PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Discussion of funds that implement the Permanent Portfolio strategy

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buddtholomew
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by buddtholomew »

Gumby wrote: A storm is coming. The flight to cash has begun. Time to close up the windows.
Gumby-

What are you suggesting? Is this comment specific to PRPFX, the HBPP or any investment other than Cash?

Best-
Budd
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Ariadne22
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by Ariadne22 »

Well, I recently bought a small amount of PRPFX a couple of weeks ago at average cost of $49.24 without the EDV cushion.  So far, it has declined 6.4%.  Saw Cuggino on TV recently who said fund was up 7.6% for the year.  If things keep declining, PRPFX may show a 2-3% return this year, if that.

Wondering if I should sell or wait things out.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by Kel »

Today 9/23/2011

PRPFX -1.85%
HB ETF -1.73%

For the HB ETF -  I have been tracking since March 1 via yahoo portfolio....and rebalanced in August - this is not real money  as I was just trying to gauge my comfort level on the ETF version.
(HB ETF=IAU,SHY, TLT, VTI)
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AdamA
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by AdamA »

Ariadne22 wrote: Wondering if I should sell or wait things out.
My vote is on waiting it out, and maybe buying some TLT or EDV.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by longeyes »

Ariadne22 wrote: Well, I recently bought a small amount of PRPFX a couple of weeks ago at average cost of $49.24 without the EDV cushion.  So far, it has declined 6.4%.  Saw Cuggino on TV recently who said fund was up 7.6% for the year.   If things keep declining, PRPFX may show a 2-3% return this year, if that.

Wondering if I should sell or wait things out.
But still better than cash, right?
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by MediumTex »

longeyes wrote:
Ariadne22 wrote: Well, I recently bought a small amount of PRPFX a couple of weeks ago at average cost of $49.24 without the EDV cushion.  So far, it has declined 6.4%.  Saw Cuggino on TV recently who said fund was up 7.6% for the year.   If things keep declining, PRPFX may show a 2-3% return this year, if that.

Wondering if I should sell or wait things out.
But still better than cash, right?
I bought a little PRPFX yesterday and today.

The fear is pretty thick right now, but it won't stay this way forever.

Normally, when the mood is this foul it's a good time to buy.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by stone »

I was thinking the same thing as Medium Tex. I was planning on doubling the size of our PP on gold options expiry day next Tuesday. I guess that might pretty well be a bottom for the current gold rout ??? Stocks might have a further plunge if the euro finally gets disolved and all the banks go bust.
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stone
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by stone »

Ariadne "Well, I recently bought a small amount of PRPFX a couple of weeks ago at average cost of $49.24 without the EDV cushion.  So far, it has declined 6.4%.  Saw Cuggino on TV recently who said fund was up 7.6% for the year.  If things keep declining, PRPFX may show a 2-3% return this year, if that. Wondering if I should sell or wait things out."

For myself, I reason that whether or not to sell does not depend on what the price was when I bought an asset. All that matters is whether it makes sense to own it now and in the future. With hindesight it would have been better to have been 100% EDV a couple of weeks ago but we can never replay the past and so looking forward, the 90%PRPFX:10%EDV blend probably makes sense just as it generally does. Afterall  if we could replay the past, the best investment would be lottery tickets with the winning numbers :).
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by gizmo_rat »

stone wrote: I was planning on doubling the size of our PP on gold options expiry day next Tuesday. I guess that might pretty well be a bottom for the current gold rout.
Yep I plan to do something similar (having read through JESSE'S CAFÉ AMÉRICAIN blog when you mentioned it earlier this month)... unless I think of a reason to bottle it.
stone wrote: Stocks might have a further plunge if the euro finally gets disolved and all the banks go bust.
Ah yes thanks for that :)
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by MediumTex »

PRPFX should have a much better day today.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by MediumTex »

...and back to bad day mode today.

I think everyone is just selling everything right now.  Once everyone gets their cash and sits on it for a few months they will start buying everything they sold back again.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by longeyes »

I think you're right.  PRPFX and HBPP are still the best game in town.  I've been holding my nose and buying systematically.  This is a long-term play; always has been.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by pershing83 »

Glad to see you all are getting along well in spite of the fear and loathing which has not helped gold at all. I've watched all my PRPFX go from about 8% YTD to 0.39% YTD. Will anyone be kind enought to post the classic PP YTD number? TIA

PRPFX 12 mos return about 8%. I, for one would be delighted to get 2% out of PRPFX by EOY.

My old faithful Vanguard Wellesley (VWINX) is outperforming PRPFX on the YTD business; up 3.3% . 60% bonds/40%income stocks.

I noticed someone said they might be selling? Not a good idea IMO, after all you must do something with the money.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by Ad Orientem »

pershing83 wrote: Glad to see you all are getting along well in spite of the fear and loathing which has not helped gold at all. I've watched all my PRPFX go from about 8% YTD to 0.39% YTD. Will anyone be kind enought to post the classic PP YTD number? TIA

PRPFX 12 mos return about 8%. I, for one would be delighted to get 2% out of PRPFX by EOY.

My old faithful Vanguard Wellesley (VWINX) is outperforming PRPFX on the YTD business; up 3.3% . 60% bonds/40%income stocks.

I noticed someone said they might be selling? Not a good idea IMO, after all you must do something with the money.
My tracking of the HB-PP (4 x 25%) using GLD VTI TLT and SHY is up 8.12% YTD.  That is one of the problems with PRPFX.  It is weighted towards an inflationary scenario and has a higher volatility level than the HB-PP.  I still consider PRPFX as a good choice for conservative investors who don't want to be bothered with any sort of hands on management at all.  But yea, it's not perfect.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by longeyes »

I started my HBPP in February; up about 10 per cent year to date.  I wish I could say the same for my holdings in PRPFX.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by escafandro »

I would like to know the idea behind of having the HBPP and also the PRPFX.
What PRPFX adds or complement?
Last edited by escafandro on Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
longeyes
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by longeyes »

Why?  I wanted to compare the two strategies on the actual playing field (although I was aware of their historical records).  My interest in  PRPFX was initially in part because I wanted to use systematic withdrawals upon retirement and figured it might be easier to deal with that through PRPFX (less complicated).
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by dualstow »

I just got back from 2 1/2 weeks in China where I was unable (unwilling) to trade and unable to load my spreadsheets. I was able to check on TLT, GTU, VTI, etc.
Still, I was kind of surprised to see my HBPP well above my PRPFX for the first time. The latter has mostly been up 11-13% for me, and now it's up 8%. Still, no complaints. That's money that used to be in stocks and nothing else. Even with its $100 dollar drop in a single day, gold is up from where I bought it.

I'm very impressed with the performance of TLT and 30-year bonds held directly. They're doing their job, just like Harry said they would.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by Reub »

The problem with PRPFX is not enough LT and too much Swiss Francs. I have reduced my holding after the Swissie pegged to the Euro.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by Ariadne22 »

Well, after much rumination, I sold PRPFX completely after the latest runup Thursday, at a small loss.  Bought b/4 I learned it was short on LT and got put in the trick bag on the franc.  Plus don't like Wynn or Freeport McM.  So, converting to the PP.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by dualstow »

Ariadne22 wrote: Well, after much rumination, I sold PRPFX completely after the latest runup Thursday, at a small loss.  Bought b/4 I learned it was short on LT and got put in the trick bag on the franc.  Plus don't like Wynn or Freeport McM.  So, converting to the PP.
Glad to read that final sentence instead of a complete abandonment of the philosophy. I've been trying unsuccessfully to get my dad into long term treasuries for six months now. The more they go up, the more he insists it's too late. His bond guy finally got him into a gold fund that is light years from a pure play. Maybe I should give up proselytizing.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by MediumTex »

PRPFX should have a really nice day today.
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Re: PRPFX Got A Little Bloodied Today

Post by longeyes »

I'm getting comfortable with a portfolio split between a HBPP and PRPFX.  Each portfolio has its points.
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