thanks for the thoughts hetty.

i guess i'm looking at investing in a variety of stock funds simply because i'm investing in purely stocks (spreading it out amongst various markets large and small would diversify it to an extent).  from what i've read an agressive approach with a long time horizon calls for 100% stocks.  while i was bored at work today i drew up something that does include what you reference in your second comment.

growth 2*, new asia 2*, new horizons 1.5*, equity income 1.5* (each 3 times a year)

latin america 1*, em europe & med. 1*, retirement 2050 1*, int'l discovery 1* (2x a year)

although it's eight funds, i'm pumping more money more often into a domestic and foreign blue-chip fund (growth,new asia) and a domestic value fund (equity income), which serves as a solid base for the portfolio.  i'm gaining exposure to other markets w/ great potential with other 3 foreign funds, with the risk of those tempered by a simple retirement fund. 

do you think this approach accounts for the substantial risk i'm taking by investing in purely stock funds? i'd like to think that the equity income and the retirement fund make this allocation a suitable one for my willingness to deal with the risk exposure and considerable time horizon.

thanks also for the welcoming attitude, it can be rather intimidating talking to the seasoned vets of investing when you're naive and playing with chump change, haha.