Several years ago there was a message posted about the availability to financial advisors of an "Overlap analysis of American Funds equity funds." This person mentioned that his financial advisor had made a copy of that grid for him.

I then asked my AFs financial advisor for a copy of the overlap grid and he gave me one.

Last year I again asked for a copy and he gave me a copy of the most recent one.

This year when I asked for a copy, he told me that AFs prohibited him from giving me a copy. I don't understand why AFs would not want to share this information with its clients since it helps the client make a better decision about which funds to use in a multple fund portfolio.

Can anyone shed any light on this matter and/or offer any suggestions about how to obtain a copy of this overlap grid?

Huskie2

 

in that the American Funds directly says it is for "financial professionals only" and "not for use with the public".  There are many such publications supplied by the American Funds that I am looking at right now that say the same thing.  No doubt there are legal reasons for all of this and we are in a situation where folks sue at the drop of a hat.  Some mater is for public consumption and some not.  When you sit with your advisor discussing your account bring up the overlap issue if it is an issue. 

Here are a few of my thoughts, not meant to be taken as facts.....

I would imagine you were never meant to revieve the two overlap grids you got in previous years and your advisor finally realized the error of his ways.  Yes, I am sure AF wants there clients to be informed, but they want this to be done through your financial advisor.  They want shareholders to get the best, educated, informed advice possible and to take a long term focus and not panic at the worst possible time.  Giving too much information to the shareholder on there own could encourage the client to take matters into their own hands and possibly create self destructive behavior.  They want the advisor to be a part of the process to prevent short term thinking as this harms the long term investors in the funds.

Ofcourse, I see your point, as an informed investor, it would be nice to have access to these grids to mull over in your arm chair at home. 

However, try to see the positive in this instead of the negative.

Good Luck

Brian

[quote user="Huskie2"]

Several years ago there was a message posted about the availability to financial advisors of an "Overlap analysis of American Funds equity funds." This person mentioned that his financial advisor had made a copy of that grid for him.

I then asked my AFs financial advisor for a copy of the overlap grid and he gave me one.

Last year I again asked for a copy and he gave me a copy of the most recent one.

This year when I asked for a copy, he told me that AFs prohibited him from giving me a copy. I don't understand why AFs would not want to share this information with its clients since it helps the client make a better decision about which funds to use in a multple fund portfolio.

Can anyone shed any light on this matter and/or offer any suggestions about how to obtain a copy of this overlap grid?

Huskie2

 

[/quote]

What does this overlap grid show?  Is it an overlap of the stock holdings?  If so, you should be able to generate much of the data yourself using the Morninstar portfolio tool.