I agree with kerryvan - seems like a lot of taxable assets relative to the IRA at 50.  What can you do to get more assets sheltered? 

I'm skeptical of DREGX even though historical returns are great - anything EM has been amazing, but expenses are high, not much manager tenure (did he take over from Driehaus or was someone else involved before?), and main holdings are pretty standard EM stuff.  SWOIX is also high-expense, plus they're holding 500 stocks so they're probably not going to deviate far from index returns even if the managers do an amazing job.  You're probably better off with HIINX and/or UMBWX- more manager flexibility, lower expenses, longer tenure.  If you think EM are a particularly attractive asset class, you can always index them.    

TEQUX doesn't look like anything special - big stakes in AAPL, GOOG, RIMM - gonna behave just like every other growth fund.  You can find something cheaper.     

I'd take gold profits while the taking is good.  If we ever saw the real economic breakdown that gold bugs like to talk about, no one would be trading their guns and canned goods for gold bars and titles to gold mines.  Gold is a hedge/trade and the best way to run it is to take your profits when other people bid it up. 

If you sell anything, I would put the proceeds into Vanguard index funds or DODBX.  Basically try to keep things simple and lower expenses.  Also, if interest rates pick up you could probably reduce that cash/short term stake and get some longer CDs or bonds.  Think about how much income you'll want in retirement and try to lock it in.    

IMO? Without looking this Mess over?  LOL

I used to be like this back in 98'.. ( had so many Toys to play with, got overwhelming , Who's On First, What's On 2nd, Who the Hell Knows is on 3rd base..LOL ) not to mention All those Tech Stocks and Funds! Oh My... make 150%! Oh My..

If your within 5 yrs of retirement time?

Take whatever % of your Total $ that will pay your Retirement Needs at 10% apy and put it in:

LSBRX in your Roth/IRA

OAKBX /DODBX in your taxable

If not? And you have longer ? 

 Unless your investing proweress has made you more than *+13% apy the past 10 yrs?

LSBRX and DODBX,  OAKBX

and forget about making $ for other people..Including Brokers and Advisors..( and you've been paying Double the fee's for being in those Bal. funds? , Nice Broker..LOL )

* Have beaten these funds by at least +3% apy

only play with whatever %/$ you don't need in your Retirement Port into all those other Funds..if you want..

and CD's? You Don't Need No Stinkin CD's! LOL......Maybe Only for your your Reserve/Emergency $, expecially since you still have some Time to go play , at least in OAKBX ,DODBX, if not LSBRX..,espeically since  your still making good $..

I moved my MMkt $ yrs ago into my Bal. Funds ( FPACX,OAKBX,PRWCX, PRPFX) not just for preservation ,but for the Potential of making a 8-11% apy  vs 3-4% CD's/MMkts..and to pay less Taxes too..

And a few bucks in FFRHX..for my Reserve/Emergency $..and Investment $ for the short term..

and Don't  think to make just enough for yourself anymore.. Our Society/Country (and Family?)  helped and Allowed you to make this Money and thus You Owe payback  and Maybe Help some Relatives out in the future? ( especially if your parents put you thru School or helped you out in some fashion thru out your life ) or some Charities?  or Your Church?

Thus? Go for the Gold to make as Much as You can, within reason of course.. and now is not the time to be Ultra Conservative with that $295k in CD's and Mmkt..  It could earn a 10-13% apy  vs what? 3-4% in those Stinkin CD's and MMkt.!  Look at All the $ your Leaving "On the Table"!  $30k yr? $20k after taxes..?

Sure, it might Loose -5% in the short term, but What if it makes +12% the next suceeding yrs?

And you have an Opportunity for the next few months.. to really make some Big Hits for the Next Yr..Btwn even DODBX, OAKBX and LSBRX , did about +26% btwn them in 03'...

Let alone some other Bear market-Safe Harbor funds..

Karma is the name of the New game ...for you now..

That's what I changed in my attitude and what I did way back in 98''/99'..

And look what happened since in those funds..vs staying in all those other Funds..?

Karma, my friend, Karma

and Don't leave $ on the table..

I know, it sounds nuts.. but It worked for me!

So far, so good..

and I'm so far ahead of the game going into this yr? I'd have to loose -40% to go back to being where I was in 99'...

and what are the odds of those Bal Funds Doing that? Pretty Slim and None, And Me thinks Slim Left town..

But, I'm certain your Broker  & Bank have those CD's with will disagree... LOL

I know? You should buy an ANNUITY!  LOL

kerryvan:

My inital thoughts are:

  buy a green dress, maybe a Monkey, a good reliable car,  some Art, maybe a garfunkel, or some remains...  by BNL,,,  LOL   congrats, 

 this one may take some time to ponder.  I was surprised your advisors didn't have more in the ira, tax free side of things..  You have a few yrs to max that out at 20.5 K a pop to transfer into tax free/ roth ira....

The entire market globally has gone down, so the loss is no surprise.  I need to look up some of the funds, then I can comment..

KV, thanks for your intiial impressions... i've always lived well below my means which has been a big factor in accumulating what i have for investment (along with 28 years nose-to-grindstone...) - as such, maybe i'll splurge on a few modest luxuries; ) ...

what really has me hung up is this gut feeling that i should look at taking equities 'off the table' given economic predictions looking out 2-4 years, with a big concern for preventing further erosion of gains/preservation of principal --  Schwab places me in their 'moderate investment profile (shifted from moderate-aggressive in the last year to reduce volatility exposure somewhat).  That's where the issue of tax consequences of shifting out of equities into more fixed income positions....and questions like whether i should keep reinvesting dividends/gains - are hard for me to navigate.

 Perhaps the advisors haven't been too off the mark but with the nominal amount of activity on their part from one semi-annual meeting to the next, and the buy/hold mantra  i feel i can at least watch my funds do what they will do just as easily as they can - without paying about (presently) 1K of assets per quarter for that 'supervision.'

thanks for your generosity in sharing perspectives, one and all!

m




 

Limoman, please don't be so shy with your thoughts...

Limoman:

I moved my MMkt $ yrs ago into my Bal. Funds ( FPACX,OAKBX,PRWCX, PRPFX) not just for preservation ,but for the Potential of making a 8-11% apy  vs 3-4% CD's/MMkts..and to pay less Taxes too..

Agreed 100%

Thus? Go for the Gold to make as Much as You can, within reason of course.. and now is not the time to be Ultra Conservative with that $295k in CD's and Mmkt..  It could earn a 10-13% apy  vs what? 3-4% in those Stinkin CD's and MMkt.!  Look at All the $ your Leaving "On the Table"!  $30k yr? $20k after taxes..?

Agreed 100%

and I'm so far ahead of the game going into this yr? I'd have to loose -40% to go back to being where I was in 99'...

Agreed 100%,  although the % would have to be alot bigger for me... like 90%

and what are the odds of those Bal Funds Doing that? Pretty Slim and None, And Me thinks Slim Left town..

In a Limo driven by Limoman...  before he went fishin...

It may take a day or two to get your portfolio into M*...  In Aug they are going to roll out a way to share with others...  without me entering in all the info..    the hard part is to enter in the number of shares,  I tried entering in % of portfolio,  but using import it was a no go...  maybe at lunch time I can try again,  it is only 20 positions...

watch out on the luxuries,  they can consume alot...   but do enjoy the song,  I haven't figured the cost out for all the items... 

I'm not real good on the tax side of things,  other that you should have more in ira or roth..  I'm doing both right now, so I can decide later when I need money which is best at that time...  I love options...

Thanks Limo and Kerry...

"It may take a day or two to get your portfolio into M*...  In Aug they are going to roll out a way to share with others...  without me entering in all the info..    the hard part is to enter in the number of shares,  I tried entering in % of portfolio,  but using import it was a no go...  maybe at lunch time I can try again,  it is only 20 positions..."

Yes, and It is def. more funds that I felt necessary - i'd like to pare down the number of holdings wherever i can and cut some expenses- The sharing feature definitely sounds useful -- if i could PM an attachment with the M* view including all details i would be glad to try that too...

Wish I were more fluent in tax matters - i would definitely put more into IRA but need to know more about max. allowable contribution 

Re, the CDs, abt. 200k of the 295k is evenly divided into three laddered ones - maturities reached in 08, 09 and 2010 respectively.  Their advice on what cash is outstanding was an individual Bond.

Thanks again!

 

clean up your investments alittle,suggestion using your same funds,allocating as follows,

25%-tequx

20%-slasx

15%-ryvpx

5%-rytrx

20%-hiinx

15%-lsbrx

gives diversfication of good managers and funds.

Hi Mike,
First of all congrats on piling up this good fortune thus far. I am much younger to you so please consider my advise in that vein. From what I have come to know so far, 21 funds in a portfolio is a bit too many to manage. As a rule of thumb, an overall count of 10-11 funds is considered good.

This is the recommended asset allocation by so called pros (some say subtract your age  from 120, while some say 95 to get your allocation to stock market):
65% - stocks
40% - DOM
34% - Large Cap
4%- Mid Cap
2% - Small Cap

25% - INT
17% - EURO pacific
3% - Japan
5% - EEM

35% - Cash Eq
20% - Long terms bonds
5% - Short term Bonds
10% - Cash

The percentages above are percentages of your portfolio.

Funds of noteworthy returns in your portfolio are:
TEQUX
RYVPX
OAKBX
HIINX
DREGX

You are already 70% of your savings in stock market. I would start gradually unloading myself from the stock market at age 52 on highs. By 57 I would be 50% of what you currently are in stock market. (I am conservative and believe Americans believe too much in the Stock market hype.).

Considering your position, you might want to consider investing in real estate in coming 6 months or so.

Best Regards,
Rajeev