Mutual Funds

[Ima saver]

What mutual funds do you like, reccommend?

[Ima saver]

Re: Mutual Funds

I like Vanguard funds because they are no load and low cost.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Mutual Funds

Vanguard is very good. I also like Fidelity and T.Rowe Price because they have an asset builder that allows you to start out with a minimum of about 50 per month.

[Ima saver]

Re: Mutual Funds

That is great. That is what our younger forum members should be looking into. Almost everyone can afford $50 a month. That is how I started in mutual funds. American Centrury ( used to be called twentieth century) would allow you to open an account and have $50 a month transferred from your checking account.

[meaghanchan]

Re: Mutual Funds

I've got all my money right now (which, granted, isn't very much!) in Vanguard's Total Stock Market index (VTSMX). Can't go wrong matching the market...

After looking at Fidelity and T Rowe Price, I decided to just save up $1000 and get started at Vanguard (this was before they raised the minimum on most of their funds to $3000). Vanguard's wide range of low-cost index funds made it worth it to me to wait... Now that they've raised their minimum on everything but their Star fund, I can understand why young investors with not a lot of money (like myself; I'm 23) would want to go with Fidelity or T Rowe Price. It's one thing to save up $1000- But to save up $3000 before you can even get started investing?

Still, I think Vanguard is going to be the best bet in the long term. I just wish they hadn't raised their minimums... It makes it much harder to diversify if you need $3000 in each fund.

[Bluezy]

Re: Mutual Funds

I'm transferring my trad IRA mutual funds to Vanguard in January. I'm ending my long term relationship with Janus Core Equity even though it performed well this year. Janus has never recouperated from their big scandal, and neither have I, really. When that happened I lost 1/2 of my retirement.

I'm tranferring to Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 even though I'm not in my 20's. I need aggressive moves to make up for all losses.

[CRFSaver]

Re: Mutual Funds

For bond funds I like Managers Intermediate Durations and Managers Short Duration. These funds are "sub-managed" by a company called Smith Breeden Associates who are amazing with fixed income. Fremont Bond fund is "sub-managed" by PIMCO (Pacific Investment Management Co) which is famous for its Total Return Fund run by Bill Gross who is the "sub-manager" on the fund. No 12b-1 and no loads.

Please be very careful of the "lifestyle" funds out there. Many times the fees are so much higher for them to do what you can do for yourself. While I am not sure about Vanguard many of these lifestyle funds, you are paying a managment fee, for them to invest in their other funds for you, which is then getting charged another managment fee. Double dipping.

I also like Balanced funds quite a bit. They have alway seemed to perform quite well. Currently I am in the Dodge and Cox balanced through a couple of my 401K's and it has been very consistent.

[sweeps]

Re: Mutual Funds

Please be very careful of the "lifestyle" funds out there. Many times the fees are so much higher for them to do what you can do for yourself. While I am not sure about Vanguard many of these lifestyle funds, you are paying a managment fee, for them to invest in their other funds for you, which is then getting charged another managment fee. Double dipping.

Not an issue with Vanguard. Vanguard simply gives you a weighted expense ratio from the underlying funds. The expense ratio for the 2045 Fund is a very low 0.21%.

[Ima saver]

Re: Mutual Funds

I have my Ira accounts with Vanguard Index 500. I closed all my janus accounts except one. I like Fidelity but don't like the 3% load.

[Optsol]

Re: Mutual Funds

RSVAX.

It's basically a hybrid of a strongly performing closed fund, RSPFX.

Disclosure: We own both, since we can't add to RSPFX any more, we add to RSVAX.

[Russell]

Re: Mutual Funds

It's one thing to save up $1000- But to save up $3000 before you can even get started investing?

If you buy it through a broker the $3k limit doesn't usually apply since your money is pooled together with other's...call up your broker (Scott Trade etc) to see if they have a min requirement for the Vanguard funds you're interested in.

[meaghanchan]

Re: Mutual Funds

If you buy it through a broker the $3k limit doesn't usually apply since your money is pooled together with other's...call up your broker (Scott Trade etc) to see if they have a min requirement for the Vanguard funds you're interested in.

I'm already in the fund I want to be in- I just think they're making things harder for the average investor, that's all.

[JBinKC]

Re: Mutual Funds

I am not a fan of mutual funds but if I had to choose something it would be anything managed by Sprott Asset Management.

[Fern]

Re: Mutual Funds

Most of my investments have been with T. Rowe Price for years. I find them to be generally conservative, no load, well rated by Morningstar and low annual expenses, which can dig into your returns.

They also have a great website and great extra personalized services for those who invest a substantial amount.

[Ima saver]

Re: Mutual Funds

I think T. Rowe Price is a great company also.