Single Favorite Mutual Fund

TheTimeLord · Post by **TheTimeLord** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:38 am

What is your single favorite mutual fund?

I will pick Vanguard Wellington (VWELX)

Joe S. · Post by **Joe S.** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:50 am

Well I could say it's the Vanguard Emerging Markets fund, because that's the fund that has earned me the best return, although I don't put much money in it. Alternately, I could say it is the Total Stock Market fund, because that's what I put the most money in. Alternately, I could say it is the Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 fund, because that is what I would put all my money in if I had to choose one fund. However the truth is I don't put any money in the Vanguard Target 2025 retirement fund.

So depending on what rule I use, I could call multiple different funds my favorite fund.

FinancialRamblings · Post by **FinancialRamblings** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:50 am

Odd question. You mean if I could only own one? In that case, I have no idea. Probably a TR fund of some sort. But of the ones that I own, I guess I had have to say I like Total Stock Market the best since that's the own I own the most of.

Blues · Post by **Blues** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:54 am

FinancialRamblings wrote:Probably a TR fund of some sort. But of the ones that I own, I guess I had have to say I like Total Stock Market the best since that's the own I own the most of.

Agree. TSM if one can't choose an all-in-one fund which in our case would be VTINX (Target Retirement Income)

gkaplan · Post by **gkaplan** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:03 am

Deleted.

gkaplan · Post by **gkaplan** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:04 am

Deleted.

TheTimeLord · Post by **TheTimeLord** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:06 am

FinancialRamblings wrote:Odd question. You mean if I could only own one? In that case, I have no idea. Probably a TR fund of some sort. But of the ones that I own, I guess I had have to say I like Total Stock Market the best since that's the own I own the most of.

There are so many offerings out there I thought it might be a good way to learn about a fund I never heard of or considered.

Boglenaut · Post by **Boglenaut** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:12 am

Not technically a mutual fund, I'd say one of the Collective Trusts in my 401K.

For retail, probably VTIAX (Vanguard Tot Intl). Vanguard's domestic Total Market funds are pretty good as well, but VTIAX has the biggest differentiator when compared with the competition.

Sidney · Post by **Sidney** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:31 am

If I could only own one fund, I'd go with total world stock fund and do my debt holdings with US Treasury bonds.

Johm221122 · Post by **Johm221122** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:34 am

I like my I bonds with fixed rate, if that counts.

John

Bogle101 · Post by **Bogle101** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:42 am

Vanguard Healthcare Fund!

Extended Market and TSM are close behind.

,

Rob5TCP · Post by **Rob5TCP** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:46 am

The three greatest percentage of my assets are total market, total international, and Wellington (yes there is some redundancy between total market and Wellington).

FinancialRamblings · Post by **FinancialRamblings** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:51 am

StarbuxInvestor wrote:There are some many offerings out there I thought it might be a good way to learn about a fund I never heard of or considered.

Fair point. But if you're looking for new ideas, this probably isn't the place to find them. The vast majority of us hold the same few, boring funds.

Hexdump · Post by **Hexdump** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:08 am

Vanguard Wellesley for sure.

It fits so many of our requirements as:
1) A single fund
2) Close to our AA
3) Throws off enough in distributions and cap gains
4) Proven track record

rixer · Post by **rixer** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:13 am

Mine has been the boring SWPPX.

Groundhog · Post by **Groundhog** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:22 am

Vanguard Total Stock Market fund. I've owned it since fund inception, 4/27/1992.

Default User BR · Post by **Default User BR** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:05 pm

Funds are tools. I use the one that's available and right for the task at hand. No matter how much I like my power saw, I don't use it to drive nails.

Brian

stemikger · Post by **stemikger** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:00 pm

Vanguard Balanced Index Fund. It gives you what you need, no more, no less. I also love the fact that Mr. Bogle invests money for his family in this fund.

investor · Post by **investor** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:03 pm

WELLINGTON... have owned it for many years.

investor

abuss368 · Post by **abuss368** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:04 pm

That is hard for me to answer in a straight forward manner.

I like the total market funds and approach such as the Total Stock, Total International, Total Bond, and I also use the US and International REIT funds which could be named Total US REIT and Total International REIT. Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate, and Cash. I really don't invest in anything else.

That said I guess I could say the fund that is making me the most money, dropping the least, etc. I could also say the fund that has dropped and is providing a present opportunity to invest in shares at a lower price.

Epsilon Delta · Post by **Epsilon Delta** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:08 pm

Vanguard S&P 500 index fund.

This was the one that put index funds on the map.

DoWahDaddy · Post by **DoWahDaddy** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:27 pm

Contrafund, outperformance over the S&P 500 for over 20 years is greatly appreciated, and is thus appropriate to maintain, Boglehead or otherwise.

JoMoney · Post by **JoMoney** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:35 pm

There is a simple beauty in the "Total Stock Market" or the "Total World Stock Market" funds.
However, my personal favorite is the Vanguard 500 Admiral Shares

The lowest expense ratio, the lowest annual internal brokerage expenses, the stocks that make up the fund have the lowest bid-ask spreads on the market and the highest liquidity. I also like the selection criteria S&P uses when selecting the constituents of the index, although there's no reason to believe it brings any benefit, the fundamental factor that it only includes companies who have been profitable as opposed to just buying whatever the market is trying to sell.

Toons · Post by **Toons** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:36 pm

stemikger wrote:Vanguard Balanced Index Fund. It gives you what you need, no more, no less. I also love the fact that Mr. Bogle invests money for his family in this fund.

+1

matjen · Post by **matjen** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:55 pm

Assuming you are in a tax-sheltered account then I would go with one of the Vanguard Life Strategy Funds. Take your pick given your need, ability, and willingness to take risk.

https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/ ... rategyList

Carl53 · Post by **Carl53** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:58 pm

Bogle101 wrote:Vanguard Healthcare Fund!

,

+1, Had some since 1986. For many years it was our only holding. In retrospect, kinda wish we never exchanged out.

island · Post by **island** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:00 pm

StarbuxInvestor wrote:What is your single favorite mutual fund?

I was wondering the same thing.
For those of you who responded is the fund you listed your favorite no matter what account you hold it in? Taxable, Roth or 401K?
Thanks.

Peter Foley · Post by **Peter Foley** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:06 pm

If you are looking for a fund that may be overlooked, I have held the Schwab 1000 fund since its inception in 1991. I was not aware of any total market funds and so I went with the Schwab 1000 because it was broader than the S&P 500. It is managed for tax efficiency which is a plus as I have held it in taxable accounts.

Grt2bOutdoors · Post by **Grt2bOutdoors** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:17 pm

I don't play favorites, I buy more of the asset class which is performing below expectations. Why? well quite simply because it means I can pick up shares cheaply while the lemmings pile into their "favorite mutual fund".

As the mean reverts, I then sell and start the process anew purchasing what is "out of favor" with those who have a single favorite mutual fund.

JoMoney · Post by **JoMoney** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:29 pm

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:I don't play favorites, I buy more of the asset class which is performing below expectations. Why? well quite simply because it means I can pick up shares cheaply while the lemmings pile into their "favorite mutual fund". As the mean reverts, I then sell and start the process anew purchasing what is "out of favor" with those who have a single favorite mutual fund.

I wouldn't want you managing at baseball team, sell the home-run hitters, bring in the laggards "they're DUE to win eventually!"

Do you have a set period of time of time you use to determine who is in or out of favor? One year? Five years? Fifty years?

gkaplan · Post by **gkaplan** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:48 pm

Deleted.

ruralavalon · Post by **ruralavalon** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:01 pm

FinancialRamblings wrote:Odd question. . . . .

Yes, odd

If I could only own one fund, one of the LifeStrategy funds.

The one I own most of, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX).

DoWahDaddy · Post by **DoWahDaddy** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:01 pm

me too

stratton · Post by **stratton** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:04 pm

I like Wellesley.

It's boring and doesn't lose much money so it doesn't need to capture all of the upside in a fund like TSM to make a decent return. It's a classic income fund of the era before index funds.

Paul

JoMoney · Post by **JoMoney** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:08 pm

gkaplan wrote:This really is a silly thread, and I regret posting twice in it.

Silly is as silly does....

or as Mr.Wonka put it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5_cIwzkII

island · Post by **island** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:34 pm

gkaplan wrote:This really is a silly thread, and I regret posting twice in it.

Actually Gordon, that makes 3 posts and can you please make it 4 to explain what's so silly about it?

Sounds like there are many Bogleheads who believe in keeping it simple with 3 or 4 fund portfolios and buy and hold strategies. So asking for 1 favorite doesn't sound so outlandish especially if the poster indicates why, in addition to making the most money. I'm a newbie to this site and if someone mentions a fund I'm not familiar with I'm more likely to check it out as part of my learning process.

However for me what would probably be more useful is to hear about the duds to steer clear of!

gerrym51 · Post by **gerrym51** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:55 pm

trrbx

z3r0c00l · Post by **z3r0c00l** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:05 pm

VTIAX - owning a piece of the World feels good.

Taylor Larimore · Post by **Taylor Larimore** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:16 pm

Starbux:

Vanguards Total Stock Market Index fund has long been my favorite equity fund. It is reassuring to learn that this fund had the highest 5-year return of the 25 largest mutual funds.

http://www.diansfundfreebies.com/performance/lg25.pdf

Past performance does not guarantee future performance.

Best wishes.
Taylor

Levett · Post by **Levett** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:29 pm

If it's about putting your money where your mouth is (with respect to VG), it's Wellesley.

If it's about putting your money where your mouth is (with respect to TIAA-CREF), it's TIAA Traditional.

That's my "tilt" as a retiree.

I'm not a maximizer--obviously.

Lev

gks · Post by **gks** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:44 pm

Ahh, so many funds, so little time.

There was Magellan when Peter Lynch still was running it. After he retired and checking the performance which was equaling S&P I looked around and discovered Contrafund. That was one of my luckier picks for over 20 years.

Then there was Fidelity Low Priced Stock. Last I checked, it was still going strong but I'm not there.

Then we get to some of the questionable ones, like Janus Venture. It was neat seeing it go up ~300% in two years, but really painful seeing it go down 80+% in the next year or two. Not realizing I was a Bogglehead, I rode it up and then down. Janus's SEC problems convinced me that they were looking out for themselves and not their investors, so we parted company along with Janus Fund.

Has anyone ever heard of Strong Total Return? Yes, he got caught up with the SEC with Janus. Luckily, we had parted company several years earlier, but that was luck.

Or, Evergreen Total Return.

Then, there is Greenspring. I read a glowing article in one of those slick page financial magazines that touted it as an up and coming fund, so guess what? I invested in it. So did about a gazillion other people and its sterling previous returns evaporated into about a 20% loss in a year. But, being an unknowing Bogglehead, I kept it. It is a little expensive, but its main redeeming quality is that, according to MorningStar, It survived the 2007-2009 blip better than any other fund we had. It is currently even with almost everything else we have at Vanguard.

Speaking of Vanguard, Asset Allocation and Windsor II have convinced me that even Vanguard can't predict the future. AA had 80-90% equity allocation at the beginning of the 07 debacle, and while W II had the best increase of many of the funds, it lost the most in the "meltdown". Luckily, AA was folded into Balanced Index, and I still hold W II because it is coming back.

So, as far as my favorite fund, I don't have one. The ones that I have are my current favorites.

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 1&t=116232

Greg

Tycoon · Post by **Tycoon** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:47 pm

VPMAX

joe8d · Post by **joe8d** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:17 pm

Then we get to some of the questionable ones, like Janus Venture. It was neat seeing it go up ~300% in two years, but really painful seeing it go down 80+% in the next year or two. Not realizing I was a Bogglehead, I rode it up and then down. Janus's SEC problems convinced me that they were looking out for themselves and not their investors, so we parted company along with Janus Fund.

Has anyone ever heard of Strong Total Return? Yes, he got caught up with the SEC with Janus. Luckily, we had parted company several years earlier, but that was luck.

I owned all of them in the past. TLH all into VG Index Funds.

Favorite Single Fund : TSM. LS Growth in TD account.

MitchC · Post by **MitchC** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:29 pm

I like this topic myself !

Wife and I just opened to new backdoor roth ira's at Vanguard and are in process of selecting funds. In our 401k's at work we both have 4 VG Index funds, so we're eyeing a few managed VG funds....

Wellington
Wellesley
Healthcare

... any love for VG Dividend Growth (VDIGX) or VG Equity-Income (VEIPX) ?

These are our top 5 picks at the moment, so this thread is timely for us !

Taylor Larimore · Post by **Taylor Larimore** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:54 pm

In our 401k's at work we both have 4 VG Index funds, so we're eyeing a few managed VG funds....

Mitch:

Strive for simplicity--not complexity.

Best wishes.
Taylor

Sheepdog · Post by **Sheepdog** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:59 pm

Single fund? Before retiring it was probably Healthcare. Since retiring it would be Wellesley., but I really prefer a TR fund with the latter.

MitchC · Post by **MitchC** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:00 pm

Taylor...not following...

We each have VG Mid cap index, VG small cap index, VG Total Bond, VG Total Int'l Stock in our 401k plans (Non-VG for our Large cap exposure). Our plan only offers these 4 VG funds. Wish they they had TSM, but they don't thus the mid/small, and non VG LC.

The 2 Roth's are additional. And since we have nice VG index funds already, thought we'd try a managed flavor VG fund or 2. Does not seem complex to me but I'm open to a concrete suggestion ?

nedsaid · Post by **nedsaid** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:04 pm

My largest holding is a US Total Stock Market fund. Expense ratio is only seven basis points.

chaz · Post by **chaz** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:20 pm

StarbuxInvestor wrote:What is your single favorite mutual fund?

I will pick Vanguard Wellington (VWELX)

I like total stock market index.

danwhite77 · Post by **danwhite77** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:31 pm

BRK/B

What's that you say?

Oh, but it is ....