What effects do maturity and duration have on Bond ETF performance? How important is each of the two criteria, and what are good ranges to look for? Is bond duration listed, or does it have to be calculated? Google is your best friend. No disrespect but the definitions are concise and understandabl...

What effects do maturity and duration have on Bond ETF performance?
How important is each of the two criteria, and what are good ranges to look for?
Is bond duration listed, or does it have to be calculated?

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Thank you,

---Robert

What are the acceptable Bond ETFs for the Permanent Portfolio? In particular, are VGLT, TLO, and TLT all satisfactory holdings?  Are there any others? And what about replacing the cumulative position of 25% Cash, 25% Long Term Treasury with 50% Intermediate Term Treasuries? -- Thank you, ---Robert

The guys running Berkshire are getting very old.  An article on cbsmarketwatch.com said their new hires did not beat the s & p 500 in 2014. The no fees idea is nice but VTI may be the better bet. Yeah, I'm wondering what'll happen to Berkshire Hathaway when Buffett departs.  What'll be it's pri...

mukramesh wrote: Why use Berkshire Hathaway? In your opinion, what advantage is there in using it over a general stock index for the PP?

Berkshire Hathaway is a multinational conglomeration of a diverse array of stocks  picked by a guy who has beaten the S&P repeatedly, and with lower fees than any ETF.

Why not BRKB: Berkshire Hathaway INC for the stock portion of the Permanent Portfolio?

MachineGhost wrote:

robtkatz wrote: What is the method for trend-following?

Simple MA, etc..

Is there a reference that explains this in detail?  I don't know much about it.

I meant that if you did more than 25% cash to reduce the portfolio risk, it will will reduce the return and increase retirement shortfall risk.  I can't remember, but I think even at 50% cash the PP still had a moderate MaxDD, maybe -15% or so.  In other words, raising the cash level isn't quite as...

Hello, who is using different allocation than 25-25-25-25% ? And why? Thank you and great 2015! Frugal, one might use a different allocation in order to cut down volatility.  As an old timer, the most important thing for me is to do the best I can while keeping the draw-downs low. Here's a model of...

During the period of January 5th, 2005 through today (January 5th, 2015), the PP returned a nominal CAGR of 7.62% ... It's even better than that, Stick.  The free version of ETFreplay doesn't do re-balancing.  If one re-balanced every year to 25, 25, 25, 25, then the CAGR comes out to an impressive...

Pointedstick wrote: You don't like selling high and buying low?

Good one, Stick !

Right now, my Permanent Portfolio Allocation looks like this: 18% SHY: iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF 30% TLT: iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF 17% IAU: iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF 35% IJR: iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund ETF According to the guidelines, I o...

For the cash portion of my Permanent Portfolio, I'm using IEF: iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF .  Is that a good proxy for Cash ? Nah. Cash isn't where you want your volatility. Stick to SHV, SHY, or treasuries. The more you increase the duration on the bonds you use for cash, the...

For the cash portion of my Permanent Portfolio, I'm using IEF: iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF.  Is that a good proxy for Cash?

For my Permanent Portfolio Stock Allocation, I'm using, IJR: iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund ETF instead of IVV: iShares Core S&P 500 Index Fund ETF.  Is that a good substitute?

Cool, so you'll be drawing down the bonds, and then rebalancing back into them occasionally.  You'll be doing with the bonds what is usually done with the cash.  Sounds like it would work. You ask "too risky?"  As Harry would say, that's the wrong question.  A somewhat meaningless questio...

LC475 wrote: How will you pay your bills?

What will you do if an unexpected expense comes up?

Right now, I expect to withdraw about ½% per month.  TLT is commission free at Fidelity, so I'd sell some of that.

I'm thinking of doing something like this:

• 33% IJR iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund ETF
• 37% TLT iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF
• 30% IAU iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF
• 0% cash

Is that too risky?