Where to invest about $9K?

Mixed stock/bond fund with Vanguard, Wellington for example

It hasn't done terribly. One of the worst things you can do is try to change lanes without any information. It is like sitting in traffic on the interstate. You get in another lane because it is moving a little bit then the lane you were in starts moving. I say all that to say I doubt you are going to get great insight into a new fund or the one you are in here. Trade-able insight. Someone might tell you a fund they are in but that isn't really much.

Unless you are given some great insight into a new fund or the fund you are in then you should stay put. 6.5% isn't OT money but it is decent. I wouldn't focus on fees too much. That is the big thing these days. Focus on your return which is 6.5%. If you are happy with your return then you shouldn't worry about the fees.

quote:

---

I wouldn't focus on fees too much. That is the big thing these days. Focus on your return which is 6.5%. If you are happy with your return then you shouldn't worry about the fees.

---

You can't be serious. 1.4% is an awfully significant fee for a fund that has returned 6.5% annually. You see that kind of return with most broad market index funds that have fees in the low decimals (.1% and .05%). 1.4% over the course of 20-30 years is a HUUUUGE amount! You should absolutely pay attention to fees.

Doesn't matter. If I'm paying someone that much, they better be knocking the cover off of the ball.

quote:

---

o, hypothetically speaking you would rather own a fund that returned 6% with a .04 ER than a fund that returned 7% with a 1% ER?

---

Past performance does not determine future performance. The only variable that you can predict with 100% accuracy and have complete control over is how much in fees you're willing to pay, and it is only logical to use this variable to your advantage and look for the lowest possible fees. 1.4% is a large amount, and 7% return really isn't anything special if you're looking over the past 5 years (he never said how long he's held this fund, if it's a longer time horizon than its a bit more impressive).

quote:

---

You do realize that 6.5% is net of fees right?

---

I hate to be agreeing with Janky on anything, but BALCX isn't terrible. Fees for all these types of funds are high overall. This funds expenses are actually relatively low compared to peers. Return after expenses is all that matters anyway.

I do think others advice to get in a Vanguard or other cheap ETF is a better idea though for long term investing.

for Rin
Total Return % (11/06/2014)YTD 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year 15-Year
BALCX 6.75 9.95 13.48 11.66 6.27 6.84

ETA; fixed link

quote:

---

I hate to be agreeing with Janky on anything

---

. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

quote:

---

. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

---

so you're thinking I've got one more today? I better make it count..think I'll buy some UNG puts

quote:

---

he never said how long he's held this fund

---

It's been sitting in BALCX for about 2 years.

Well, since we have not had a comparable fund mentioned to compare it to then hypothetical is all we got.

What criteria do you use to evaluate a fund?