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Categories: Mutual Funds, Retirement
403B Fund Options
I wanted to write up a nice post regarding my 403b funds but I currently don’t have any time since I swarmed at work.
Here’s the list of my fund options and I’m sorry I couldnt post there morningstar pages because I’m busy… Maybe Paul can post those for you guys. I would love to see some opinions on what funds I should be contributing to.
http://www.mutualofamerica.com/MOAframe.asp?Main=investments/invest_option_main.asp&ButHit=inv
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Mario
at 10:54am on Mar 20, 2008
I have these funds with Fidelity for my IRAs (roth and trad)… each take 2500 minimum to open and get into it…
FLATX and also FCNTX (closed to new investors).
-Mario.
Mario
at 10:55am on Mar 20, 2008
What do u guys think of them? I’d love to hear ur opinions on it…
sergik12
at 12:07pm on Mar 20, 2008
FLATX has no front load and has a relatively low expense ratio compared to the rest of the Latin American funds. Only 3 start for performance and the manager has only been there for 3 years.
I can’t tell you much about their top picks since I don’t know that much about foreign stocks. They like the energy sector and should have helped them in the last few years
Top 5 Holdings Get Price Quotes
Sector Country % Net Assets
America Mobile ADR*
Telcommunications Mexico 9.08 %
Brazilian Petroleum Corporation ADR*
Energy Brazil 8.67 %
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (ADR) Energy Brazil 8.19 %
Vale (ADR) Industrial Materials Brazil 7.95 %
Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce ADR*
Industrial Materials Brazil 5.20 %
They have done relatively well against an international bench mark but they are taking on more risk. I’m not even sure what bench mark they are comparing them selves to. International stocks have done really well.
YTD 3 year 5 year
Fund -7.74 41.32 47.83
+/- Cat 0.82 0.20 1.38
+/- MSCI 4.20 30.18 27.72
Over all I like it but keep in mind how much risk the fund is taking.
FCNTX I really like they had the same team running the fund since the 1990 so they know what they are doing. It’s a 5 star fund and it’s closed so I’m not sure how we can help you with this one. If you are already in it then good job, since you are getting a good return at a low fee. They are getting killed this year by the financial sector but who isn’t.
Trailing Returns %
03-19-08
YTD 3 year 5 year
Fund -13.63 9.91 14.93
+/- Cat 0.52 5.05 5.85
+/- S&P -2.49 4.98 4.68
Their top 5 holding are good companie that are not having a good year. The only holding I really don’t like is apple, at this point it’s probably at fair value but they definitely got burned on it. I love large cap growth that’s my favorite space for this year but I’m not sure how Berkshire Hathaway is a large cap growth company. That is however an excellent holding.
Top 5 Holdings Get Price Quotes
Sector YTD Return % % Net Assets
Google, Inc.*
Business Services -37.53 4.90 %
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. A*
Financial Services -9.26 3.39 %
ExxonMobil Corporation*
Energy -9.50 2.95 %
Apple, Inc.*
Hardware -34.54 2.79 %
Hewlett-Packard Company*
Hardware -7.55 2.77 %
This is obviously my personal opinion so take it with a grain of salt.
sergik12
at 12:21pm on Mar 20, 2008
Nene i need tickers for all your funds because there is more then one for each name and I’m not really sure which one i’m looking at.
Mario
at 01:48pm on Mar 20, 2008
Cool. Yeah, FLATX i’ve owned for about 3 years or so and have done extremely well and I actually was able to get into contrafund before they closed up to the public. So now that I’m in, i can buy more.
Well glad to see that i did pick pretty good ones. And yes the latin american fund is riskier, especially since political relations between south america countries have been tense lately… but they’ve also been booming due to a HUGE investment in their current infrastructure by alot of investment firms.
sergik12
at 02:05pm on Mar 20, 2008
One note Mario is that if the U.S. economy blows up the Latin America fund is going to get hurt a lot more then the U.S. funds
Mario
at 04:22pm on Mar 20, 2008
True that…but since i have quite a few years b4 retirement, i’d say odds are that the economy will be back up on its feet… perhaps, we’d then be the Amero (Canada, USA and Mexican united)… against the euro.
ErnestoT
at 08:00am on Mar 21, 2008
I’ve given up.. It’s impossible to find the correct ticker for these funds and when I do find a ticker I’m not even sure if they are the correct ticker because they will be listed A,B,C, etc.. sorry guys..
http://www.mutualofamerica.com/MOAframe.asp?Main=investments/invest_option_main.asp&ButHit=inv
pbucelwicz
at 08:01am on Mar 24, 2008
I like the Vanguard funds under Equity Funds. These funds have no front or deferred load, and very low maintenance fees. Mutual of America Equity Index Fund also looks good.
Here is a link to a mutual fund cost calculator. You input options like loads, expense ratio and what your expected return will be. The link is also under Tools >> Calculators on this site.
http://www.sec.gov/investor/tools/mfcc/mfcc-calculate.htm
vadim.vintsevsky
at 12:33pm on Mar 26, 2008
Definetly check out the turnover ratios for any fund your looking into. Although since all of us are young right now they arnt as big of a deal if we were old, but you dont want your cap gains being eaten away at by transaction costs and taxes.
Ernesto post the top funds your looking at right now and I can get the tickers on our system.
Mario
at 01:51pm on Mar 26, 2008
hey guys,
my 401k has new tickers…. here are my choices…
SWRXX
SIC1Z
WOBDX
OAKBX
AMSTX
MUHLX
SWPIX
NOEQX
ARTMX
RYLPX
BSCFX
ARTIX
RCLEX
RMLEX
RBLEX
RALEX
RELEX
I like Artisan’s funds (ARTMX and ARTIX. I find index funds not aggressive enough… but i dont’ know. what do you guys suggest for investment and what percentage (equal to 100%).
Thanks guys.
Mario
at 01:52pm on Mar 26, 2008
I was hoping to select at least 5 funds…do you agree?
pbucelwicz
at 02:01pm on Mar 26, 2008
I am no expert or anything, but I think 5 is a good number. Personally I think 4 is ideal. That way you cover a corner of the morningstar style box which fits your investment goals.
vadim.vintsevsky
at 02:10pm on Mar 26, 2008
I like the idea of 5 funds but definetly diversify the funds also. Example
1 U.S small cap
1. U.S large cap
1 Europe
1 Asia
and 1 emerging market
I feel that this gives you good variety int he U.S> two good foreign options. And one littel more risky.
Mario
at 02:16pm on Mar 26, 2008
so looking at my list, which would you select and what percentage?
sergik12
at 02:39pm on Mar 26, 2008
I like ARTMX high fees is a draw back but you are getting a solid product.
I also Like RYLPX again high fees but good returns and managment.
ARTIX is very interesting with high fees but also one of my favorites.
sergik12
at 03:07pm on Mar 26, 2008
Personaly i would take the 3 i just mentioned and add an index fund for safety and to balance out the fees
Mario
at 03:49pm on Mar 26, 2008
ok, so here’s what i’m thinking.
ARTIX = 30%
ARTMX = 25%
RYL1Z = 15%
BSCFX = 15%
SWPIX = 15%
What do you think? Diverse enough/too much?
sergik12
at 04:01pm on Mar 26, 2008
Mario I’m not a financial planer I can’t really tell you how much to invest and into what fund. I can only tell you the funds that I personaly like. Why don’t you contact Jim or any other financial planer, I don’t think you would have to pay for using a financial planer.
Mario
at 04:17pm on Mar 26, 2008
Wait a minute…. isn’t this the money ANSWER tree? well whatta hell is this website good for if not for personal opinions?
lol
It’s okay, thanks for spending the time and getting back to me. I’m just looking for a different perspective/view.
pbucelwicz
at 09:03pm on Jul 3, 2008
So what did you pick?