Actions taken during July:

1. In our Sharebuilder accounts... added to DIA, EEA, EEB, GE, ING, SLE and doubled my V at 67.96.... Opened a new position in UDN and closed positions in EWG and EWL for approximately 30% net profit each.
2. Continued DCAs...  to RYFSX at Royce... to CIHDX, MAPIX and NOIEX at Schwab.
3. Sometime purchases at Schwab for both Rick and in my Schwab 401k to add to ADVDX, SICVX, SWHGX and SWIPX.
4. I decided to consolidate a little in my 401k and eliminate the sector approach... closed SWAIX, SWFFX and SWHFX, sold off most of GABUX, MATFX and TGLDX. With the exception of TGLDX, all of these had losses varying from approximately 5% up to 14%. I kept only enough of GABUX, MATFX and TGLDX covering the amounts of my losses (GABUX, MATFX) and also to avoid a 2% early redemption fee (all 3). Once I'm past the redemption period, I'll re-evaluate whether it would be of value to keep those positions til they at least swing to the profit side. Knowing my patience (not), probably not.
5. I am putting ADVDX on trial vs Schwab's SWDIX... on 7/14, I invested the exact same dollar amount of ADVDX's 7/11 closing value in SWDIX. All dividends & cap gains will be reinvested. If I add to ADVDX or SWDIX, I will invest on the same day the exact same dollar amount in the other. So far ao 8/1/08, SWDIX is much less volatile and worth more than ADVDX. I will re-evaluate these funds vs each other on 12/31/08--- for growth in share positions, income generated, standard deviation and total value. Where my ADVDX and SWDIX positions are on 12/31/08 and my feelings about equity-income vs volatility (or how to mitigate it) will determine how I will work with --or without-- ADVDX and/or SWDIX. Since I like the concept of ADVDX and how it works, I am strongly biased toward ADVDX --this, despite its horrible volatility.
6. I liquidated my ASG for roughly a 5% net profit cuz I wanted to raise cash and, simultaneously, redirect my individual stocks and CEFs in my 401k... On 7/14, I bot RBS at 3.78 and on 7/25 I bot HMY at 10.46.
7. Instead of sectors, I decided that it is better to hone in on allocation more... domestic vs international.... stocks, bonds, realty and a gold/currency/quasi-international-bond play, MERKX. (I say quasi-international bond cuz to MY uneducated and naive international eye, the hard currency factor sways in the same wind as foreign bonds. MERKX also pays a decent quarterly dividend.) The realty factor has been a royal pain and I am currently sitting on the sidelines a while before I dive back in. When I do it will probably be SWAIX for convenience and avoiding commissions, but still possibly an REIT like O or a CEF like AWP. I'll do an REIT or a CEF only if I believe they are at firesale prices.

Regards,
Susan

P.S. I have been debating this and decided to raise more cash to take advantage of what I feel will be a wild political ride the next few months. Ergo, on 8/1/08 I sucked in my gut and took horrible losses in AGD and AWP (about 20%), sold RBS for an approximate net profit of 12%, sold half of CHMP for an approximate 5% net profit and sold half of FUND for an approximate 5% net profit (possibly higher cuz about a third of those shares were bot from dividend reinvestment --M* and Schwab treat dividend reinvestment weirdly, IMO). I now hold a full 26% in cash in my Schwab 401k. My Sharebuilder accounts are flexible, Rick's sundry accounts are flexible and our USAA accounts are flexible as is, so it's my 401k that needed the attention. As you know, I had previously addressed this in March(?) with my Royce Roth by splitting my assets into thirds between RYTRX, RYFSX and now RYDVX.