 2708

Re: Why Invest in bonds at all?

I think there's a lot of assumptions underlying the question. What do YOU think the point of investing in bonds is? roymeo For people in retirement, it is well defined: risk mitigation plus INCOME. If one needs $1M to generate $25,000 a year, for most retirees the risk mitigation becomes less of a ...
by mpt follower
Mon May 27, 2013 3:57 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Why Invest in bonds at all?
Replies: 21
Views: 2708

Why Invest in bonds at all?

I looked at Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond ETF, a tool that invests in a basket of investment grade corporate bonds maturing in 2020, 7 years from now. As of 5.17.2013, the weighted average yield to maturity for the basket was 2.51%, potentially even less than expected inflation. This f...
by mpt follower
Mon May 27, 2013 2:01 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Why Invest in bonds at all?
Replies: 21
Views: 2708

Re: Stock selection thread

James O'Shaughnessy is a well known value investors that uses a bottoms up strategy for picking stocks. If I understand, the program uses this author's stock screening. You can read his popular book "What Works on Wall Street" and decide for yourself its validity. Like him there are many o...
by mpt follower
Sat May 25, 2013 1:24 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stock selection thread
Replies: 5
Views: 492

Guggenheim bullshares

For those that invest in high yield bonds, would you consider any of those guggenheim bullshares ETFs that have a defined maturity?
by mpt follower
Thu May 23, 2013 12:10 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Guggenheim bullshares
Replies: 2
Views: 211

Inclosing a Water Pump

I know that this has absolutely nothing to do with investments, but this group knows it all. My question is: I have a noisy water pump that bothers my neighbor. Will enclosing it in a sound proof plastic box do damage to the pump? Does the pump need air flow?
by mpt follower
Thu May 23, 2013 12:08 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inclosing a Water Pump
Replies: 1
Views: 200

What if not Fixed Income?

For a retired individual seeking income, not wanting to take additional risk (increase % stocks), if bonds are not the answer, and it seems that currently it is not, and other fixed income like CDs are yielding close to zero, what is the alternative?
by mpt follower
Wed May 15, 2013 11:36 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What if not Fixed Income?
Replies: 10
Views: 879

Re: Retirement planning for those already retired

To @BruceA
I read with interest your comments and I cannot disagree with anything you say. Since you refer to a model you use, I was expecting that your intention was to share the model with us, or you were just warning us to be more discipline with our money?
by mpt follower
Mon May 06, 2013 12:52 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirement planning for those already retired
Replies: 44
Views: 3725

Re: "The Economist" on emerging market bond funds

Emerging Markets are a conglomerate of bonds from many countries, all very different from each other, Mexico and Argentina are like day and night. Thus, unless something really horrible happens, which I assume will impact developed countries alike, if a fund is well diversified, no more that a few p...
by mpt follower
Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:44 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "The Economist" on emerging market bond funds
Replies: 10
Views: 1497

Medicare Part B for overseas individuals

I just received a letter from the Department of Health & Human Services. Question: Do I want to participate in the Medicare Part B program? I live/retired overseas and wonder whether it is worth the US$100+ per month cost. Could/would anyone in a similar situation comment on this dilemma! Thank ...
by mpt follower
Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:52 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare Part B for overseas individuals
Replies: 1
Views: 153

Re: 8 days in NYC -- need hotel advice.

Stay in an apartment. We make a practice to only book apartments if our stay is more than a few days. Just returned from Buenos Aires and Santiago and very happy about our apartment choices. Last year we were in New York and the year before in Florence, and again apartments only. More convenient, an...
by mpt follower
Thu Apr 11, 2013 2:39 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 8 days in NYC -- need hotel advice.
Replies: 27
Views: 1837

Re: Porfolio Monkey

Everybody's comments focused on expected returns. My intend was to use the site to get historical portfolio risks (standard deviations). Typically, returns are all over, thus, i would never recommend the site for this purpose. But standard deviations historically seem to be more stable, and to me it...
by mpt follower
Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:25 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Porfolio Monkey
Replies: 13
Views: 1038

Porfolio Monkey

Since RiskGrades discontinued providing services, and with it my ability to understand the impact of portfolio additions/eliminations to portfolio risk, I have been searching or other options. I just run into portfolio monkey (https://www.portfoliomonkey.com/) and although far from risk grades, whic...
by mpt follower
Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:43 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Porfolio Monkey
Replies: 13
Views: 1038

Re: Indexing vs. Wellington/Wellesley benefits?

For many years I owned a portfolio of diversified index funds, the sort of portfolio you typically find in this forum, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. However, at the beginning of 2011, and as a result of the messy past decade, I began looking at the funds you mentioned and finally, ...
by mpt follower
Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:12 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Indexing vs. Wellington/Wellesley benefits?
Replies: 24
Views: 2437

Re: Indexing vs. Wellington/Wellesley benefits?

For many years I owned a portfolio of diversified index funds, the sort of portfolio you typically find in this forum, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. However, at the beginning of 2011, and as a result of the messy past decade, I began looking at the funds you mentioned and finally, ...
by mpt follower
Sat Mar 09, 2013 1:54 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Indexing vs. Wellington/Wellesley benefits?
Replies: 24
Views: 2437

Re: Airline strike. Any ideas?

I have not followed the boards but there is a Flyertalk board that is mostely about frequent flyer miles but there are lots knowlegable people over there. I would post your question over there. http://www.flyertalk.com/ Be sure to check to see if that flight is actually an Iberia flight. You might ...
by mpt follower
Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:39 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Airline strike. Any ideas?
Replies: 6
Views: 849

Airline strike. Any ideas?

Does anyone have any experience with airline strikes? We are flying with Iberia from Madrid to Buenos Aires in March. Iberia's pilots are in dispute with management and have declared their intentions to strike right on the day that we are flying. What would you do?
by mpt follower
Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:49 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Airline strike. Any ideas?
Replies: 6
Views: 849

Re: Vanguard Wellington

Does it have to be with Vanguard While Past performance (you knowthe drill) T.Rowe Price Capital Appreciation has had a terrific long term performance in spite of multiple manager changes. The company is very proud of that record and so it is likely that it will continue to be managed conservativel...
by mpt follower
Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:07 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Wellington
Replies: 23
Views: 4683

Re: vanguard immediate fixed annuities

Dear Bogleheads Trying to help my mom! My dad recently passed away and my mom age 70 have about $250k saved. I was wondering where to place that money. Should she get a vanguard immediate fixed annuities or is there a better way? thanks Lucky222 You may benefit from reading The Bogleheads' view on ...
by mpt follower
Wed Feb 06, 2013 7:15 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: vanguard immediate fixed annuities
Replies: 25
Views: 1297

Re: Wellington fund and done?

My entire and very sizable equity allocation is in Wellington. I have had more funds, but at the end of the day, I found no reason to do anything more complicated.
by mpt follower
Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:17 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wellington fund and done?
Replies: 9
Views: 1052

Total Bond Fund versus Corporate Bond ladder

I have held a Total Bond fund for as long as remember and I have done so because building an individual investment gade bond ladder (like Thau recommended then) was not possible for me given my limited availability of money. I could not create the diversification that a total bond fund can provide. ...
by mpt follower
Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:41 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Total Bond Fund versus Corporate Bond ladder
Replies: 4
Views: 656

Re: Corporate bond ladders using defined target dates ETFs

I would certainly consider it, but the ER is currently in the 0.24% range. I think I'd still be more likely to build a CD ladder with rates what they currently are and with those expenses, though. That said, awesome product if the cost comes down significantly (say, below 0.10%?) I understand that ...
by mpt follower
Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:59 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Corporate bond ladders using defined target dates ETFs
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Corporate bond ladders using defined target dates ETFs

I am resubmitting my question hoping to get some input! I just became aware of the existence of fixed income ETFs with defined target dates. Guggenheim Investments (see http://guggenheiminvestments.com/Products/etf/Profiles) offers investment grade corporate as well as high yield corporate ETFs with...
by mpt follower
Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:30 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Corporate bond ladders using defined target dates ETFs
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Corporate bond ladders

I just run into Guggenheim fixed income ETFs, see http://guggenheiminvestments.com/Products/etf/Profiles. They offer investment grade corporate as well as high yield corporate ETFs with defined target dates. These ETFs allow for the creation of short term bond ladders with diversification. They seem...
by mpt follower
Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:18 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Corporate bond ladders
Replies: 0
Views: 160

Re: hard to let go of IBM

Do not! Bogleheads strategy is not GOD!
by mpt follower
Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:34 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: hard to let go of IBM
Replies: 46
Views: 2734

Re: Vanguard Wellington

sscritic wrote:
mpt follower wrote: I need to find another balanced fund that holds about the same % of bonds as Wellington does, but my search always returns to Wellington.

Why do you need another? What is your goal?


I am a bit concert about giving all the money to just one fund. Am I wrong?
by mpt follower
Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:18 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Wellington
Replies: 23
Views: 4683

Vanguard Wellington

Does anyone use ONLY Vanguard Wellington for stocks? I need to find another balanced fund that holds about the same % of bonds as Wellington does, but my search always returns to Wellington. Today I own a combination of Wellington and Wellesley, but Wellesley is too low in stocks to accomplish my go...
by mpt follower
Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:54 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Wellington
Replies: 23
Views: 4683

Re: The Permanent Portfolio is the Best Portfolio

PP has been discussed to death! Just use this website search tool and you will be able to get enough opinions to keep you busy for a week. My opinion is that it looks great, it has a great history in terms of performance and risk, but it has scary assets, each independently rather volatile, making m...
by mpt follower
Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:31 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio is the Best Portfolio
Replies: 73
Views: 6634

Vista to Window 7 or 8?

My wife has Window Vista, and for as long as she has the computer, she has wanted to switch out of it. My question is what to do? My inclination is to upgrade her computer to the most up to date OS version, Window 8, but I understand that this OS was designed mainly for tables, and she has a convent...
by mpt follower
Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:40 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vista to Window 7 or 8?
Replies: 66
Views: 3055

Tooth Crown

I just paid $1,700 for a root canal + porcelain crown in a front tooth (no insurance). It is a really good piece of work, but for 2 hours of work plus materials $1,700, it seems to me very excessive to me. I have not been to a dentist for years, are this the current prices?
by mpt follower
Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:45 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tooth Crown
Replies: 48
Views: 2320

Re: L

I have a small amount of HY, my fund managers see value (for now) and I don't second guess them. I personally wouldn't own HY if I managed my portfolio because the misleading long term correlations don't hold during crises. I've come to the conclusion downside protection is paramount, as opposed to...
by mpt follower
Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:07 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: hidden risk in high yield bonds
Replies: 62
Views: 4589

Re: Vanguard Wellington like?

What other fund follows similar strategy than Vanguard Wellington, with the same outstanding historical peformance but with no or less bonds? Historical performance of Wellington is meaningless. IMHO +1 historical performance for any active fund is meaningless John I see no clear advantage of index...
by mpt follower
Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:45 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Re: Vanguard Wellington like?

What other fund follows similar strategy than Vanguard Wellington, with the same outstanding historical peformance but with no or less bonds? Historical performance of Wellington is meaningless. IMHO +1 historical performance for any active fund is meaningless John Johm, dadgumit, you beat me to it...
by mpt follower
Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:37 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Re: Vanguard Wellington like?

If you examine the history of Wellington you'll find that it absolutely does not have an "outstanding historical record", except during certain periods. Actual shareholder experiences have varied all over the map relative to an appropriate benchmark (and that appropriate benchmark has bee...
by mpt follower
Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:25 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Re: Vanguard Wellington like?

Frugal Al wrote:
mpt follower wrote:... I have felt very comfortable with this fund for too log to believe otherwise. Unfortunately, for tax reasons I need to revisit this fund.

"Feeling comfortable" with a fund is not a concrete reason to own it.


I again agree, but in life much as to do with perceptions...
by mpt follower
Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:34 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Re: Vanguard Wellington like?

If you examine the history of Wellington you'll find that it absolutely does not have an "outstanding historical record", except during certain periods. Actual shareholder experiences have varied all over the map relative to an appropriate benchmark (and that appropriate benchmark has bee...
by mpt follower
Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:05 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Vanguard Wellington like?

What other fund follows similar strategy than Vanguard Wellington, with the same outstanding historical peformance but with no or less bonds?
by mpt follower
Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:15 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Wellington like?
Replies: 24
Views: 2138

Re: Last day to contribute in Roth IRA for 2012 ?

The Wizard wrote:The calendar year deadline may be for conversions from a Trad IRA to a Roth...


Do you mean that for conversions from conventional IRA to Roth IRA is 31/12/12?
by mpt follower
Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:45 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Last day to contribute in Roth IRA for 2012 ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1728

Last day to contribute in Roth IRA for 2012 ?

What is the last day to contribute in Roth IRA for 2012 ? 31/12/2012 or 15/4/2013 ?
by mpt follower
Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:06 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Last day to contribute in Roth IRA for 2012 ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1728

Required Minimum IRA Distribution - Conversion to Roth

Does anyone have a spreadsheet or know of a program where I can do some tax planning? Specifically, I want to answer the question of if it makes sense for me as a pensioner to convert from conventional to Roth IRA, and how much per year. I am 64 and my IRA has grown substantially in the past years, ...
by mpt follower
Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:06 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Required Minimum IRA Distribution - Conversion to Roth
Replies: 6
Views: 525

Re: The anti-Taleb reviews Antifragile

I've never been sure how Taleb's own investing philosophy differs from "I like to play long shots." (I'm still trying, unsuccessfully, to come up with a wisecrack that would include the word irrefragable , which means irrefutable or indisputable. I ran across that word in Jack London's no...
by mpt follower
Thu Dec 06, 2012 8:24 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The anti-Taleb reviews Antifragile
Replies: 197
Views: 16090
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