Like most 401k plans, the bond choices are very very limited. I have similar issue with limited 401K options. For stocks there is an excellent low cost Vanguard S&P 500 fund. For cash there is no Money Market Fund option, just a Stable Value Fund which does maintain $1 per share value, but curr...

One of my favorite emergency fund vehicles are iBonds. Takes a while to build them up, but they adjust for inflation, you can cash them out in $1 increments after the first year, and the penalties for early withdrawal are small for the first 5 years (like 3 months interest on the amount youre takin...

I agree that investors in general should question the basic assumption that U.S. treasury bonds are free of credit risk. I don't question the basic assumption that U.S. treasury bonds are free of credit risk. Or any other country that issues debt repayable in its own currency - they can always prin...

I allocated it to a Golden Butterfly (GB) portfolio. Now I'm getting cold feet about the gold portion. Given the record highs lately, it *feels* like it has nowhere to go but down. I felt that way buying long term treasurys near highs. It seemed they had nowhere to go but down. Sure enough they did...

I suspect that the paper-gold to physical gold ratio will further increase from recent 122:1 levels. Looks like a big buyer, 100Bn, perhaps Russia, buying 1500 tonnes of physical gold, via Options (expiry settlement in physical gold rather than cash). With current sanctions those trades being appli...

I suspect that the paper-gold to physical gold ratio will further increase from recent 122:1 levels. Looks like a big buyer, 100Bn, perhaps Russia, buying 1500 tonnes of physical gold, via Options (expiry settlement in physical gold rather than cash). With current sanctions those trades being appli...

I am fascinated by leveraged ETNs such as UPRO, a 3X S&P ETN, and a new one, XXXX, a 4X S&P ETN. While I'm not interested in leveraged products, if I where to choose one, it would never be an ETN. ProShares UPRO does appear to be a standard ETF. This new XXXX offering from BMO is an Exchang...

My LTTs are 15.8%. I think I'm ready to rebalance. In Fidelity accounts, what is better for buying LTT funds: TLT ETF or FNBGX index? I currently already have both. I use FNBGX because I prefer Mutual Fund structure over ETF where possible. FNBGX is also incredibly inexpensive at 0.03% ER. If this ...

I Shrugged wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:28 pm Big move in gold today. Why?

Stocks down, gold and long treasurys up today - I assumed it was traders' flight to safety going into the weekend due to recent geopolitical events.

Been getting really into zombie apocalypse games and movies lately. Throw me some suggestions if you have any. Lighthearted: Zombieland Not-so-lighthearted: 28 Days Later Thanks! O0 Dead Set is a must see in that genre. Set in a British Big Brother house. 5 short episodes you can watch in one sitti...

Seriously, Vinny. Please lay off posting for a few hours at least. Not sure what you are trying to do by starting a million new threads and posting in every other one. Enough is enough. This has been going on for at least a year if not 2, and you guys are just now getting annoyed? Seriously? Naahh,...

Thought they failed it does not look like they cost anyone anything? If by anyone you mean depositors, yes that's true - they were made whole by the bank itself. “In light of recent industry and regulatory developments, Silvergate believes that an orderly wind down of Bank operations and a voluntar...

That's quite the snowman profile on the right side! Also, I was wondering where is Silvergate bank on the list for 2023? I know it wasn't very big compared to the other three, but was as big as a few others on the list from earlier years. Apparently, while it was FDIC insured, it was a voluntary sh...

That's quite the snowman profile on the right side!

Is the idea behind the Permanent Portfolio and Golden Butterfly only needing domestic US stocks (for US investors) that the gold provides sufficient hedging against foreign exchange movements? Yes, that is the idea I have come to believe (at least for US investors). Tyler has an article on Portfoli...

yankees60 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 7:31 am Does Texas have state income taxes?

Hell no!!!

But we make up for it in property taxes.

Does anyone know of a good Small Cap Value fund without a large allocation to Small Cap "Value" financials. I want to make a purchase but Vanguards VBR, I believe, has over 20 percent in financials at the moment. Looks like funds based on CRSP US Small Cap Value index (e.g. VBR) and Russe...

Is there any general correlation between the strength of the US dollar and the returns that a US investor will get from a broad foreign stock index fund? ... But again my followup would be to ask whether there is even a weak correlation, in other words if the dollar is strengthening is it more like...

snedgar wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:07 pm The article seems cluncky and uninspired to me.

I wonder if it was written by AI?

I wonder if it was written by AI? lol - I had exactly the same thought!

If I recall correctly, in the Money Show radio archives he recommended the S&P 500 fund. Yes, S&P 500 fund for the stock allocation is my recollection from multiple episodes of the radio show. Below is my "strict" interpretation of the Permanent Portfolio philosophy: In October 10...

For the past decade, I've focused on building up cash reserves in my taxable investment account. Cash was ideal for taxable because it threw off almost no interest and of course had no gains. Whereas, I was preferring to load up my Roth IRA with stocks because of their growth potential. Now the sit...

Hi All, I did a quick search on this forum and did not find much in relation to IRA-approved international gold custodians. Diversification is a good thing and I think that would apply to physical gold held by a custodian internationally for a portion of assets. If anyone has information or referen...

Why are treasuries priced in $100 increments i.e. 99.730 but sold in $1000 increments? Seems like a bond in this example would be priced at $997.30. I'm sure there is a simple, obvious reason. Per Investopedia at https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bondquote.asp "A bond quote is the last pric...

When did this happen? I just learned of this from snedgar in the other thread. This at least feels like lower counter party risk with some higher fees. https://www.fidelity.com/trading/investment-choices/gold-silver-platinum Buying and selling fees: Fees5 Gross amount Percent charged on gross amoun...

I'm sure some wiser people will chime in. I don't know your age or tax situation, but I think I would liquidate something at breakeven in taxable rather than mess with my Roth before I have to, myself. Just my two cents. (Just my two gold slivers). I should have mentioned what I have already in tax...