Search found 30 matches

by gtag
Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Runner9

I sent PM
by gtag
Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Runner9 Thanks for keeping me updated- So it seems like everything went smooth that is great! My situation is this: I received my packet from Ohio Deferred Compensation (ODC) yesterday (so I am assuming that if my district did not receive it yesterday, as well. I would assume they will get it no later than Monday, since it was sent out at the same time). In the packet that ODC sent me yesterday, they had a quarterly pamphlet in the packet. If you did not know, there is more great news! It stated that the VG Instutional Shares Index were going to improve to the VG Instutional Shares Index Plus, which means the expense ratio moves down from .04% to .02%. Also, the VG Small Cap Institutional Index is improving to the VG Small Cap Institutional...
by gtag
Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Runner9,

Please do keep me updated on how the whole process is working out. I will do the same.
by gtag
Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Hello everyone, I called the Ohio Deferred Benefit plan. I have got the ball rolling they are going to send enrollment papers to my school treasurer. So, we will have a 457b program. Some interesting information I found out today. As long as any k-12 teacher wants to enroll in the Ohio Deferred Benefit plan, they must be allowed this is Ohio law according to the sales rep. The school treasurer, HR dept, or whomever deals with payroll needs to get it approved by the board of education and send in the paperwork to the ODB agency. The investment choices offered by them are very good and all below 1 % expense ratio. So, I will just have to wait for the paperwork to come in. Thanks again everyone especially Runner9 who first suggested this. I de...
by gtag
Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Hoppy08520, Sorry I was reading back through the posts and missed your post. I looked at the STRS website i am not eligible because I started before 2001. The 403b plans Our school district offers are many insurance companies- too many to list. However, we had a new company come and speak to our district a couple of months ago. It was Horace Mann investments who basically offered annuities, but they did offer mutual funds through American funds- A class shares. This means a declining investment front end load fee scale starting at 5.75% however it does have a fairly reasonable expense ratio with descent returns. They do offer a Roth 403b option to boot along with the traditional 403b route. I just can not bring myself to pay a load first an...
by gtag
Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Runner9 I will have to definitely check into this. I have started to already by going to their website. Please let me know how it goes with your first deduction. That was going to be my next few questions: How soon do they set up the withdrawal from your paycheck? Was there a lot of paper work for your Treasurer or HR dept or whoever takes care of your 403b set up? Do they have good customer service? Obviously this next question you will not know personally, but have you heard any news on how reliable they are when it is time for them to distribute the money to the retiree? Please keep me informed. LadyGeek, Thanks for the links I will definitely check them out. Bornloser, Thank you for the kind words about contributing yearly to my Roth- I...
by gtag
Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Runner9

I definitely agree with you on the state changing the retirement pension plans for Ohio teachers and I am sure it will not be the last. I was not aware that Ohio had a 457 plan for teachers. I will definitely have to do research on this. How did you find out about this? Is this for Ohio teachers? Thanks for the info, it is appreciated.
by gtag
Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Dbr and TT

I understand what both of you are saying. I have had concerns about knowing exactly what I will be receiving at the time of my retirement. Due to the factors you have brought up, I probably will have to have more ready for retirement personally than counting on a certain amount in my pension.

What do you guys suggest for a portfolio plan and the percentages to put in the portfolio?

Thanks again.
by gtag
Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

TT

Thank you for your reply. how would you base your retirement plan then and can you give me a few variables that you think would occur over time?
by gtag
Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Sometimesinvestor

Thanks for the advice. I have been told by a couple others in another post that the current fund prices of the HC fund are already worked in because of the growing need in HC due to the baby boom generation. So, this has made me think more on my current 100% position in the HC fund. I am looking over the other options of broad index funds that have a HC sector weighed into it. I appreciate your help please keep the suggestions coming in everyone do not forget to make suggestions for my taxable account and hopefully my 403b account that will have VG funds as choices.
by gtag
Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Nirvines88 I appreciate your reply about the risks that go along with single sector funds. Therefore, I am looking at different strategies to minimize risk and maximize returns. Right now in my taxable, I have 100% monies in the VG Prime MM account. I am trying to decide my best course of action to invest this money again to minimize risk and maximize returns. As for my 403b, if I did not mention earlier, I am in the process of trying to get VG as a choice in our school district. I am waiting to see what are district treasurer tells me after her talking to VG. The other choices which are insurance companies have mostly inadequate choices or too high of fees. So, I will try to keep everyone posted. Any other suggestions and advice from you o...
by gtag
Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Zebrafish,

Thank you for your advice. I understand what you are saying about the TSM Index and HC being in it. I will have to check this book out to get some more knowledge to help me along. Come on all Boggleheads any and all advice is welcome. I am getting great information keep it coming.
by gtag
Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Re: Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Nirvines88

I appreciate your reply and your knowledge. I am not sure what else I can post on my portfolio. I listed everything I have including percentages. The only thing I can go into more detail is the exact dollar amounts I have in my accounts, which I thought I read in the Portfolio Questions that it is not necessary to list. I would appreciate you listing anything else I need to list- I thought I have. Please any others comments and help are greatly needed. Thank you for all of your help.
by gtag
Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Help [Teacher]
Replies: 32
Views: 2913

Portfolio Help [Teacher]

Hello again everyone, I posted earlier regarding Investing Diversification Issue VG vs VG HC. I am looking for help and knowledge from you on my finance and portfolio situation. Here is my situation: I have no debt. I am 42 and have about 3 months emergency fund. Tax filing status: Single Fed tax rate: 25% Ohio state tax rate: 4.1% I have money sitting in the VG PMM account waiting to invest in some sort of VG MF account. I am a teacher in Ohio and will have a pension at about 77% of my last 5 years of salary when I retire. I have maxed out my Roth IRA since I was 27 and I continue to max it out which at the current time I have 100% invested in the VG HC fund Admiral shares. I have no 403b at present, as discussed in my other post, I am cur...
by gtag
Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Scooter57,

Thanks for the list of books. I have been looking at reviews on William Bernstein's Four Pillars of Investing. From the reviews, it does look like an outstanding book. I have the book on order at the local library. So, I am anxiously awaiting when it comes in. I am also going to be starting a new post on the this forum suggested by Grabinar to get more advice on my portfolio or lack there of one. Hopefully, you can give me some more insight and knowledge on it. Thanks for the information.

Greg
by gtag
Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Grabinar,

Thank you. I will have to start the new post as you suggested. Either now or sometime tomorrow, hopefully. Thanks for the advice.

Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Momar,

Thanks for the reply and the personnel knowledge. I understand what you are saying. I am going to have to look hard at mine to reevaluate what to do. The information you gave me will definitely benefit me. Thanks again and good luck to you in your investing career. I hope to be crossing paths with you again as well as the other posters who have helped me along. I greatly appreciate the insight and any more savvy advice and personal experience is greatly welcomed. Thank all of you.

Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Momar,

Thank you again. I appreciate the information and knowledge. I do not want to assume what you are thinking. If I can deduct some theories from some of your earlier comments, do you feel that it is better to try to match the entire investing market as possible minus the lowest possible expenses because you feel, in general, it is better to try to match the returns of the market as close as possible (if you can not beat them join them)? And that, sector funds which may be profitable at times but in the long run will not match the entire investing market? Again, just trying to gather as much investing knowledge as possible. I will be gone for a little while today so I may not be able to reply until latter.

Thanks again.
Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Momar, I appreciate your reply with your knowledge and personal experiences. I am just curious and if you do not want to answer because it is personal, I completely understand. Why can't you invest in a Total World Stock and a Total Bond fund for yourself? I think in your earlier reply, at least in the Total Bond fund, is because it is not offered, correct? Why not in a Total World Index Fund- I think VB offers one don't they? I know in your first reply to me that you are not a fan of past performance when looking at funds, correct? Do you look at any information when choosing a fund? Do you believe sector funds are a waste of time and why? I just like to know because I like gathering as much information as I can to help me along the invest...
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Dandy,

Thank you for your knowledge and personal experiences. It is always a help to me and other investors. I have been and continue to look at reallocation on my retirement investments. I do have concern about all eggs in one basket. I guess it must be a negative thing to look at all data especially in the past when looking at funds. I will have to look into more diversification. Is it not true that when Interest rates move back up that bonds and bond funds will be at lower prices? Again, I appreciate all the knowledge and experiences. Thank you.

Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

john94549,

I appreciate your reply and personal experiences. As I told Carl53, I have been considering, reallocating my portfolio again to try to maximize returns and minimize risk. I do have a tendency to have a slightly higher risk because I have a little more time to retirement. Having said this, I do not want to be just an irresponsible investor either. I guess I will keep researching information and taking in all the information I can from experienced people and investors as yourself. It definitely is a big help to me and all who are reading these posts. I hope I keep getting more replies to learn from veteran investors to learn as much as I can to increase my knowledge and hopefully my returns. Thanks again.

Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Carl53,

I appreciate the reply and your personal situation experiences. I will definitely keep all of your advice in mind. In the past year or so, I have been definitely been considering reallocating my portfolio to try to maximize returns and minimize risks like most investors. Thank you for all of your comments.

Greg
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Grabiner, I also appreciate your comments. It is also a good point you bring up with your comments, "The sector will always be needed, but everyone else knows that as well, so the expectation is already priced in. As a result, investors are willing to pay more today for $1 of lower-risk earnings in the health-care sector or the utilities sector than for $1 of earnings in the higher-risk financial sector. (M* category averages: price/earnings is 17 for health care, 16 for utilities, 10 for financials.) And health care does have its own risks, particularly government regulation. Changes to Medicare can have a major effect on health-care stocks in the US.[/quote]" I know what you are saying about Medicare changes. I think they just s...
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Scooter57, I do appreciate you taking your time to share your knowledge. It is a great point you bring up with your statement [quote="Scooter57"] 25 years ago I started buying mutual funds and chose them using logical ideas like the ones you are entertaining now. What I learned is that logical people always invest in things that lag the overall market, because if the logic supporting buying something is clear enough that an amateur can figure it out, the big boys have already bought on that logic--a few years before--and will be delighted to sell to us late comers so they can take their profits and get into the next big--not obvious to amateurs " So, you are basically saying that even though the VG HC sector fund has had a go...
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

John94549,

No worries as well as I replied to momar. Again, I thought this was a learning forum just trying to learn as much as possible from investors who have been doing this for a while. Besides your VG HC etf, if you had 20-25 years left until retirement what would you invest in and at what percentages? Also, how do you determine what mutual funds you invest in? Thank you.
by gtag
Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Momar,

No worries here. I thought this is a learning forum- just trying to learn as much as I can especially from investors who have been around doing this for a while. So I will pose the same question to you as a did a couple other posters here and add one question. First, if you had 20-25 years until retirement, what types of funds would you invest in and what percentages would you put in each fund? Second, what information do you use when evaluating mutual funds? Thank you.
by gtag
Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Dandy, I just saw your post. Thank you for all of your knowledge. I do not disagree with you that there is more risk investing in one stock than one mutual fund and there is more risk investing in a sector mutual fund than a total stock market index fund. All of your concerns you listed in your reply are definite and legitimate concerns and does cause some hesitations for me in the HC fund. However, I have been Dollar Cost Averaging in the fund since 1999. I have definitely experienced the roller coaster ride with the HC fund especially a couple of down stretches in early 2000s and around 2008 range. I was able to ride it out and come back strong because of my long investing time frame. I know there are going to be down times but in the lon...
by gtag
Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Scooter57,

I appreciate your reply. It is very informative for me. Don't you feel that the health care sector will always be needed (i know so does food and transportation, etc)? Don't you feel someone will come up with newer meds,med devices, etc? If you were to pick a portfolio for retirement and you had 20-25 years until your retirement, what would you invest in and at what percentages? Thank you for all of your knowledge on this topic.
by gtag
Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Re: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCar

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the comments. I am soaking it all in. I will address some comments in no particular order. I know that the VG HC fund is a sector fund is focused on one sector and I am not diminishing some of the risks in sector funds. I find it interesting through that even though the majority of the funds are in HC but according to Mr. Owens the former manager, he had the fund invest in more value HC stocks and it also diversifies in foreign, Pharms, biotech (which he felt were one category), and med devices to name a few and again I know this is mainly in HC. I also understand Mr. Owens has stepped down but Ms. Jean Hynes has taken over who has been with him for a while learning and working with him. It has been comm...
by gtag
Thu Apr 04, 2013 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare
Replies: 35
Views: 2331

Investing Diversification Issue Vanguard vs VG HealthCare

Hello everyone, This is my first post and a relative newbie to the forum. I have learned much reading through the select few posts so far and I have gained much knowledge from many intelligent posters. I have seen many posts talking about diversification with VG mutual funds. I do understand the theory behind it. I am having trouble understanding why you need a variety of funds to diversify, for example, having a total stock market index, total international fund index, and a total bond index. Where looking at past performance (I know past performance does not guarantee the same future results), why can you not just invest all of your money in let us say the VG HealthCare fund? It has shown to outperform those combined in the long run. I kn...