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Started By
Message
Buying mutual funds..need help
Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:58 pm
I want to begin purchasing mutual funds through my online brokerage account.
The problem is I have no idea where to start or what to buy.
This is going to be retirement money so I plan on keeping it in for over 10 yrs.
Anybody want to educate me?
The problem is I have no idea where to start or what to buy.
This is going to be retirement money so I plan on keeping it in for over 10 yrs.
Anybody want to educate me?
5
Posted on 3/7/13 at 2:02 pm to SDTiger15
I bought my first one in December. VDAIX. I'm not expert though. 
Posted on 3/7/13 at 2:51 pm to SDTiger15
quote:
Anybody want to educate me?
I will, but you gotta pay me first
Kidding. If I'm gonna buy a Mutual Fund, I look for 4 things, specifically, before buying.
1.) Type of Fund. Because I'm relatively young, 29, and have a minimum of 30 years to stay invested, I only buy 5 types of funds. Growth, Growth and Income(or Blue Chip), Small Cap Growth (Or Aggressive), International Growth, and Index Funds (VFINX is probably the best you're gonna find).
2.) Age of Fund I don't buy any funds that haven't been around at least 10 years. Age and experience will overcome youth and vigor.
3.) Performance I look at the fund's performance over the last 5 years, 10 years, and lifetime. The best way to evaluate performance is to compare the returns to the S&P, and other funds in it's category.
4.) Fees and Expenses If you don't want to pay a "Load Fee", find a No Load Fund. I don't mind paying a Load in some cases because the performance more than compensates. You want low expense ratios if you can find them.
One other thing, I don't buy sector specific funds, because the market treats different sectors well/poorly at different times, I want a piece of the ENTIRE MARKET, not just certain parts.
Good luck
Posted on 3/7/13 at 4:19 pm to SDTiger15
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/13/13 at 4:45 pm
Posted on 3/7/13 at 5:29 pm to SDTiger15
Best LA fund is VILLX.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 6:09 pm to SDTiger15
safest thing in my opinion is to put it in a Vanguard Target retirement fund until you can educate yourself about retirement, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. pick the one that matches year of your retirement and Vanguard does the allocation for you.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 9:23 pm to agdoctor
quote:
safest thing in my opinion is to put it in a Vanguard Target retirement fund until you can educate yourself about retirement, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. pick the one that matches year of your retirement and Vanguard does the allocation for you.
This. Doesn't have to be Vanguard, but they are the popular family for this board.
Investopedia.com can be your friend for all of this as well.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 1:58 am to slackster
I have both VDAIX (up 8.69% YTD) and VFINX (up 8.72%). These are "stock" mutual funds. Look at their top 10-20 holdings and see if you agree on upside.
VILLX is a "balanced" fund (has stock and bonds). It is up 3.25% this year, but has very good track record. It is rated high risk by Morningstar, so at my age I am not a player.
I only have 2 sectors covered - health care through T.Rowe and Vanguard, and a consumer staple ETF -- XLP, which means it trades like a stock and has lower fees.
VILLX is a "balanced" fund (has stock and bonds). It is up 3.25% this year, but has very good track record. It is rated high risk by Morningstar, so at my age I am not a player.
I only have 2 sectors covered - health care through T.Rowe and Vanguard, and a consumer staple ETF -- XLP, which means it trades like a stock and has lower fees.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 2:02 am to Solo
Define "LA" please.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 2:03 am to Vols&Shaft83
Your "type of fund." Looks like you follow, to some extent, the advice of Brother Dave in Nashville?
Posted on 3/8/13 at 4:20 am to matthew25
quote:
Your "type of fund." Looks like you follow, to some extent, the advice of Brother Dave in Nashville?
Lol, you picked up on that? Pretty similar to "Brother Dave", but I also buy single stocks, which he considers to be the root of all evil
Posted on 3/8/13 at 10:44 am to matthew25
LA = Louisiana
It's an LSU board so if someone wants to keep their money local this is a great spot.
#1 rated fund in it's class, I believe.
It's an LSU board so if someone wants to keep their money local this is a great spot.
#1 rated fund in it's class, I believe.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 11:06 am to Vols&Shaft83
Dave concedes that if you must buy stocks, buy only one stock.
I listen to him for good ideas, and sometimes I agree.
I listen to him for good ideas, and sometimes I agree.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 11:18 am to Solo
I looked at MSN Money "management" profile on this MF, and it said they were in Wisconsin.
It also had the website, which showed Denis Villere on Poydras.
It also had the website, which showed Denis Villere on Poydras.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 11:46 am to matthew25
Yes, it's in NOLA.
Posted on 3/8/13 at 11:52 am to Vols&Shaft83
I just make it easy on myself, but added a little splicing to make it "fun."
VTI - 55%
VEA - 20%
VWO - 10%
VSS - 10%
BND - 5% or less
I don't have many good options that I like in my 401k, so that is all in the Fidelity Target 2055 or whatever.
VTI - 55%
VEA - 20%
VWO - 10%
VSS - 10%
BND - 5% or less
I don't have many good options that I like in my 401k, so that is all in the Fidelity Target 2055 or whatever.
This post was edited on 3/8/13 at 11:52 am
Posted on 3/8/13 at 1:36 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Great info guys, thanks
Posted on 3/8/13 at 9:21 pm to SDTiger15
Teddy - You must like foreign stock: VEA, VWO & VSS = 40%
Posted on 3/9/13 at 12:32 am to matthew25
Ya, it could be seen to be a bit high but my VTI is probably closer to 60/40 in practice which i dont think is too crazy...i hope.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 11:13 am to Teddy Ruxpin
If you are young, go for it.
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