Search found 83 matches

by Jeffreyalan
Tue May 08, 2018 7:37 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Question on safety of ETFs
Replies: 11
Views: 8544

Question on safety of ETFs

So I will confess that back in 2011 I succumbed to the siren call of the “doom porn” crowd. I read Schiff, Rickards and David Morgan. And slowly proceeded to lose several thousand dollars on silver and shorting treasury bonds ( since i was convinced of the $$ collapse any day). Then i finally starte...
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Apr 22, 2018 7:16 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Question on matching volatility
Replies: 4
Views: 4791

Question on matching volatility

Trying to soak up everyone’s knowledge here. Whenever someone asks can I use ZROZ instead of TLT or QQQ instead of Total Stock Market, the answer is usually no because it is too volatile compared to the other PP components. My question is, assuming you don’t mind a bit more volatility, why is this a...
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:01 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Minimum time frame for holding PP
Replies: 56
Views: 34961

Re: Minimum time frame for holding PP

Thanks for all the input. For now I think I might do a Desert Portfolio. The drawdowns are enough for me to handle (I think) and I can move to cash a year out.

60% IEF
30% VTI
10% IAU
by Jeffreyalan
Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:01 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Minimum time frame for holding PP
Replies: 56
Views: 34961

Re: Minimum time frame for holding PP

Just trying to understand, although not FDIC insured, wouldn’t a Treasury ETF like SHV or BIL be about as safe a vehicle as could be? If they went bust then all bets might be off correct?
by Jeffreyalan
Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:42 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Minimum time frame for holding PP
Replies: 56
Views: 34961

Re: Minimum time frame for holding PP

Any thoughts on using an ETF for cash needs in the next 3 years? SHV or MINT?
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Apr 10, 2018 3:00 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Barron's Article on ETF lending
Replies: 3
Views: 5956

Barron's Article on ETF lending

https://www.barrons.com/articles/etfs-h ... 1523054918

This article is interesting and points out some potential risks in ETF investing.
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:11 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Minimum time frame for holding PP
Replies: 56
Views: 34961

Minimum time frame for holding PP

I would like to get people's opinions on a person's individual investment time frame and holding the PP. You know how advisers will say if you don't have XX amount of years to invest then don't put your money into stocks. Well what is that number for the PP? My situation is that I am able to now put...
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:33 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Growth Stock ETFs
Replies: 3
Views: 6006

Growth Stock ETFs

I am sure this has probably been covered before, but what would be the downside of using a broad market growth index fund in lieu of a total market index fund. Using the Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) adds almost .50% a year extra from 2008 until now. Plus the volatility would seem to be a benefit to...
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:51 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Stock fund choices and tax efficiency
Replies: 1
Views: 4212

Re: Stock fund choices and tax efficiency

[quote="sophie"] About the single stocks: the idea is to hedge against any issues with index funds, like managers finding ways to game the index system, In what ways? I have always toyed with the idea of skipping index funds and just picking the stocks myself that, like you said, I never sell. Every...
by Jeffreyalan
Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:22 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: ZROZ Etf
Replies: 3
Views: 4025

Re: ZROZ Etf

Any reason why I couldnt make the bond component TLT 20% and ZROZ 5%? Wouldnt the philosophy still hold even if the volutility rises a bit?
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Mar 15, 2018 1:37 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct for large sums
Replies: 11
Views: 9914

Re: Treasury Direct for large sums

Treasury bills held in your name at Treasury Direct are about as safe, stable, and liquid as you can get. Two possible things to consider: 1. It has never bothered me, but some people think Treasury Direct's website is clunky and unreliable. 2. You cannot establish an IRA through Treasury Direct. F...
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:52 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct for large sums
Replies: 11
Views: 9914

Treasury Direct for large sums

Hello all, I have an inheritance coming and I would like to keep it as safe as possible. So I am thinking of buying Treasury bills with it. Perhaps rolling 1-2 year ones. Does everyone here feel comfortable placing a decent amount of funds in Treasury Direct? I have no reason to not feel safe with t...
by Jeffreyalan
Sat Feb 24, 2018 10:01 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Small Caps
Replies: 6
Views: 9232

Small Caps

I apologize if this has been answered in a thread before, but since the PP is supposed to sort of be domestically oriented and most large cap companies are global in nature, would it make more sense for the stock portion to be geared towards mid and small cap stocks? Thanks in advance for any opinio...
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:02 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: ZROZ Etf
Replies: 3
Views: 4025

ZROZ Etf

Does anyone here use ZROZ for the bond portion or a part of the bond portion of the PP? A backtest shows that it juices the returns and volatility just a bit. Any downsides?
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:13 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes
Replies: 18
Views: 13982

Re: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes

Right now yes. But since the fund description/prospectus says only that the fund invests in 10+ year bonds, I wonder if we can always count on them being as long as TLT?
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:54 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes
Replies: 18
Views: 13982

Re: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes

How about VGLT maturity and duration vs TLT? I know right now they look similar. But TLT descrption is 20+ year treasuries. VGLT is only 10+.
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:43 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Treasury Direct Question
Replies: 2
Views: 3193

Re: Treasury Direct Question

it sounds like an insignificant thing, but I like to be able to login to any account I have and see the current value. Having to search for it or even calculate it myself sounds crazy! Thanks for your assistance!
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:09 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Treasury Direct Question
Replies: 2
Views: 3193

Treasury Direct Question

Does anyone here use Treasury Direct enough to be able to answer a question for me? I have a $100 savings bond there which I have had for maybe 5 months or so. It has earned a tiny bit of interest. But what is frustrating (and perhaps I do not understand the website correctly) is that whenever I log...
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:05 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Dividend Growth Investing
Replies: 42
Views: 50614

Re: Dividend Growth Investing

The main reason to own stocks that pay dividends is management accountability since the commitment to paying a dividend forces efficient capital deployment decision making. Also, Shareholders like optionality and the payment of a dividend gives the shareholder the option to increase or decrease thei...
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:34 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Dividend Growth Investing
Replies: 42
Views: 50614

Dividend Growth Investing

What would be everyone’s opinion here on dividend growth investing? For example, buying 20-25 stocks like MMM and Johnson & Johnson and just holding them forever. Live off of the rising dividend stream and leave the shares for my children. I know it will have more ups and downs than a Balanced portf...
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:17 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO
Replies: 9
Views: 8683

Re: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO

Do you think this moves TLO to the top of the list for LT Bond ETFs? Traditional TLT was the #1 choice and TLO only used in cases where it was commission free, such as at Schwab.
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:38 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO
Replies: 9
Views: 8683

Re: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO

Looks like the slashed fees on it. The current fee now shows as .06%.
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:27 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct Safety
Replies: 11
Views: 12334

Re: Treasury Direct Safety

Apparently others are even more paranoid about this:

https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=225415
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:54 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Schiff and other Doom Porn
Replies: 13
Views: 8651

Re: Schiff and other Doom Porn

I read the article linked to above, which is cited for the argument that trillions in new debt per year IS sustainable. I'm afraid I'm too economically illiterate to understand much of it at all. Is there anyone who could explain, in a nutshell, how the government would get out from under its debt ...