If I use 10 year returns off Morningstar, and compare SPY/IWD/IJS to VTI, I get 8.55% over the last 10 years vs 7.9%.
Interesting. The last 10 years have all been due to small cap value; both SPY and IWD underperformed VTI.
Btw, what are you using for int'l value?
You know what's going to come of this, of course. I tilted away from something like this (large value/small value combo) and back toward total market during the last 4 or 5 years. I already added small value a couple of years go for some tilt, and I've been contemplating bringing back large value. Heh.
Search found 108 matches
- Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:41 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Four-corners portfolio vs TSM/small-value
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2477
- Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you buy a used laptop?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1791
Re: Would you buy a used laptop?
I like to use work as a beta test site. I look at the laptops we have at work, and then find refurbished ones of the same model.
There are companies on Ebay that sell tens of thousands of laptops coming off lease this way - they come already formatted with OS, etc. So, for instance, we use thousands of Thinkpad T410s at work. They are good computers. Search ebay for refurbished T410s with the memory and hard drive you want. You'll find sellers with tens of thousands of feedback comments.
There are companies on Ebay that sell tens of thousands of laptops coming off lease this way - they come already formatted with OS, etc. So, for instance, we use thousands of Thinkpad T410s at work. They are good computers. Search ebay for refurbished T410s with the memory and hard drive you want. You'll find sellers with tens of thousands of feedback comments.
- Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:44 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Four-corners portfolio vs TSM/small-value
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2477
Re: Four-corners portfolio vs TSM/small-value
Btw - you use ETFs and your .sig says you have int'l value. Which ETF do you use for int'l value?
- Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:42 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Four-corners portfolio vs TSM/small-value
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2477
Re: Four-corners portfolio vs TSM/small-value
THEORETICALLY outperformed, correct?
- Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Berkshire Hathway B Fund - Fun Money - Worth It?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3771
Re: Birkshire Hathway B Fund - Fun Money - Worth It?
Interesting note: Buffet jokes about the B shares in the biography "Snowball" and refers to them as basically being worthless.
I've owned the B shares in the past; I thought it was interesting to see how he just saw them as a way to make money.
I've owned the B shares in the past; I thought it was interesting to see how he just saw them as a way to make money.
- Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Questions to ask when buying a used car
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1721
Re: Questions to ask when buying a used car
IMO, the 2 biggest steps are...
1. KNow what you want to pay before you go to the dealer. I base my price on blue book plus like to like comparisons.
2. Be absolutely ready to walk out if you aren't going to get your price. Last time I bought a used car (2 years ago) I dunno if I can count how many times I said "well, OK, but this was my offer and it hasn't changed."
1. KNow what you want to pay before you go to the dealer. I base my price on blue book plus like to like comparisons.
2. Be absolutely ready to walk out if you aren't going to get your price. Last time I bought a used car (2 years ago) I dunno if I can count how many times I said "well, OK, but this was my offer and it hasn't changed."
- Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Get a Scanner!
- Replies: 69
- Views: 9654
Re: Get a Scanner!
I use 1 folder per year.
IN each folder, docs are named "year vendorname month"
So, a document might be named "2012 tmobile december.pdf"
The folder sorts alphabetically, so if you're looking for a tmobile bill, they're all in a row.
If you wanna save space, since they're already in a directory "2012", just leave the near off the document name.
IN each folder, docs are named "year vendorname month"
So, a document might be named "2012 tmobile december.pdf"
The folder sorts alphabetically, so if you're looking for a tmobile bill, they're all in a row.
If you wanna save space, since they're already in a directory "2012", just leave the near off the document name.
- Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Get a Scanner!
- Replies: 69
- Views: 9654
Re: Get a Scanner!
So skip the Evernote step and just save them as PDFs on your drive.stan1 wrote: I am skeptical of using Evernote for archiving.
- Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Get a Scanner!
- Replies: 69
- Views: 9654
Re: Get a Scanner!
Fyi, lifehacker.com recently had a feature on using the Doxie scanner for this type of thing.
http://lifehacker.com/5973033/how-i-tur ... n-two-days
I've had a couple of scanners, and they just don't seem to let me do this type of thing quickly - especially when it comes to working with multiple page bills. I like this "staple" feature of the Doxie software; I may check out the Doxie.
http://lifehacker.com/5973033/how-i-tur ... n-two-days
I've had a couple of scanners, and they just don't seem to let me do this type of thing quickly - especially when it comes to working with multiple page bills. I like this "staple" feature of the Doxie software; I may check out the Doxie.
- Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting rid of rootkits
- Replies: 47
- Views: 9332
Re: Getting rid of rootkits
Not to be smart, but if someone tells you this:
Find another source for information.It even went so far as erasing TDSS Killer from the DVD
- Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting rid of rootkits
- Replies: 47
- Views: 9332
Re: Getting rid of rootkits
For god's sake don't re-install your OS. Re-imaging computers has really killed people's approach to fixing computer problems over the last 15 years.
Several people have pointed out tools that will help. There are lots of ways to go about this, including
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos ... junk_files
and
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/featur ... easy_steps
and
Several people have pointed out tools that will help. There are lots of ways to go about this, including
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos ... junk_files
and
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/featur ... easy_steps
and
- Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home Furnace: Brand Recommendations
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7880
Re: Home Furnace: Brand Recommendations
Consumer Reports usually recommends American Standard, which is what I got.
Several vendors have told me there are only 2 furnace manufacturers - but it's been several years since I researched my furnace so I don't remember the manufacturer names.
Several vendors have told me there are only 2 furnace manufacturers - but it's been several years since I researched my furnace so I don't remember the manufacturer names.
- Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Any change to your 2013 paycheck?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 8399
Re: Any change to your 2013 paycheck?
The other variable there is what dates your paycheck covers.
For instance, my employer pays "late." "Pay period" would be, for instance, 12/1 to 12/14. "Pay date" would be 12/21.
Some companies pay at the end of your pay period, others pay later. A paycheck on 1/3 could easily be for a pay period in 2012.
For instance, my employer pays "late." "Pay period" would be, for instance, 12/1 to 12/14. "Pay date" would be 12/21.
Some companies pay at the end of your pay period, others pay later. A paycheck on 1/3 could easily be for a pay period in 2012.
- Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: have you *ever* got a 1099 for CC hoop-jumping bonuses?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1054
Re: have you *ever* got a 1099 for CC hoop-jumping bonuses?
I have not, and I've done it quite a bit.
- Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:30 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: First time homebuyer - 20% down vs 3% down
- Replies: 43
- Views: 4429
Re: First time homebuyer - 20% down vs 3% down
"Wanting a 15 year mortgage signifies that intellectually you know it's best to pay the loan off as quickly as possible; why not start with 20% down?" If you're disciplined with your money, why would you ever commit more than you need to? Get your loan as cheaply as possible. Put down as little as possible. Make your payments as small as possible. Then pay off extra capital every month. If 2008 taught me anything, it's to expect the unexpected. The last thing I want is to commit a bunch of money I didn't need to commit to a downpayment, then have an emergency hit - hospitalization, issue with the car, whatever. And if you're committed to a home loan, you've committed yourself to this possibility for 15 or 30 years. To me, this typ...
- Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4385
Re: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
That's odd. Comcast turned mine off the day I canceled.
- Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4385
Re: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
1. Are you able to avoid short service outages? I use VOIP at home, and cannot do without serviceThatGuy wrote:
Play hardball. I do this:
2. Interesting, I wonder if the fine print is different in different geographic areas. This used to be a year in my area. I'm trying to drill down to fine print on their website but it's not cooperating.
I did play hardball and drop the service. The unfortunate side of VOIP is that you can't wait a week or 2 for the new service to be installed.
- Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4385
Re: Cheaper Internet: Defeating the cable demon
Unfortunately, Comcast is learning. I did the "renew every 6 months" thing for years. What they now do, though is only apply that to the cable channel rate. It does not apply to HD rates or to the cost of DVRs/HD set top boxes, or to internet. So at best you can get a discount on, say, 40% or 50% of your bill. What I did then was call and very nicely plead "economic problems" due to the financial crisis. Created a script for myself (I forget what the key words and phrases are, but there are phrases that get you to a specific team - i.e. customer retention). I was able to get a 2 year deal that got me about 30% or 40% off my total bill. IN theory that deal required my signature, but I never signed and there weren't any is...
- Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recent Experience with AT&T home and/or small business servi
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1923
Re: Recent Experience with AT&T home and/or small business s
" The service has been first rate."
Heh. Now there's something you don't usually hear about ATT!
ATT may have the worst customer service in the world. Even when compared to Comcast. Especially on the business side.
That said, the service is as reliable as any other service. I'm on their DSL right now, and it's been perfectly reliable except for an occasional day of high latency for the last 6 months or do. I dumped Comcast 'cause they really jack up their cost if you drop their TV service.
FIOS is awesomely fast, but yeah it's not cheap. Go with ATT but be prepared to be very patient if there's a problem.
Heh. Now there's something you don't usually hear about ATT!
ATT may have the worst customer service in the world. Even when compared to Comcast. Especially on the business side.
That said, the service is as reliable as any other service. I'm on their DSL right now, and it's been perfectly reliable except for an occasional day of high latency for the last 6 months or do. I dumped Comcast 'cause they really jack up their cost if you drop their TV service.
FIOS is awesomely fast, but yeah it's not cheap. Go with ATT but be prepared to be very patient if there's a problem.
- Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:45 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Swedroe 2011 Alpha Portfolio Question?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 457
Re: Swedroe 2011 Alpha Portfolio Question?
That's interesting - I may start tracking that in my portfolio list. Not sure how far back performance history will go.
- Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Winter Boots
- Replies: 27
- Views: 5112
Re: Winter Boots
Victoria: 10 minutes!
btenny: thanks for the tip, I'll check them out. They come in the usual "medium" (D) width, but maybe I can find a retail store to try them on.
Dratkinson: I've seen those on military stuff, but I've never pulled the trigger. Amazon has them but few/no reviews last time I checked. The main problem is that they'd make a boot fit significantly wider.
btenny: thanks for the tip, I'll check them out. They come in the usual "medium" (D) width, but maybe I can find a retail store to try them on.
Dratkinson: I've seen those on military stuff, but I've never pulled the trigger. Amazon has them but few/no reviews last time I checked. The main problem is that they'd make a boot fit significantly wider.
- Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Winter Boots
- Replies: 27
- Views: 5112
Re: Winter Boots
I'd kill to find some good pull-on boots for winter. Going in and out of the house with lace-ups is annoying. Sad thing is I have both REI and LL BEan within 10m of me.
Unfortunately, I also have feet that measure at, or even narrower than, AAA.
Unfortunately, I also have feet that measure at, or even narrower than, AAA.
- Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting another key made for my car
- Replies: 52
- Views: 31321
Re: Getting another key made for my car
This is what I was referring to. Toyota is bad about this. go see a dealer. It's gonna cost you a lot.
Apparently this new key type or whatever started around 2007, when I bought my car. You can complain, and the dealer will apologize profusely. It's the manufacturer's fault.
Apparently this new key type or whatever started around 2007, when I bought my car. You can complain, and the dealer will apologize profusely. It's the manufacturer's fault.
- Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting another key made for my car
- Replies: 52
- Views: 31321
Re: Getting another key made for my car
I've done this recently on 2 different vehicles. IT SUCKS.
2006 Honda Pilot: spare key with remote buttons = $250../
2007 Toyota Camry: spare key with remote buttons = $375. Lose the one you had? It's around $500 to get a completely new one. It's so bad the dealer offers "key insurance."
2006 Honda Pilot: spare key with remote buttons = $250../
2007 Toyota Camry: spare key with remote buttons = $375. Lose the one you had? It's around $500 to get a completely new one. It's so bad the dealer offers "key insurance."
- Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cash back CC with least hassle to redeem rebates?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 6928
Re: Cash back CC with least hassle to redeem rebates?
NOTE: The great 3% cashback on gas on the Costco Amex does not apply to gas bought at Costco. Their story they told us is that people were scamming them by lining up multiple cars and purchasing all the gas on 1 card.
- Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:09 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard Index Changes: Comparing FTSE to MSCI
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2064
Re: Vanguard Index Changes: Comparing FTSE to MSCI
Oh sweet, a little less exposure to Japan. I've often considered slicing and dicing a little bit due to paranoia about Japan.
- Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:07 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard Index Changes: Comparing FTSE to MSCI
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2064
Re: Vanguard Index Changes: Comparing FTSE to MSCI
I've been looking for something like this - thank you.
- Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any regrets moving from a active manager to passive indexing
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6671
Re: Any regrets moving from a active manager to passive inde
No, not really. I'm assuming that the financial advisor and the customer have probably never really talked about asset allocation, so I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible.Rick Ferri wrote: It's not that simple. You're assuming the asset allocation of the 21 funds was the same as the asset allocation of a 3 fund portfolio,
Rick Ferri
- Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:25 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any regrets moving from a active manager to passive indexing
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6671
Re: Any regrets moving from a active manager to passive inde
So how has the aggregate performance of these 21 funds done compared to an index or a 3 fund portfolio?
If your 21 funds haven't outperformed, take the stats for the last 10 years or whatever to your advisor and demand an explanation. Have fun with it. If he can't provide an explanation, demand that his supervisor provide one.
It's your money. He's making money off you. Simply demand that he show you his worth. 2008 is the big example - if he didn't outperform in 2008 then you should have ripped him a new one. That's possibly the one year in your lifetime when an advisor could really have helped you.
If your 21 funds haven't outperformed, take the stats for the last 10 years or whatever to your advisor and demand an explanation. Have fun with it. If he can't provide an explanation, demand that his supervisor provide one.
It's your money. He's making money off you. Simply demand that he show you his worth. 2008 is the big example - if he didn't outperform in 2008 then you should have ripped him a new one. That's possibly the one year in your lifetime when an advisor could really have helped you.
- Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Homeowners' insurance - is it worth it?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 13291
Re: Homeowners' insurance - is it worth it?
It's awesome that it would not break the bank if you had to replace your house. But here's the question I always ask myself:
Would it have broken my bank account in December 2008 or March 2009?
$450/year isn't much to pay. I'm actually doing a survey on my house now (some 6 page thing from State Farm) to be sure I'm covered adequately.
Would it have broken my bank account in December 2008 or March 2009?
$450/year isn't much to pay. I'm actually doing a survey on my house now (some 6 page thing from State Farm) to be sure I'm covered adequately.
- Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The iPad can replace a computer
- Replies: 63
- Views: 6543
Re: The iPad can replace a computer
I keep looking at a tablet but...
1. I game occasionally. so my PC has to stay.
2. I'm not sure I can get my wife to give up her PC.
3. Quicken. We're very used to it for tracking our checking account. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with moving the data to something like a google spreadsheet.
4. I build PCs for $400. Paying more than that for an iPad? Ouch.
1. I game occasionally. so my PC has to stay.
2. I'm not sure I can get my wife to give up her PC.
3. Quicken. We're very used to it for tracking our checking account. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with moving the data to something like a google spreadsheet.
4. I build PCs for $400. Paying more than that for an iPad? Ouch.
- Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What to buy/Not buy at Sams/Costco
- Replies: 44
- Views: 10991
Re: What to buy/Not buy at Sams/Costco
Generic Zyrtec (30 count) at Target: $12.50
Generic Claritin (365 count) at Costco: $32
Yearly cost at Target: $150
Yearly cost at Costco: $32
Costco has generic Zyrtec, but I was so excited I forgot to check the price.
Generic Claritin (365 count) at Costco: $32
Yearly cost at Target: $150
Yearly cost at Costco: $32
Costco has generic Zyrtec, but I was so excited I forgot to check the price.
- Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Skunk Removal
- Replies: 29
- Views: 38313
Re: Skunk Removal
I tested quite a few of the "home remedies" and found none of them worked.
Cut off access to the den. You can't do it with dirt or gravel, they can dig through that. You can't just throw junk in there - they can move it or get around it. Flooding it MIGHT work, but you'll have to deal with the smell. I (ok ok my wife) didn't want that.
In my case, they had dug under my front steps; they apparently have more than 1 den, and 1 day they weren't in the den under the steps.
I went to Home Depot and bought a 10 or 20 pound box of concrete mix. Mixed it up (had about a 5 gallon bucket full) and shoved every bit of it into their hole. They never came back.
Cut off access to the den. You can't do it with dirt or gravel, they can dig through that. You can't just throw junk in there - they can move it or get around it. Flooding it MIGHT work, but you'll have to deal with the smell. I (ok ok my wife) didn't want that.
In my case, they had dug under my front steps; they apparently have more than 1 den, and 1 day they weren't in the den under the steps.
I went to Home Depot and bought a 10 or 20 pound box of concrete mix. Mixed it up (had about a 5 gallon bucket full) and shoved every bit of it into their hole. They never came back.
- Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:27 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1859
Re: Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
I was wondering the same thing. Now I'm wondering what the heck people are using every time they show a Sharpe ratio. Heh.
- Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:01 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1859
Re: Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
Thank you, but it has nothing to do with my question.
I did not say that I changed my portfolio as a result of the information. I said that I tracked many "lazy portfolios" as a point of comparison. I enjoy going over the results.
I did not say that I changed my portfolio as a result of the information. I said that I tracked many "lazy portfolios" as a point of comparison. I enjoy going over the results.
- Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:48 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1859
Riskless return for Sharpe ratio?
I keep a spreadsheet of the returns of lots of "lazy portfolios" as a learning exercise and as a point of comparison for my own portfolio.
I've tried to calculate a Sharpe ratio the last couple of years as a way of measuring the risk-adjusted return. I'm no spreadsheet jockey, but I've managed to figure out how to do standard deviation, etc.
One thing that has always bothered me is: What should I use for riskless return in the equation? Should I use the return on T bills, like the ETF BIL? Should I use the return on 1 to 3 year Treasuries, like the ETF SHY? I've never been comfortable with that part of the equation.
I've tried to calculate a Sharpe ratio the last couple of years as a way of measuring the risk-adjusted return. I'm no spreadsheet jockey, but I've managed to figure out how to do standard deviation, etc.
One thing that has always bothered me is: What should I use for riskless return in the equation? Should I use the return on T bills, like the ETF BIL? Should I use the return on 1 to 3 year Treasuries, like the ETF SHY? I've never been comfortable with that part of the equation.
- Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: updating the Merriman Fidelity portfolio
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1583
Re: updating the Merriman Fidelity portfolio
If you have a Fidelity account, you can buy ETFs, which is what Merriman recommends. I assume you're just trying to avoid the occasional $10 commission?
- Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:52 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
- Replies: 3898
- Views: 2434596
Re: The Three Fund Portfolio
Why the transfer? You can buy Vanguard ETFs in your Fidelity account pretty cheaply.
- Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:52 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Emerging Market Allocation - M* Xray
- Replies: 4
- Views: 710
Re: Emerging Market Allocation - M* Xray
VXUS is very new - I was working on the same issue yesterday, and went so far as to call Vanguard. They couldn't even tell me the emerging markets percentage in VXUS. Unfortunately, you can't always find the information you need (they were only able to make a guess at the small cap percentage in VTI by looking at the underlying index). That said, you can usually find the information you need by poking around the Vanguard website. If you look at the Vanguard Total International mutual fund (the sister to the VXUS ETF), the overview page tells you that it's about 23% emerging markets. So, if you've got a 30% allocation to VXUS, then 23% of your 30% is emerging markets - so you're at 6.9% for your portfolio. Similarly, if you look at the VEU E...
- Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:11 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
- Replies: 3898
- Views: 2434596
Re: The Three Fund Portfolio
If you're looking at a 3 or 4 fund portfolio spread across different types of accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA, taxable) what's the best fund to hold in your taxable accounts?
1. US total market
2. Total international
3. Total bond market or others like Treasury funds
1. US total market
2. Total international
3. Total bond market or others like Treasury funds
- Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Performance: 3 fund portfolio vs. slice and dice
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1109
Re: Performance: 3 fund portfolio vs. slice and dice
No rebalancing needed. The results for each year (e.g. 2011) are simply 30% of the year end performance for VTI, 30% of the year end performance for VEU, and 40% of the year end performance for IEF or VTI. Sorry, I should have put percentages into the simply portfolio spreadsheets.
There's too much Japan for my taste, and I might add a smidge of value or emerging markets here and there, but the simple route is very interesting.
There's too much Japan for my taste, and I might add a smidge of value or emerging markets here and there, but the simple route is very interesting.
- Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:53 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Performance: 3 fund portfolio vs. slice and dice
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1109
Performance: 3 fund portfolio vs. slice and dice
First, let's get this out of the way: I'm usually a slice and dicer, using low cost ETFs (mostly Vanguard). Taylor's post about using simple Vanguard portfolios caught me right in the middle of 2 things: 1) evaluating my 2011 performance and 2) getting mad once again about the crap investment choices in my company's 401k. His post made me think "hmmm, what if I just used a target retirement fund in my 401k and spread my IRAs over a simple 3 fund setup?" First step: I wanted to know if part of my slice and dice setup was doing me any good. Was there a value/smallcap premium over the last 10 years? (spread the page wider so you see all columns) http://i.imgur.com/CAaow.gif The simple answer is "yes" but not necessarily for...
- Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:53 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
- Replies: 3898
- Views: 2434596
Re: The Three Fund Portfolio
the ETFs we're talking about (VTI, etc.) hold stocks.
The "wind down" of ETFs has already been tested several times, and has "worked as expected."
There are times when I'm far more comfortable being able to sell my holdings during the day rather than waiting to be stuck with the end of the day closing price.
It can be a philosophical discussion, of course, but the safety of the structure really isn't a question.
The "wind down" of ETFs has already been tested several times, and has "worked as expected."
There are times when I'm far more comfortable being able to sell my holdings during the day rather than waiting to be stuck with the end of the day closing price.
It can be a philosophical discussion, of course, but the safety of the structure really isn't a question.
- Wed Jan 04, 2012 3:49 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
- Replies: 3898
- Views: 2434596
Re: The Three Fund Portfolio
If you're worried about the "Vanguard" risk of investing in one or more of their mutual funds, then simply invest in their ETFs. The ETFs are the same investment, and when an ETF liquidates, you simply get the stocks that the ETF owned.
Posts like this always make me look back at what I'm doing, which is a very good thing. If I use BND, VTI, and VEU at a 40%/30%/30% ratio, it's a pretty interesting comparison. My hybrid Swedroe/Merriman portfolio won by a smidge in 2009 and 2010, but lost significantly in 2008 (which is a year I ALWAYS look at - I want to know what happens in a "black swan" year.
Interesting stuff. Like they always say, simple is often better.
Posts like this always make me look back at what I'm doing, which is a very good thing. If I use BND, VTI, and VEU at a 40%/30%/30% ratio, it's a pretty interesting comparison. My hybrid Swedroe/Merriman portfolio won by a smidge in 2009 and 2010, but lost significantly in 2008 (which is a year I ALWAYS look at - I want to know what happens in a "black swan" year.
Interesting stuff. Like they always say, simple is often better.
- Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:49 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Where to read about the mortgage/economic crisis in EU?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 972
- Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:49 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Where to read about the mortgage/economic crisis in EU?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 972
Where to read about the mortgage/economic crisis in EU?
I like to read about money/finance as an attempt to be a well informed investor. As a result, I've read tons of stuff over the last few years including articles about Goldman Sachs, Countrywide, New Century, Michael Burry, and California mortgage entrepeneurs, and books like Bailout Nation, When Genius Fails, House of Cards, Greatest Trade Ever, etc.
So where in heck can I read about this stuff from the EU perspective? There were bubbles in several countries in Europe, so there has to have been a lot of somewhat similar stuff going on. Anyone got links or seen anything interesting?
So where in heck can I read about this stuff from the EU perspective? There were bubbles in several countries in Europe, so there has to have been a lot of somewhat similar stuff going on. Anyone got links or seen anything interesting?
- Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:06 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Number of Funds in a Lazy Portfolio
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3643
- Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Bear Stearns hedge fund managers acquitted
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2342
- Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is it possible to go int'l + value without Japan?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 947
Is it possible to go int'l + value without Japan?
I'm hoping I'm missing something. I'm curious about trying to minimize my exposure to Japan while still using broad market international ETFs or funds. For the international portion of my portfolio, I've been using EFV (EAFE international value) plus VSS (international smallcap that includes emerging markets but does NOT value tilt) and VWO (emerging markets). I've never been a fan of Japan, and lately I'm even less of a fan. So I've been researching ways to minimize my exposure to Japan. EFA (EAFE large cap ) and EFV (EAFE value) tend to have 24% or more invested in Japan. even if I lose the value tilt and split the large cap into Vanguard Euro ETF and Vanguard Pacific ETF, I'd really have to minimize my exposure to Asia to lower my exposu...
- Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:24 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why I choose "The Majesty of Simplicity" for my signature
- Replies: 42
- Views: 31181
"When there is a gap between perception and reality, it is only a matter of time until the gap is resolved in favor of reality."
That's interesting. Heh. I just finished "When Genius Fails" and that's pretty much the basis of Long Term Capital Management. Just make sure your timeframe is long enough!
That's interesting. Heh. I just finished "When Genius Fails" and that's pretty much the basis of Long Term Capital Management. Just make sure your timeframe is long enough!