Once a family and financial planner have determined the best financial instrument, it is time to select specific investments to use within the vehicle. For example, establishing a Roth IRA to generate some ‘tax free’ retirement income is only the first step. It will be important to determine how the money within the new account [...]
by Rich Best While the current stock market boom has some people rejoicing, at least in muted tones, it doesn’t appear as though their level of anxiety has abated much. Investors sometimes have short memories, but a stock market rally of 22% in six months is not likely to make people forget the carnage left [...]
Of all of the 39 equity funds that we have reviewed so far in 2010, there are some fairly interesting conclusions to be drawn. Now, these funds include domestic, international, emerging markets, dividend and small cap funds that we have reviewed. Overall, however, two overwhelming trends that we noticed are the following: 16 of 39 [...]
Nearly a decade ago, David B. Leoper of Wealthcare Capital Management published a well-read paper on asset allocation. In his paper, he argued that diversification alone, which we underline here at the Mutual Fund Site, is not enough to water down the risk attributes of a portfolio. It seemed to me when I first came [...]
It is about that time again where the Mutual Fund Site stresses the importance of asset allocation. This has very little to do with the recent market turbulence that has seen volatility (as measured by the VIX) jump to the highest levels of the year and more about how asset allocation accounts for more than [...]
As a follow up to our former Contrarian Investment Practices post, we want to take a closer peek at exactly where to invest if these contrarian theories have any merit. Of course, we will look at mutual funds specifically. In a recent article published by Russel Kinnel, the Director of Mutual Fund Research over at [...]
Introducing our Asset Allocation Model Builder Have you ever wondered what your asset allocation model would be if you could work it out on your own? That is without your planner or advisor looking over your shoulder or asking the questions while you sit across from him or her? Well, now you can. This Asset [...]
While mutual funds by themselves offer tremendous diversification potential within sectors, industries, market capitalization and so on, unless you invest in balanced funds, proper asset allocation is usually only achieved by holding different types of asset classes. Understandably, giving up the potential for aggressive gains in growth funds (which are usually suggested through historical return [...]
One of the most e-mailed op-ed columns in the NY Times was published on February 1, 2010… a few days after the Mutual Fund Site released its write-up on the Dryden Financial Services Fund, a mutual fund that has a strong reputation for its investment management prowess and stunned investors with staggering returns in 2009. [...]
Questions about where to invest money invariably come down to finding the right asset allocation model for the investor. The process of asset allocation normally becomes a tad simpler when the investor is looking at mutual funds as a way to not only secure solid returns (good and bad) but proper investment management. Defining the [...]
Okay, you have just three years and a hundred thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket. Three measly years and you need to know where to invest that money so that, in three years when you need that investment, you know that you have not risked that money for the sake of return. Where [...]
There is no denying the important role that balanced mutual funds play in one’s investment career. Whether you are a hands-on investor or someone who would prefer to have no involvement whatsoever when it comes to investment management, the right balanced mutual funds can easily find a home in your portfolio. In fact, many investors [...]
