Search found 23 matches

by colonel
Mon Jul 01, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts on a couple of Intermediate Bond Funds
Replies: 1
Views: 693

Thoughts on a couple of Intermediate Bond Funds

Is it time to lesson my investments in a couple of intermediate bond funds?

I currently own Pimco's Total Return Fund (PTTRX) in my 401K and my wife owns Harbor Bond Fund (HABDX) in her IRA. These make up the bulk of our bond funds although we do own non US bonds, municipals and high yield funds as well but to a lesser extent. We are both within 10years of retirement. The durations of both funds is less than 5yrs but I am worried about the impact of rising interst rates on these funds. Thinking about reducing some exposure and moving into a short term ETF.

Any thoughts or Pros/Cons?
by colonel
Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Alternative Investments
Replies: 14
Views: 2768

Re: Alternative Investments

Thanks to all for the comments. I do think that the investing environment has changed In my own opinion, I don't believe this to be the case. The "environment" is, and always will be, the fact that no one knows what the markets will do going forward. The very foundation of investing has remained the same for over 400 years. It sounds cliché and has been repeated over and over again on this board and others, but the words "stay the course" are truly the most valuable words of advice and has always served the core principles of any IPS. I guess in response to meowcat, my reasons for the "environment change" comment are that I think in the past there used to be more diversification options that don't seem to exist...
by colonel
Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Alternative Investments
Replies: 14
Views: 2768

Alternative Investments

Just finished reading Bob Rice's "The Alternative Answer", and he presents some interesting thoughts about the future of the markets. Wondering if anyone else has read it and if so, what opinions you might have? Specifically, he argues that the traditional stock/bond portfolios do not mitigate risk as they might have in the past. He proposes some alternative strategies that are now available whereas in the past they were only for the very wealthy or institutional investors. Unfortunately, many of these new funds come with a higher expense ratio/costs than index or many traditional mutual funds. I do think that the investing environment has changed and risk is significantly higher so I am interested in ideas to mitigate some risk. ...
by colonel
Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: This Market - what to do?
Replies: 26
Views: 3283

Re: This Market - what to do?

colonel, are you making monthly contributions to a 401k or similar vehicle? If you want to "do something", find a way to increase your contributions by a percent or two. Best move you can make. I try to do the same when I have the urge to "do something". greg24, yes I am maxed out in 401 and IRA and within 10 yrs of retirement. I think the whole start of this question relates to the conflicting economic news coming out daily and my lack of confidence in our current leaders to do the right thing for the economy. Market up's and downs don't seem to be based on much data, at least not the same data used to move the market in the past (growth slow, unemployment still pretty high, a lot of businesses holding cash instead of ...
by colonel
Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: This Market - what to do?
Replies: 26
Views: 3283

Re: This Market - what to do?

Thanks to all who responded. Stay the course is the concensus.
by colonel
Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: This Market - what to do?
Replies: 26
Views: 3283

This Market - what to do?

Looking for thoughts on where to go in this market. Concerned about rising interest and the overall weak economy. Certainly don't believe a 3% GDP growth.

My positions roughly 60-40 with good diversification but am seriously considering going to a cash position and waiting things out.

Any thought or suggestions for positioning in this non-correlated market?
by colonel
Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CGMFX vs PRPFX in a Roth IRA
Replies: 4
Views: 2104

Thanks

Anth & Stratton,

Thanks for your comments. Both have been helpful. I agree that both funds fee's are higher than I'd like but returns had been good in the past.

Any index fund suggestions?

Also, thanks for the comments on selling and then buying IRA and it being taxable. I guess I was foolishly hoping it could just be transfered but I guess IRS wouldn't look to kindly at that.

Thanks again.

craig
by colonel
Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CGMFX vs PRPFX in a Roth IRA
Replies: 4
Views: 2104

CGMFX vs PRPFX in a Roth IRA

I own both of these funds and amd considering moving one to my Roth IRA.

Are there any opinions as to which of these would be a better choice for a Roth IRA.

Thanks
by colonel
Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Fund Advice for a teenage new investor
Replies: 14
Views: 5853

New Investor

Thanks to all the responders.

Some real good food for thought. My son is 18 and getting ready to enter college so he probably won't be purchasing much (other than his education) in the next few years. Not sure what will happen with jobs over the summer or while in school so we are basically looking to have the 5K remain untouched and show growth over the next 4yrs.

Mike, my son also played volleyball in HS so it was interesting seeing your screen name. Rule of 72 discussion is a good one to have.

Thanks to all

craig
by colonel
Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ideas on a teens first portfolio
Replies: 5
Views: 1358

New Investor

Rodc & Tibbitts,

Thanks for the replies. He is 18 and getting ready to enter college so I expect it will be a while before he invests in a house or has steady employment.

I agree that spreading his money is a good idea. I expect that not all will come out of the MMF. Any ideas on funds would be appreciated.

thx
colonel
by colonel
Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ideas on a teens first portfolio
Replies: 5
Views: 1358

Ideas on a teens first portfolio

My son is looking for some advice on putting some money into a good mutual fund. He currently has about 5K in Vanguard Federal Money Mkt(VMFXX). We are considering something with international exposure and we have been looking at Vanguard Global Equity (VHGEX) but it's performance has't been that strong this past year. As compared to other World Stock funds over the 10 yr period it seems to hold it's own.

This is his first mutual fund so we don't want a lot of risk either.

Any suggestions on first mutual fund investment choices would be appreciated?

Thanks
by colonel
Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Fund Advice for a teenage new investor
Replies: 14
Views: 5853

Mutual Fund Advice for a teenage new investor

My son is looking for some advice on putting some money into a good mutual fund. He currently has about 5K in Vanguard Federal Money Mkt(VMFXX). We are considering something with international exposure and we have been looking at Vanguard Global Equity (VHGEX) but it's performance has't been that strong this past year. As compared to other World Stock funds over the 10 yr period it seems to hold it's own.

This is his first mutual fund so we don't want a lot of risk either.

Any suggestions on first mutual fund investment choices would be appreciated?

Thanks
by colonel
Tue May 27, 2008 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New Investor
Replies: 3
Views: 1130

Thanks

dbr & PiperWarrior,

Thanks for your suggestions. TSM may be the way to go with most of the investment. He is currently getting ready for college and does not have a summer job yet so income will be minimal this summer.
by colonel
Mon May 26, 2008 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New Investor
Replies: 3
Views: 1130

New Investor

I want to start my 18 yr old son investing in a mutual fund. He has 4K currently in Vanguard Prime Mny Mkt. Obviously, we are looking towards a long horizon, but also don't want him to carry any more risk than necessary. Any suggestions on good funds for his background?

Thanks for the help.
by colonel
Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRA Question
Replies: 2
Views: 1153

Thanks

Mel,

Thanks for confirming what I thought would be the case.

Craig
by colonel
Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRA Question
Replies: 2
Views: 1153

IRA Question

I have some funds in a taxable Vanguard account (vipsx) and I want to know if that money can be switched to a new Vanguard Roth? I already have a Roth in Schwab so can I still open one in vanguard as my 2008 contribution? I want to move this money because it is not tax efficient per previous forum discussions.

Thanks

Craig
by colonel
Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portofolio Questions
Replies: 8
Views: 2841

Thanks

vpktm,

Thanks for the response on the 529 rollover. Sorry it took so long to reply.

Craig
by colonel
Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ee savings bond and college
Replies: 0
Views: 654

ee savings bond and college

I am seeking thoughts on whether I should use ee bonds for college starting next fall or just hold the funds as an investment. I started buying ee bonds when my children were younger and I was in a lower income bracket because they were able to be applied, tax free to college expenses and because the they were easy to purchase and 529's didn't exist. Well, after pretty much of not worrying about them I am now at a point where college is fast approaching. I have about $27K that I thought I'd use for college but I am no longer in the tax free bracket. Grok supplied an article that spoke of potentially rolling these into 529 but I still do not beleive this will offer me any advantages for college use. Any thoughts on this? Bottom line, is it b...
by colonel
Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Checkup - Laura and all others
Replies: 5
Views: 1619

Laura, PipeWarrior & Grok (who offered similar advice earlier),

Thanks for you quick responses. I have printed info and now need to do some thinking/adjusting. One observation is that I probably need to go towards the 60/40 split so this will require a fair amount of rebalancing. Any additional bond suggestions?

I will do some looking and come back with a hopefully better and more tax efficient portfolio. I am contributing to both roth and tira but with son off to college next year we'll need to see if this can continue. I will continue to max out 401K and will try to add the additional 5K that my age allows.

Thanks again and I look forward to future feedback on updated portfolio.

Craig
by colonel
Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Checkup - Laura and all others
Replies: 5
Views: 1619

Portfolio Checkup - Laura and all others

Laura, I recently read your investment planning article. It got me to thinking and questioning my portfolio. I believe that I may have some problems based on what you've written so I am seeking your advice/suggestions as well as that of any others with ideas. My background is that I am married with 2 children. One will be attending college next fall and the other is about 7 years behind. My age is 50. We have sufficient cash to cover 6 months in expenses so the accounts here only show investments excluding 529. Only debt we have is current mortgage ($208K @ 5%). I got a late start in 401K as I worked in the govt and didn't have access to this option. I max out and company match is 6%. My investment philosophy has always taken morningstar ra...
by colonel
Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portofolio Questions
Replies: 8
Views: 2841

529 plans - Fund use strategy?

Grok,Thanks again for the info.  Since this will be my first use of a 529 I don't have much experience. In switching to another plan such as utah etc., is it easy to just rollover into the new plan?  Are there any charges?Also, since we have ee bonds that we bought years ago for funding college, is it better to use ee bonds first or 529 cash when paying. I've read that ee bonds would be best used in last college year if possible since it impacts financial aid considerations. Not sure if we'll get much but....Thanks for any responses ahead of time. Craig
by colonel
Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portofolio Questions
Replies: 8
Views: 2841

Reply w/Fund Names

Mel & Grok, Thanks for the feedback so quickly. I'll take a look at it. Here are the fund names to go with the symbols. aegpx - American funds european pacific growth fdivx - fidelity diversified international mrk - merck pttrx - pimco total return flpsx - ficelity low price stock acrnx - columbia acorn svspx - ssga 500 index trbcx - trowe price blue chip frtxx - fidelity mm agthx - american funds growth fund of america aivsx - american funds investment co of america smcwx - american funds smallcap world fund dodfx - dodge & cox international stock bjbix - julius baer international equity eurox - us global eastern european swypx - schwab yield plus jmcvx - janus mid cap umbhx - umb small cap dodgx - dodge & cox stock lsbdx - loo...
by colonel
Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portofolio Questions
Replies: 8
Views: 2841

Portofolio Questions

I am new to the site and am interested in getting some opinions on my current portfolios and suggestions as we begin 2008. Any ideas that anyone has would be appreciated. My background is the following. I am 50 and married. We do have 3-6 months in emergency funds. I have a child that will begin college next fall so that will be a new financial challenge. My other child has a few more years to go. We file a married joint return and fall in the 28% tax bracket. The only debt we have is our house mortgage ($208K @ 5%). Current investments are as follows with a value of $549 K. Am open to new allocation suggestions but in the past have been 40% large caps, 30% international, 15% small/mid caps, 10% bonds, & 5% cash. 401K (Company match at ...