well scott? Let's see.. as far as AMBF's ( Active Managed Bal. Funds) go vs AMF's( ActiveMge.Fnds) let alone Index..?

1. BUFBX & GLRBX= Although touted by Adam Bold of the MFS, has changed His tune (again) and is advocating OAKBX,PRWCX and FPACX as ' fine' Bal. funds and I concurre.

2. Using Historic performance for the past 8 & 10 yrs?  FPACX, OAKBX,PRWCX,PRPFX win hands down..( ave 12% apy,past 8 yrs ) vs 8.6% for VWELX.. and have done alot better in the last Bear Mrkt Yrs of 00-02'..

3. I first Look at how a fund Did in the Last Bear market Yrs ( 00-02')  and then Did it do about as well as a Comparative Index Port ( ave 60/40 mix) and VWELX  in The Bull Yrs? And if the answer is Yes? I think you gots a Winner..

4. I use VWELX as a comparision Fund/Port..  ave about 7.3% past 10 yrs, 8.6% past 8 yrs and 11.16% past 5 yrs..( I use Calender yrs,not ytd's)

5. You can get into more details about How Tax effecient each is or isn't and alot of other reasons Not to Own them, but over-all? For the Below to Average investor? I think they ( like myself) should make them a Primary Investment ( at least 75 if not 90%) and only Play with the remaining $ for their first 8-10 yrs and not change until they have proven to themself they have done better..( by at least + 3% apy ).. But basically? I'm Hiring a AMBF Mgr. to do the job for me vs Doing it myself or Hiring a Financial Advisor Firm andpaying them about the same Fee or More..( And oh? Advisor Firms? HATE AMBF's... Gee I wonder why? LOL )

6. Downside to using AMF's, let alone AMBF's? Expect To have to Replace them..why? They Get too BIG( ck out DODBX) and go "FlatLine" or not do much better than a comparable Index Port. or they Close or Change Mgrs and Underperform.. So, I have several AMBF's in various stages of Size to Hedge My Bets and Most are Little Different than the others too..

7. Boosting Performance ? I added A Reit and a Equity Fund to my Mix of funds, that has worked out pretty well these past 8 yrs and counting..

8. Want more of a 50/50 Mix? Just Add a Bond Fund..be it VBMFX or LSBRX.. and increase your % in it to get your 50/50 or even a 40/60 mix.

now( Bear market) is a good time to be evaluating Funds.. As Warren Buffet says " Buy Co.'s that do well in Down Markets, anyone can do well in Good One's"...

And I don't 2nd Guess A Funds Choices in Stocks or % allocations either.. If I wanted to do that? I'm better off going with Index, ETF's or AMF funds..or build a Basket of stocks and make up my own Fund..And I'm no Good at doing that game..( and I'd guess less than 10% really are)

Of course..Past will not guarantee future..but It sure has "improved my odds" for these past 10 yrs..and just got to ride the same Limo until they prove otherwise..and after I accepted that I was my own worse Enemy on investing and just let these guys take over the Ship, I have been a Much Happier Camper and It has allowed me more time to Go Golfing,Fishing and Fooling around !

 

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