thanks!

but OMG.  i cannot believe the over-the-phone rep did not know this.she also did not understand my question about turnover ratio and expense, and couldn't explain the alpha and beta risk measurements (i just wanted to know, which is better, a big number or a little one?). 

In any case, i finally registered for a M* trial 14 days and went thru the Fund analyst reports, many of them mention the managers' participation.

thanks again for the link.  peggytex

  Like you, I like for the fund manager to be invested in the fund. I also like to see the directors invested in the fund.  In fact, when ever we get to vote on directors, I always look to see if the director is invested, and vote against him/her if they are not. I know it has little effect to do so, but I feel better.  Most of the TRP directors are invested in the funds they direct. 

peggytex:

I am really surprised that the TRP rep could not anwer your question.  I have always found them very informed and ready to answer any question. On the rare occasion a rep could not answer my question, he or she asked me to hold and went to find the answer. I feel your experience was a rare occasion, and is not likely to happen again.

Best wishes.

you are correct, they are usually very helpful and informative.  although they do sound awfully...young.

amd BTW--when you look at the Risk assessment Alpha and Beta on Yahoo finance for example: which is better, the big number or the little one???

peggy tex

A manager having "skin in the game" is an important consideration IMO.  The supreme example of this is Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.  (His relatively modest salary is the icing on the cake.)  If only more managers followed his lead.

WJ