Tag Archives: mutual funds

Savers double up without reward

An addendum to Gary’s News Tribune column from January 6. Cash equivalents may be zombie investments but investors still favor them. TrimTabs, a tracker of cash flows to bank and investment accounts released information January 13 demonstrating that Americans deposited … Continue reading

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High-yield bonds may not be junk

High-yield corporate bonds have built a big edge in income yield over Treasury bonds over the past few months. Some people prefer the perceived safety of Treasury bonds and accept the lower income stream (even if it means a negative … Continue reading

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What we look for when picking a mutual fund

In theory, picking a good mutual fund should be easy. Just find a fund with an experienced portfolio manager who has consistently outperformed the fund’s relevant benchmark and buy some shares. Then repeat in each portion of the market so … Continue reading

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The total return picture for bonds when interest rates rise

Extending our thoughts from the 2-part Bond Market Conundrum post of December 22, here is a good visual representation of the fact that total return (income + price appreciation) is important to evaluate bonds and bond mutual funds. When interest … Continue reading

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Stocks are “cheap,” investors prefer bonds

Jeremy Siegel is a finance professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. His research and book, Stocks for the Long Run, have documented investment returns and performance patterns back into the 1800s. On a conference call with … Continue reading

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The Paradox of Choice

In an ideal world, your life goals and financial resources would lead you down a path where you have to choose route A or route B from time to time, but, for the most part, the options and expected outcomes … Continue reading

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Should you follow the money into bonds?

Gary’s monthly column in The News Tribune was published today. It reviews cash flow into and out of mutual funds and what that tells us about investor psyche. Despite a rapid global stock market rally, dollars are still flooding out … Continue reading

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