Search found 18 matches

by jsbmoney
Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA suggestions
Replies: 6
Views: 656

Re: AA suggestions

The 401k is from a former employer. I probably do not have enough in emergency funds (or non-emergency funds for that matter ;)) it is something I'm aware of and working on.

Thanks for the heads-up LadyGeek, here is a new link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2nh1TI ... sp=sharing
by jsbmoney
Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA suggestions
Replies: 6
Views: 656

AA suggestions

Greetings. I've been considering moving my accounts (IRA, Roth, 401K) from Edward Jones to Vanguard for some time but have been stuck on what my proper asset allocation should be given the current environment. I've reviewed my overall portfolio (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2nh1TI ... sp=sharing) and believe I'm currently roughly 85/15. I was thinking about going 75/25, and splitting bonds 10% intermediate term investment grade and 15% intermediate term bond index fund. I am 41 and concerned about prolonged lower returns from bonds. Please advise. Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: bond funds
Replies: 1
Views: 513

bond funds

Hello. I'm hoping to move an IRA and I'm struggling to understand the best way to allocate the bonds portion. I'm concerned about rising interest rates and inflation, so I think maybe 50% VBISX (Vanguard Short Term Index Bond Fund) and 50% VCIFX (Vanguard Intermediate Term Investment Grade Fund). What would the risk/reward potential of this be? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRA Asset Allocation
Replies: 7
Views: 1526

Re: IRA Asset Allocation

Thanks for the responses. The expense ratios for the funds are here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-GlaYY_MRKPR0Vybmp0UmJSb2c/edit?usp=sharing. Also, if I recall correctly the AUM fee is about $80/mo. I am intending on moving to index funds. I do have other accounts so I will allocate across all accounts. My main concern is the percentage I should allocate to bonds given the recent posts here on the issue: Malkiel & Ellis Champions of Indexing Warn about Bonds Charles Ellis says stay out of bonds Solution to Bond Worries? Bond or not? Additionally, it seems both Edward Jones (Advisory Solutions) and the Vanguard (Target Retirement) are saying I should have 15% bonds. If I would allocate only 15% to bonds what other "safe" i...
by jsbmoney
Mon Apr 15, 2013 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRA Asset Allocation
Replies: 7
Views: 1526

IRA Asset Allocation

Hello. I would like to move a EJ Advisory Solutions (IRA) account but I'm having trouble determining the appropriate allocations. Here are the current funds in my EJ Advisory Solutions account: Ticker Name M* Category M* Investment Style Percentage JFMXX JPMorgan Federal Mon Mmkt Inst Money Market Taxable 0.88% GSCAX Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy A US OE Commidities Basket 2.82% HIEMX Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunites US OE Diversified Emerging Markets Large Growth 3.90% AEGFX EuroPacific Growth Fund Cl F1 US OE Foreign Large Blend Large Growth 5.11% HIINX Harbor International US OE Foreign Large Blend Large Growth 7.23% AGREX Invesco Global Real Estate US OE Global Real Estate Large Blend 2.04% TLRAX Federated Total Return Bonds US O...
by jsbmoney
Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

I'll be rolling over a traditional IRA and a Roth from EJ. I'll then be rolling over an old 401K from a previous employer and adding this to the rolled over traditional IRA account. Would I still be able to contribute to the rolled over traditional IRA?
by jsbmoney
Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

I am now looking at moving my accounts from EJ to Vanguard and have a question about the account rebalancing process. I assume when you rebalance your portfolio you sell from disproportionately high asset classes and buy more of the lesser proportioned asset classes. If this is the case, should I have a bond fund in my Roth? The example portfolio Duckie had defined earlier has bonds in a traditional IRA (which I don't believe I'm allowed to add to, so I wouldn't be able to buy more bonds). If I have a bond fund in my Roth, then when rebalancing I can sell shares from my TSM or TISM funds and purchase TBM shares in my Roth if necessary. Is this correct? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hartford Life Insurance question
Replies: 8
Views: 1464

Re: Hartford Life Insurance question

I've received a cost basis and a surrender value from Hartford for my policy. Would I then need to pay taxes next year on the difference (surrender value - cost basis) if I surrender it? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hartford Life Insurance question
Replies: 8
Views: 1464

Re: Hartford Life Insurance question

Hello. How does the tax situation work if I do surrender my permanent life insurance policy? Do I pay the marginal tax rate of the entire surrender value or just the difference of the surrender value and total of premiums paid in? Do I need to determine the difference of the two (surrender value, value of premiums paid) for taxes or is this provided when I surrender it? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Fund data provided by Morningstar
Replies: 14
Views: 1599

Re: Mutual Fund data provided by Morningstar

Thanks for the replies. I've talked with my Edward Jones financial advisor and he advised me to look at the returns and not the expenses, since higher returns can offset the expenses. So I am trying to understand this mathematically before making any move. For example, here are four US funds in my Roth: Fund 10-year return growth on 10K (after 10 years) (from M*) (from FINRA Fund Analyzer) --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ -------------------------------------- AWSHX (American Funds Washington Mutual A) 7.9% 18,948.38 AMCPX (American Funds AMCAP A) 8.47% 19,755.02 ANCFX (American Funds Fundamental Invstr A) 10.52% 24,062.08 SMCWX (American Funds SMALLCAP World A) 12.96% 29,934.50 So I would have a ...
by jsbmoney
Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Fund data provided by Morningstar
Replies: 14
Views: 1599

Mutual Fund data provided by Morningstar

Hello. I have a question about the data about mutual funds provided by Morningstar. For example, I have an American Funds Growth Fund of America Class A. Morningstar shows a yield of .79%, this is the dividend provided as a percentage of my account so if I have $10000 the yearly dividend would be $79, correct? The load is 5.75, this is a one time fee for $10000 it would be $575. The expenses are .71%, these are the annual expenses, for $10000 is would be $71. Then below the chart, there is a 10-year growth rate, is this the annual compound rate after expenses or before expenses? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

I read an interview with Jack Bogle recently in which, I believe referring to the Vanguard Total Bond Index Fund, he said "So the bond index fund is about 73 percent in government bonds—U.S. Treasury-backed one way or another. And I think that is in fact heavier than most investors should have. So if they can’t handle that very small bond yield of 2 percent, you can lift it pretty close to 3 percent if you want to have 50 percent corporates and 50 percent governments." Should I be looking into alternative bond index funds with different government/corporate allocations? Are there any noted funds that are allocated as such? Thanks.
by jsbmoney
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

Thanks for all the replies. I have another question about investing in bond funds at this time. I'd like to allocate about 40% of my portfolio to bonds, probably a total bond market index fund, but since the interest rate is so low right now I've read that this may be ill-advised at this time. Should I be allocating a smaller portion of my portfolio to bonds? Also, for anybody's interest I've looked into my Edward Jones Advisory Solutions account. It seems there is 1.35% annual program fee for an account my size plus a .09% administrative fee on top of the cost of the mutal funds within the account. The funds in my Advisory Solutions account are below. Probably need to move this. :) EJ Advisory Solutions Load Expenses Turnover -------------...
by jsbmoney
Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

So if Edwards Jones does provide me the cost basis, they would be providing me the total amount paid (initial cost + reinvested dividends) for each fund in my taxable account? In your example below is the $5115.44 the basis? If Edward Jones doesn't provide this value, then I have to figure this out from my statements or I'll be taxed twice for it? Am I understanding that correctly? If it's not recommended to automatically reinvest dividends/capital gains distributions in taxable accounts, what do you do with them? I assume it's ok to reinvest them in tax-deferred accounts?
by jsbmoney
Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

It looks like I would be taxed at 15% for the capital gains in my taxable account which would amount in several thousand dollars. I'm not certain how to determine the dividends reinvested, but it may be considerable. Is there any easy way to find this information? Wouldn't I already be taxed on dividends in my taxable account? If not wouldn't it be possible to be taxed twice, once for the capital gains (total growth) and once for the dividends reinvested (which would be a portion of the total growth)? I assume it would take a number of years to recoup the amount lost to taxes, but would eventually pay off since I'll be paying less in fees? I do have a pension though I'm not fully vested yet. I am contributing to Social Security as well.
by jsbmoney
Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

Re: course correction

Thanks for the assessment Dukie. If I sold my taxable funds, would I then pay capital gains of 20% on the growth since I bought them? The new 457 is indeed government and the old 401K is from a former employer. My question about whether I could still contribute to the old 401K was simply because of it's higher contribution limit so it could potentially allow me to protect more money. What are the advantages of rolling an old 401K over to an IRA? Can you also explain further why the balanced accounts aren't recommended? Thanks again. Below are my current retirement assests with expenses. Current retirement assests: Taxable at Edward Jones 6% Euro Pacific Growth Fund CL A (AEPGX) (0.84%) 5% Growth Fund of America CL A (AGTHX) (0.71%) 5% Incom...
by jsbmoney
Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: course correction
Replies: 19
Views: 3424

course correction

Greetings. I'm looking for some advice on correcting my portfolio. I started investing in Edward Jones in late 2002. My single taxable account, ROTH IRA and rolled-over IRA (into Advisory Solutions) accounts are all managed by Edward Jones. I was also sold a Hartfold Life Insurance through Edward Jones, I have no dependants and now think this is fairly poor investment and would like to get out of it. I think the Advisory Solutions account may be a poor decision as well and would like advice on also moving this, possibly to a Vangard Target Retirement account like VTTHX. I'm wondering if then makes sense to also move the ROTH IRA to another administrator. I have an old 401K as well, can I still contribute to this since it's a retirement acco...
by jsbmoney
Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hartford Life Insurance question
Replies: 8
Views: 1464

Hartford Life Insurance question

Greetings.

I need some advice about my current life insurance situation. I'm 40, single, have a Hartford Single Life variable universal life insurance worth about $24K, with a surrender value nearly the same. This was sold to me by Edward Jones as a method to get both life insurance and retirement income. Since I don't have any dependents, I'm considering stopping paying the premiums and investing them somewhere else, where I can get better returns. Is this possible? I'm not sure it's wise to continue to fund this and I don't want to surrender the current value. Thanks for any advice.