Search found 544 matches

by ProfessorX
Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??
Replies: 38
Views: 4822

Re: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??

SpringMan wrote:Did you request an opinion from Vanguard or was this just out of the blue? I never heard of Vanguard giving unsolicited advice or opining on portfolios. There web tools all uses target allocations that the client has set up. This seems strange.
This was out of the blue. I never requested advice of this sort from them.
by ProfessorX
Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??
Replies: 38
Views: 4822

Re: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??

livesoft wrote:C'mon, you know why Vanguard said this. Vanguard uses "rules of thumb" and your portfolio fits one or more of their rules of thumb for being too extreme.

Presumably you have also used their Portfolio Watch tool where they give all their rules of thumb in pretty plain English. What did that tell you?
No I never looked at their rules of thumb very carefully. It seemed silly to me. Thanks, I will take a look at it after work.
by ProfessorX
Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??
Replies: 38
Views: 4822

Re: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??

WendyW wrote:'
Depends how old you are. If you're well over 50, 80% stocks is a bit edgy.
As in the OP "Vanguard target date funds would have me hold 10% Bonds." Now that would be edgy.
by ProfessorX
Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??
Replies: 38
Views: 4822

Vanguard says my portfolio is "too extreme" ??

I just got the following email from Vanguard titled " Your portfolio may be a little extreme" Our records show that your retirement plan balance is either invested primarily in stocks or has almost no exposure to stocks. Why would Vanguard send the same e-mail to you either way? Because both extremes can increase your level of risk. Stocks have historically shown high potential for both gains and losses. So if you invest too much of your money in stocks, you increase the chance that you will take significant losses in the market. If you invest too little in stocks, you increase the chance that your market gains will be too low to meet your goals. Balancing the different forms of risk is a key to successful investing. Fortunately, ...
by ProfessorX
Thu Oct 31, 2013 8:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Poll: How conservative/aggressive is your AA for your age?
Replies: 106
Views: 13267

Re: Poll: How conservative/aggressive is your AA for your ag

I believe in holding a minimum of 20% in Bonds regardless of your age.
by ProfessorX
Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Government Shutdown/Default [effect on investments]
Replies: 454
Views: 43465

Re: Government Shutdown/Default [effect on investments]

I can't help but to have deeply ominous feelings about the future.
by ProfessorX
Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I am looking for an exceptional blender.
Replies: 26
Views: 2765

Re: I am looking for an exceptional blender.

I got my wife the Vitamix 5200. It was $449 new. And it comes with an amazing 7 year warranty. Over 7 years, $449 is not that much to pay for a blender.

For us the Vitamix 5200 was more than enough blender.

And guess what? Now I get a healthy smoothie every morning. To me, the money savings on an at home smoothie every morning plus the health benefits of drinking a vitamin packed smoothie every morning makes the benefits far outweigh the costs.
by ProfessorX
Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Most Dangerous Month Coming Up (NY TIMES)
Replies: 21
Views: 4187

Re: Most Dangerous Month Coming Up (NY TIMES)

I invest like a Boglehead so that I have the freedom to ignore these kinds of statistics and worry about things which are more important to me.
by ProfessorX
Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Private Invest Vehicles: 'A real mistake' for Pa. workers
Replies: 1
Views: 587

Private Invest Vehicles: 'A real mistake' for Pa. workers

When he was hired two years ago, SERS' chief investment officer, Anthony Clark, who makes more money than Gov. Corbett but less than a lot of the private investment managers he contracts, urged the board to pump up to $1 billion into high-fee hedge funds that both buy and short stocks and other investments. Trustees gave $250 million to Tiger Asset Management, based in New York, to buy a special collection of related hedge funds just for SERS, and another $250 million to a more experienced hedge-fund picker, EnTrust Capital, also of New York. Clark's goal was for the hedge funds to earn a stock-market-type return of 8 to 12 percent a year, "but with less volatility," spokeswoman Pamela Hile told yme. EnTrust has so far turned the...
by ProfessorX
Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Childcare costs
Replies: 43
Views: 5355

Re: Childcare costs

In philadelphia we pay $319 per week for 12-18 month old care. There were less expensive places and more expensive places but this is the one that we liked the best for the money.
by ProfessorX
Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Re: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

donall wrote:PSERS sounds like a better way to fund retirement. PSERS is funded at 69% currently, so not great, but ok.
That was in 2011. In 2012 due to lower returns it is estimated to be funded at 59%. They have built in a 7.5% annual return into their "funded" calculation. And the funded ratio is estimated to decline before it starts picking up again:

http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/r ... sion-costs

I also think that PSERS is invested severely too heavily in "Private Equity". But what can I do about it?
by ProfessorX
Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?
Replies: 193
Views: 30056

Re: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?

Why not just invest in Solar power with a battery backup if your house is a candidate? Seems like a similar cost with benefits that can work for you every single day...
by ProfessorX
Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do Roth accounts always lose?
Replies: 69
Views: 7688

Re: Do Roth accounts always lose?

When I was a graduate student I was paying very low taxes and spending not very much money. I put the max in a Roth IRA every year and it was a great way to save since my taxes were very low to being with because I had such a small income.
by ProfessorX
Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: USAA Homeowner Insurance Increase
Replies: 35
Views: 6239

Re: USAA Homeowner Insurance Increase

If you have zero claims in such a long time, maybe you should increase your deductible to save some cash?
by ProfessorX
Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: USAA Homeowner Insurance Increase
Replies: 35
Views: 6239

Re: USAA Homeowner Insurance Increase

Maybe your "insurance score" went up a lot?
by ProfessorX
Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need for new home buyer's agent?
Replies: 11
Views: 1230

Re: Need for new home buyer's agent?

Use a lawyer. A buyers agent and a sellers agent will both have a conflict of interest with you. Even if the buyers agent is supposed to negotiate on your behalf. It is not in their interest for you to 1) walk away from the transaction if necessary and 2) pay a fair price for the house. Both of those things reduce or eliminate their payday, and both of those things could possibly be in your best interest. You pay a lawyer out of pocket separate from the transaction, but it is a form of insurance. Possibly you can try to reduce the commission amount and thereby reduce the sales price if you don't have a buyers agent, and use that to offset the cost of the lawyer. That is what I think personally anyway. All real estate people will advise you ...
by ProfessorX
Sat Aug 31, 2013 7:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Re: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

Bump. Any more advice? Thanks!
by ProfessorX
Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Frustration with Vanguard
Replies: 21
Views: 6319

Re: Frustration with Vanguard

Yes Vanguard is usually not going to "make it worth your while" when they make a mistake or mess up they often simply apologize. Their goal is to have very low expense ratios, and paying for Fed Ex overnight every time they make a mistake would raise expense ratios and the rest of us would be paying for the mistakes. Which is contrary to their mission. :D

Vanguard makes it up to us every day with the rock bottom costs.
by ProfessorX
Fri Aug 30, 2013 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Frustration with Vanguard
Replies: 21
Views: 6319

Re: Frustration with Vanguard

I downloaded that form online. Although maybe you don't have online access because you were locked out. Vanguard is very serious about "agent authorization" and making sure that people who are accessing the account have the proper authorization. I came across a similar situation with my wife's account while we were in the process of doing agent authorization. The good news is that Vanguard is trying to prevent fraud seriously. The bad news is that if you don't take it seriously that your wife's account is your wife's account and her account only before she officially gives you agent authorization, then Vanguard might lock you out if you say the wrong things to them over the phone about accessing your wife's account. E.g. if you te...
by ProfessorX
Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what point is your credit score "high enough"?
Replies: 50
Views: 6591

Re: At what point is your credit score "high enough"?

Also your homeowners and car insurance rates depend upon your "insurance score" which is some super secret number. This number depends in some indirect way upon your credit score. I don't know the specifics, and it may be super secret unfortunately.
by ProfessorX
Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what point is your credit score "high enough"?
Replies: 50
Views: 6591

Re: At what point is your credit score "high enough"?

When applying for a mortgage or refinance at places like Amerisave.com then you get a better deal (lower interest rate or larger closing credit) in 20 FICO score increments going all the way up to the top.
by ProfessorX
Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: the state of unfunded state pension obligations
Replies: 90
Views: 9399

Re: the state of unfunded state pension obligations

So does no one believe there is a promising way out of this crisis for state employees paying into defined benefit Pension plans?
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Re: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

About COLA with PSERS: Q: When will I receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)? A: Cost-of-Living increases are not automatically granted. By law, legislators (the Pennsylvania General Assembly) must enact legislation granting cost-of- living increases. No COLA has been granted since 2002. COLAs are not granted for survivor annuitants, as this would require a change in the Pennsylvania Constitution. After the bill becomes law, PSERS calculates and adjusts your new monthly benefit amount according to the provisions in the law. PSERS’ role is that of an administrator of the benefit and not of one who grants COLA’s. Note: You must have reached one of the superannuation/normal retirement qualifications before PSERS can apply any COLA to your ...
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Re: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

alec wrote:
ProfessorX wrote:
EDIT: another benefit is that the PSERS retirement payments are not subject to City or State income tax in PA.
Yabut, doesn't PA take taxes based on your income before retirement plan contributions? If so, then the 403(b) withdrawals wouldn't be subject to State income tax either.
Is that true? Probably because my state wages on my w2 are higher than my federal wages by almost exactly my 403(b) contributions. Ok.
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 29, 2013 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Re: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

No real answer, but some questions that might make a difference: How long does it take to be vested in PSERS? Does work at the previous school add together with work at the new school? (I would presume it does, but just to be sure...) Is the PSERS benefit inflation adjusted? Thanks! It takes 5 years to be vested in PSERS. So she would be vested after 1 more year of service. Yes work at the previous school counts toward the vesting in PSERS. PSERS is independent of the particular school where you work. It is a state run retirement system. The PSERS benefit does not appear to be inflation adjusted, unfortunately. The money that you and your employer(s) contribute earns a legally mandated 4% rate of interest compounded annually. It earns that...
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 29, 2013 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?
Replies: 10
Views: 2269

Help with PA retirement choice: PSERS or Vanguard?

Hello! I am looking for advice about helping my wife choose a retirement plan. She just got a new job in a Charter School in Philadelphia. She had previously been in a different Charter School in Philadelphia for the last four years. And she had been contributing 7.5% a year to the state PSERS retirement program. She is a class T-D member of PSERS (if you know what that means). The new Charter School offers her an option. Either keep the same PSERS or take a 403(b) at Vanguard. The Charter School contributes 5% for her to Vanguard that is fully vested after 2 years, 50% vested after 1 year. She can contribute up to the max into a Vanguard 403(b). The Vanguard fund choices are good, and livable, but not stellar. Or she would pay 7.5% into PS...
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: best current deal on a HELOC?
Replies: 6
Views: 2093

Re: best current deal on a HELOC?

Well in the worst case scenario if interest rates spike I could probably pay off most or all of the HELOC in a pinch. Just not interested in paying large amounts of cash out of savings.

Also I have a 3.5% 30 year fixed so I'm not interested in a refinance.
by ProfessorX
Thu Aug 01, 2013 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: best current deal on a HELOC?
Replies: 6
Views: 2093

Re: best current deal on a HELOC?

Sorry for the delayed responses. Having a 13 month old child slows everything down. Thanks for the HELOC suggestions! Are you sure you want a HELOC? I always viewed HELOCs as useful for when you don't presently have a need to draw upon the equity of your home, but want the flexibility to do so in the future. The interest rates are usually variable (generally tied to Prime). Granted, Prime has been stuck at 3.25% for quite some time, but that could change without much warning, and with it, your HELOC's interest rate. That's fine if you have no current use for the funds, but not great if you know you need funds now. How long do you need to repay the loan? If you can pay it off in 5 years or less, here are some alternatives to a HELOC: If you ...
by ProfessorX
Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: best current deal on a HELOC?
Replies: 6
Views: 2093

best current deal on a HELOC?

Hello again. I discovered in the last few days that my neighbor whose house was built by the same developer as me, at the same time in some kind of a four similar house deal in the middle of Center City Philadelphia. (Sorry for the sentence fragment.) So my neighbor had a Masonry company rip off their rear stucco wall on their five year old new construction house to find lots of wood rot water infiltration etc. They are doing lots of repairs depleting their savings at a cost of over $20K. The contractor who built these houses declared bankruptcy within his old companies LLC and started a new company LLC and is currently building new houses in a the new companies name in the same neighborhood. This developers current project is listed by pos...
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dehumidifier question
Replies: 17
Views: 3216

Re: Dehumidifier question

Danby is a terrible brand. Stay away. It is very hard to keep your basement humidity substantially below the ambient subterranean humidity level.
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?
Replies: 102
Views: 14506

Re: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?

Philly is warmer in winter (though not by much), but the summers are much more hot/humid than Boston. If Boston @ 30 degrees vs Philly @ 47 degrees in the middle of winter is "not by much" then I agree. I lived in Boston for three years before moving to Philly. Personally I'd take the warmer summers over the harshly colder winters anytime. Have you moved Philly to NC? Here are the facts/average temps for both cities: Boston: http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Massachusetts/Boston/ Philly: http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/ Temps 30 miles north/west of the city can vary to the cold side, but the ocean tends to temper the temps in the city Summers are much more humid in Philly than in Boston. Just my opinio...
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 13, 2013 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?
Replies: 102
Views: 14506

Re: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?

bill1958 wrote:Philly is warmer in winter (though not by much), but the summers are much more hot/humid than Boston.
If Boston @ 30 degrees vs Philly @ 47 degrees in the middle of winter is "not by much" then I agree.
I lived in Boston for three years before moving to Philly.
Personally I'd take the warmer summers over the harshly colder winters anytime.
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA and Amica - What would you do?
Replies: 24
Views: 6073

Re: USAA and Amica - What would you do?

Sorry I had to go help with my son.

To add to what I said above, a lot of people on this board love USAA.

But I have also heard a lot of stories of people saying that USAA will have a lot of red tape and long delays to get through if you have a serious claim. USAA has changed a lot in the last five years and they are having "growing pains" so be wary of ancient stories too.
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA and Amica - What would you do?
Replies: 24
Views: 6073

Re: USAA and Amica - What would you do?

I have had USAA for a little over one year and I am thinking about switching possibly to Amica.
USAA only renewed my homeowners policy on the day before It was set to expire and only because I called them many times.
They blamed it on a computer glitch. On top of that they raised my rate by 22% with no claims.
by ProfessorX
Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?
Replies: 102
Views: 14506

Re: NYC, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?

-The difference in training between Philly and the rest is like the difference between a top 5 law school and a top 15 law school That would make all the difference for me right there. Go where you will get the best education IMO. I live and work in Philly. One other thing to think about is that Philly has substantially warmer winters than any of the other cities you are considering. That may mean more to you coming from Florida. As for crime. It is way down in Philly this year due to new policing strategies: http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-01/news/40288167_1_crime-city-homicide-figures-analysis I have to say that after living in a very nice part of Philly for four years I feel very safe here, safe enough to raise a child in the middle ...
by ProfessorX
Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cramer says not to invest in Index Funds :)
Replies: 43
Views: 8467

Re: Cramer says not to invest in Index Funds :)

Listening to Cramer is a bad idea.
by ProfessorX
Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: so what about house flipping?
Replies: 18
Views: 2209

so what about house flipping?

My old RE Broker wants to talk to me about getting into flipping houses? I think he is looking for shadow investors. I am feeling a bit reluctant about the whole thing. What do Bogleheads think about flipping houses as an investment activity?
by ProfessorX
Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Observations with Amazon Prime
Replies: 47
Views: 6598

Re: Observations with Amazon Prime

I look at several online retailers before ordering anything. It literally takes seconds. So if Amazon is using some weird pricing algorithm on me, then it's only effect is to likely cost them my business. Most of the time I generally don't care whether my order comes in two days or a two weeks time.
by ProfessorX
Wed May 29, 2013 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]
Replies: 19
Views: 7757

Re: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]

It s now 5/29/2013 and my homeowners is set to expire on 6/1/2013... USAA has said that my homeowners is going to renew, but it has so far not renewed. Only two days left... wonder what my USAA homeowners rate going to be for next year... Apparently a technical computer problem is holding up my renewal. For some reason they can't just pick up the phone and talk to a human being who could renew my policy. The USAA representative I talked to a week ago said that she was going to "watch" my renewal to make sure it went through... LOL. Looks like she is really "watching it" expire which is of no help to me. More people should know what kind of a company they are dealing with. My grandfather was in the Air Force and he was US...
by ProfessorX
Fri May 24, 2013 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]
Replies: 19
Views: 7757

Re: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]

whomever wrote:We also had an auto claim a couple of years ago which they handled poorly - the first time we've had that in all the years. I sense USAA is trying to grow their business, i.e. I see a lot more ads than I used to. I hope they don't become just another insurance company.
By my experience so far they seem to be worse than that... What did they do wrong with your claim?
by ProfessorX
Fri May 24, 2013 7:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]
Replies: 19
Views: 7757

Re: USAA dumped me? [Homeowners insurance]

ADDED THIS TO OP.

UPDATE:

Still have not gotten my homeowners insurance renewal from USAA. My homeowners is set to expire on 6/1 (i.e. in approx one week). USAA would not have contacted me about it, if I had not contacted them. They claim the lack of a renewal yet is a "IT glitch problem". They keep telling me that they value my business etc and they will certainly renew me in time. But they still can't tell me what my premium will be starting on 6/1... anyone having similar experiences with USAA?

Should I call Amica? Or someone other insurance company??
by ProfessorX
Thu May 16, 2013 6:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: THANKS, BOGLEHEADS, FROM JACK BOGLE
Replies: 39
Views: 8857

Re: THANKS, BOGLEHEADS, FROM JACK BOGLE

Thank you, Mr. Bogle. You are truly a Investing Saint because you helped so many "little guys (and ladies)" prudently invest for their future safely and soundly without being charged a 2% ER.
by ProfessorX
Thu May 16, 2013 6:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I [messed] up - Now what? ($200k in student loan debt, etc.)
Replies: 117
Views: 15673

Re: I [messed] up - Now what? ($200k in student loan debt, e

whoopsy, or the OP, has two total posts on this forum. Both of them in this topic. And he has not come back to this topic since two days ago?
by ProfessorX
Tue May 14, 2013 6:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition
Replies: 21
Views: 3190

Re: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition

By 2008, the hedge fund investments amounted to almost $103 million. That’s a very high concentration of the non-real estate assets in a single asset class. Since when are "hedge fund investments" considered to be a "single asset class"? . Professor X Since forever, really. Hedge funds are typically grouped in the 'alternatives' asset class (alternatives to stocks, bonds, cash): - Private Equity (& its cousin Venture Capital) - Hedge Funds - Infrastructure - Real Estate - Timber - (commodities where not HFs above) - gold, collectibles (art, wine etc.) Now HFs tend to have higher exposure to the equity factor than the others, but they are still clasiffied as alternatives. The main issue is most HFs are not 'market ne...
by ProfessorX
Tue May 14, 2013 7:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition
Replies: 21
Views: 3190

Re: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition

The title of the article should be "Hedge funds destroy Cooper Union’s endowment; managers get rich and generations of students pay the price". Your conclusion is utterly bereft of common sense and logic. Despite the NYT's typically uninformed reporting on hedge funds (and business matters in general, their business coverage has always been a second string also-ran) hedge fund performance had about as much to do with the failure of Cooper Union's mission as the phases of the moon... That is provably false (the part that I bolded). ...They only had $100M in hedge funds at the peak, and they have realized healthy positive returns on those investments. Hedge funds worked as expected during the bear market and they had much lower los...
by ProfessorX
Mon May 13, 2013 6:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition
Replies: 21
Views: 3190

Re: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition

This is really sad news. EDIT: This is even sadder than I thought: In fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30, 2009, Cooper Union’s hedge funds and other managed assets lost 14 percent, and the returns since then have lagged the stock market’s recovery. Today, Cooper Union’s endowment is lower than it was at the end of fiscal year 2008, even as the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index has hit new highs. From 2009 to 2012, a simple, low-fee mix of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds far outperformed hedge fund indexes. The title of the article should be "Hedge funds destroy Cooper Union’s endowment; managers get rich and generations of students pay the price". EDIT2: Apparently Cooper Union had more problems than simply Hedge Fun...
by ProfessorX
Thu May 09, 2013 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Available cash lower than actual cash balance?
Replies: 5
Views: 1309

Re: Available cash lower than actual cash balance?

You should call your broker. But you probably have unsettled trades. Look at the settlement dates on your trades.