• The Best Stock Funds In The Long-Term

    The Best Stock Funds In The Long-Term

    In this newsletter, we unveil the ‘best’ long-term stock mutual fund! We discuss its investment methodology and use our own unique tools to measure it against other excellent long-term stock funds.

  • Asset Allocation Portfolio Templates for 401(k) Investments

    Asset Allocation Portfolio Templates for 401(k) Investments

    This article shows the most popular asset allocation core portfolio templates for long-term investments such as a retirement investment account like 401(k) account, IRA or a taxable brokerage account.

  • Four-Step Guide for 401(k) Retirement Investing

    Four-Step Guide for 401(k) Retirement Investing

    Navigating the complex world of 401(k) retirement investing can be daunting, especially when faced with many investment options. However, by following these four simple steps, you can prudently construct your investment portfolios that suit your personal situation. These four steps are: Risk Assessment, Asset Allocation, Investment Selection, Disciplined Rebalancing & Staying the Course — RAID for short. Step 1: Risk Assessment Before delving into the array of investment options or funds given in your plan, it’s crucial to define your risk profile and investment horizon. Consider the following sub-steps: Once you have decided how much your risk asset allocation should be, the next step is to pick an asset allocation. Step 2: Asset Allocation Now that you’ve defined your risk profile, the next step is to determine the allocation of assets within your chosen risk profile. A straightforward yet effective approach to determining asset allocation is to select a template from various well-known lazy portfolios recommended by investment experts. These templates have been widely used by financial advisors and investment managers. Subsequently, adjust the risk asset allocation based on your risk profile. For further details, refer to Asset Allocation Portfolio Templates. Note: The asset allocation template you choose should align with the investment options available in your 401(k) plan. For instance, if your plan offers only US stock and bond funds, you will need to select a template that accommodates these two asset classes. Step 3: Investment Selection For each asset class you choose to invest, you’ll need to decide what funds in this asset class in your plan’s avaiable investment options to invest. There are several simple criteria one should follow: Step 4: Disciplined Rebalance & Stay the Course Set up a schedule for regular portfolio reviews and rebalancing to ensure that your asset allocation remains aligned with your long-term financial goals. It’s recommended to be cautious about excessive rebalancing, as it can potentially harm your investment returns, especially when done without a systematic and sound strategy. For the average investor, an annual rebalancing approach could be a prudent choice. Refer to the AAII (American Association for Individual Investors) article Selecting Asset Classes for Retirement Investments or this link on our site for more discussions on asset classes and fund choices. Disclaimer: The information provided above is for educational purposes only. If your specific situations require it, it is advisable to consult with a financial advisor or a professional to address your individual needs and circumstances.

  • Quality Business Models Triumph: What Insurance Broker Stock Returns Can Teach Us

    Quality Business Models Triumph: What Insurance Broker Stock Returns Can Teach Us

    In this newsletter, we highlight stocks from a particularly excellent yet somewhat surprising industry—insurance brokers—that have consistently delivered higher returns compared to stock indexes such as the S&P 500.

  • Gold’s Long-Term Performance: Historical Returns and Key Drivers

    Gold’s Long-Term Performance: Historical Returns and Key Drivers

    We review gold’s long-term returns since 1971. We further examine key drivers that are behind gold returns and point out these factors, inflation, inflation expectation, interest rates, economic uncertainties, international demand and geopolitical events, have a more complex relationship with gold prices.

  • 150+ Years of Long-Term Earnings and Stock Returns of the ‘Conglomerate’ of Collective S&P 500 Index Companies

    150+ Years of Long-Term Earnings and Stock Returns of the ‘Conglomerate’ of Collective S&P 500 Index Companies

    We look at over 150 years data on S&P 500 earnings and total returns. We then study the rolling returns and compare it with a moving average based portfolio. We conclude that S&P 500 index represents a fantastic ‘business’ to own.

  • Factor ETFs For Diversification & Return Improvement

    Factor ETFs For Diversification & Return Improvement

    We review smart factor ETFs and a momentum portfolio based on these factor ETFs. We argue that major factor ETFs like Quality, Momentum, GARP, Minimum Volatility, Value and Size all have potential to outperform cap-weighted stock indexes such as S&P 500. These ETFs can be effective builindg components for a core portfolio.

  • Newsletter Collection Update

    Newsletter Collection Update

    We list our latest newsletter articles since last update and briefly overview current market conditions

  • Foreign Stock Investments — Currency Hedged Or Not?

    Foreign Stock Investments — Currency Hedged Or Not?

    We delve into the details to examine the role of currency-hedged ETFs in international stock investing within an asset allocation portfolio.

  • Unlocking Investment Potentials With 401(k) Brokerage Link Accounts

    Unlocking Investment Potentials With 401(k) Brokerage Link Accounts

    We discuss the pros and cons of 401(k) brokerage link accounts

  • Ranking Biggest 401(K) Stock And Bond Funds

    Ranking Biggest 401(K) Stock And Bond Funds

    We discuss how to utilize our newly upgraded free comparison tool to better evaluate and compare ETFs, mutual funds and portfolios using rolling returns

  • Rolling Returns: A Better Way To Evaluate & Compare Investments

    Rolling Returns: A Better Way To Evaluate & Compare Investments

    We discuss how to utilize our newly upgraded free comparison tool to better evaluate and compare ETFs, mutual funds and portfolios using rolling returns

  • Index Funds As Businesses — Fundamental Indexing

    Index Funds As Businesses — Fundamental Indexing

    Introducing fundamental index funds that align with business owner’s approach in investing. We also show how these funds have consistently outperformed.

  • Investing In Industries With Better Business Models To Outperform Market Indexes

    Investing In Industries With Better Business Models To Outperform Market Indexes

    Investing in ‘good’ industry sectors that exhibit strong business models can beat a broad base market index like S&P 500

  • S&P Good Sectors Review

    S&P Good Sectors Review

    We examine the latest business metrics for the four favorable S&P 500 sectors and discuss the latest performance of the portfolios using these sector ETFs as candidate funds.

  • The State of The Economy, Market Trends, Valuation, And Internals

    The State of The Economy, Market Trends, Valuation, And Internals

    We review the state of the economy, market trends, valuation and internals.

  • Rules of Thumb For The New Year

    Rules of Thumb For The New Year

    Start the new year with 9 sensible and useful rules of thumbs in personal finance, savings & retirement investing.

  • Best Active Bond ETFs

    Best Active Bond ETFs

    Presenting the best 7 actively managed bond ETFs. We further discuss how to utilize these excellent funds to build an outperforming bond ETF portfolio.

  • Morningstar Manager Awards

    This page tracks the historical record of the annual Morningstar Awards. Before 2019, Morningstar presented separate fund and portfolio manager awards in four categories: Domestic Stock, International Stock, Fixed Income, and Allocation/Alternative.  However, since 2019, there has been a change in award categories to include Outstanding Portfolio Manager, Exemplary Stewardship, and Rising Talent. The purpose is to keep track of outstanding managers and their funds, especially in fixed income category that will serve as candidate funds for MyPlanIQ total return bond fund portfolios listed on the Income Investor page. History of Morningstar Manager Awards 2022 Outstanding Portfolio Manager: Mary Ellen Stanek, Baird (Baird Core Bond fund manager) Exemplary Stewardship: PRIMECAP 2021 Outstanding Portfolio Manager: Joel Tillinghast, Fidelity Exemplary Stewardship: Dodge & Cox. Rising Talent: Sonali Pier, Pimco (PIMICO Diversified Income manager) 2020 Outstanding Portfolio Manager: Jerome Clark, T. Rowe Price Exemplary Stewardship: T. Rowe Price (T. Rowe Price Corporate Bond Fund has Morningstar Gold rating) Rising Talent: Mohit Mittal, Pimco 2019 Outstanding Portfolio Manager: Dan Fuss, Loomis Sayles Bond (Loomis Sayles total return bond fund) Exemplary Stewardship: The Vanguard Group Rising Talent: James Marchetti, PRIMECAP Odyssey Aggressive Growth 2017 Domestic Stock: Steven Wymer; Fidelity Growth Company International Stock: Sarah Ketterer, Harry Hartford, and team; Causeway International Value Fixed Income: Michael Collins, Robert Tipp, Richard Piccirillo, and Gregory Peters; Prudential Total Return Bond Allocation/Alternatives: David Giroux; T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation 2016 Domestic Stock: David Wallack, T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value International Stock: David Herro, Oakmark International Fixed Income: Ford O’Neil and team, Fidelity Total Bond Allocation/Alternatives: Equity and Fixed-Income Investment Policy Committees, Dodge and Cox Balanced 2015 Domestic Stock: Keith Lee, Robert Hall, Kempton Ingersol, Damien Davis, and Andrew Fones, Brown Capital Management Small Company International Stock: Robert Lovelace and team, American Funds New Perspective Fixed Income: Jerome Schneider and team, PIMCO Short-Term Alternatives: James Troyer, Michael Roach, and James Stetler, Vanguard Market Neutral Allocation: John Keogh and Michael Reckmeyer, Vanguard Wellesley Income 2014 Domestic Stock: Theo Kolokotrones, Joel Fried, Al Mordecai, Mohsin Ansari, and James Marchetti, Primecap Odyssey Aggressive Growth, Primecap Odyssey Growth, Primecap Odyssey Stock, Vanguard Capital Opportunity, Vanguard Primecap Core, and Vanguard Primecap International Stock: Charles Pohl, Diana Strandberg, and team, Dodge and Cox International Stock Fixed Income: Ken Leech, Carl Eichstaedt, and Mark Lindbloom, Western Asset Core Bond and Western Asset Core Plus Bond Alternatives: Robert T. Jones and Ali Motamed, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Allocation: Anne Lester and team, JPMorgan SmartRetirement target-date series 2013 Domestic Stock: Dennis Lynch and team, Morgan Stanley Focus Growth, Morgan Stanley Institutional Growth, Morgan Stanley Institutional Mid Cap Growth, and Morgan Stanley Institutional Small Company Growth International Stock: David Samra and Daniel O’Keefe, Artisan International Value and Artisan Global Value Fixed Income: Daniel J. Ivascyn and Alfred T. Murata, PIMCO Income Alternatives: Brian Hurst, Yao Hua Ooi, and team, AQR Managed Futures Strategy I Allocation: Steven Romick, Mark Landecker, and Brian Selmo, FPA Crescent 2012 Domestic Stock: Bill Frels and Mark Henneman, Mairs and Power Growth International Stock: Rajiv Jain, Virtus Foreign Opportunities and Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fixed Income: Mark Kiesel, PIMCO Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Alternatives: The team of Eric Newman, Kevin Gates, Larry Eiben, Richard Gates, Chao Chen, and Yan Liu, TFS Market Neutral Allocation: David Giroux, T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation 2011 Domestic Stock: Scott Satterwhite, James Kieffer, and George Sertl, Artisan Mid Cap Value, Artisan Small Cap Value, and Artisan Value International Stock: William Browne, John Spears, Tom Shrager, and Bob Wyckoff, Tweedy, Browne Global Value Fixed Income: John Carlson, Fidelity New Markets Income 2010 Domestic Stock: Bob Goldfarb and David Poppe, Sequoia International Stock: Brent Lynn, Janus Overseas Fixed Income: Michael Hasenstab, Templeton Global Bond 2009 Domestic Stock: Bruce Berkowitz, Fairholme International Stock: The team, American Funds EuroPacific Growth A Fixed Income: The team, Loomis Sayles Bond 2008 Domestic Stock: Charlie Dreifus, Royce Special Equity International Stock: David Samra and Daniel O’Keefe, Artisan International Value Fixed Income: Bob Rodriguez and Tom Atteberry, FPA New Income 2007 Domestic Stock: Will Danoff, Fidelity Contrafund and Fidelity Advisor New Insights International Stock: Hakan Castegren and the Northern Cross Team, Harbor International Fixed Income: Bill Gross and Team, PIMCO Total Return and Harbor Bond 2006 Domestic Stock: O. Mason Hawkins and Staley Cates, Longleaf Partners Fund and Longleaf Partners Small Cap International Stock: David Herro, Oakmark International and Oakmark International Small Cap Fixed Income: Jeffrey Gundlach, TCW Total Return Bond 2005 Domestic Stock: Chris Davis and Ken Feinberg, Selected American S International Stock: Rob Lyon, Matt Pickering and Jerrold Senser, ICAP International Fixed Income: Tad Rivelle, David Lippman, Laird Landmann and Stephan Kane Metropolitan West Total Return Bond 2004 Domestic Stock: Brian Berghuis, T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth International Stock: Bryan C. Cameron, Mario C. DiPrisco, Jacob M. Gofman, John A. Gunn, Gregory R. Serrurier, Diana S. Strandberg, and Kouji Yamada, Dodge and Cox International Stock Fixed Income: Ken Leech and team, Western Asset Core Bond 2003 Domestic Stock: Howard Schow, Theo Kolokotrones, Joel Fried, Vanguard Primecap and Vanguard Capital Opportunity International Stock: Bill Fries, Thornburg International Value Fixed Income: Fidelity’s Municipal Bond Fund Team, Fidelity Spartan Municipal Income 2002 Domestic Stock: Joel Tillinghast, Fidelity Low-Priced Stock International Stock: Rudolph-Riad Younes and Richard Pell, Julius Baer International Equity Fixed Income: Management Team, Dodge and Cox Income 2001 Domestic Stock: William C. Nygren, Oakmark Select International Stock: Jean-Marie Eveillard and Charles de Vaulx, First Eagle SoGen Global Fixed Income: Robert L. Rodriguez, FPA New Income 2000 Domestic Stock: Jim Gipson, Doug Grey, Peter Quinn, Michael Sandler, and Bruce Veaco, Clipper Fund International Stock: Christopher Browne, William Browne and John Spears, Tweedy Browne Global Value Fund Fixed Income: Bill Gross, PIMCO Total Return 1999 Domestic Stock: Jim Callinan, RS Emerging Growth International Stock: Europacific Growth Team (Stephen Bepler, Martial Chaillet, Mark Denning, Alwyn Heong, Robert Lovelace, Janet McKinley and Thierry Vandeventer) Fixed Income: Jerry Paul, Invesco High-Yield 1998 Domestic Stock: Bill Miller, Legg Mason Value Trust and Legg Mason Special Investment Trust International Stock: Mark Yockey, Artisan International Fund Fixed Income: Bill Gross and team, PIMCO Total Return, PIMCO Low Duration 1997 Domestic Stock: Mario Gabelli, Gabelli Asset Fund International Stock: Helen Young Hayes, Janus Overseas and Janus Worldwide Fixed Income: David Beldt, Morgan Grenfell Fixed-Income and Morgan Grenfell Municipal Bond *1996 Domestic Stock: Shelby Davis, Davis New York Venture and Selected American Shares Closed-End: Nick Adams, First Financial International Stock: Hakan Castegren, Harbor International and Ivy International Fixed Income: Joe Deane, Smith Barney Managed Municipals and Smith Barney California Municipals *1995 Domestic Stock: Jack Laporte, T. Rowe Price New Horizons International Stock: Jack Mussey, Colonial Newport Tiger Fixed Income: Dan Fuss, Loomis Sales Bond 1994 Bob Rodriguez, FPA Capital and FPA New Income 1993 Jeff Vinik, Fidelity Magellan 1992 Bill Dutton, Skyline Special Equities 1991 Donald Yacktman, Selected American Shares 1990 Martin Whitman, Equity Strategies 1989 Tom Marsico, Janus Twenty 1988 Peter Lynch, Fidelity Magellan 1987 Jerry Palmieri, Franklin Growth See Morningstar Hall of Fame page.

  • Best Active Bond Mutual Funds

    Best Active Bond Mutual Funds

    Presenting the best 13 actively managed bond mutual funds. We further discuss how to utilize these excellent funds to build an outperforming bond portfolio.