PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Discussion of funds that implement the Permanent Portfolio strategy

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Dieter
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PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by Dieter » Tue Aug 02, 2016 1:13 pm

"Mutual-fund manager who is whipping the S&P 500 warns of inflation risks"
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mutual ... 2016-08-02

Held PRPFX for a short while. Would consider it for smaller accounts if it used index funds for the stock portion / lower expenses.

(I assume stock is at least partly their "AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO" -- expense ration > 1.2%)
clacy
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Re: PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by clacy » Tue Aug 02, 2016 4:52 pm

PRPFX is not a horrible option for those that want to be super hands off. It accomplishes most of what the HBPP aims for.

However, like you said, the fees are excessive for someone that is competent enough to manage a 4 fund portfolio on their own.
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KevinW
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Re: PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by KevinW » Fri Aug 05, 2016 1:18 am

The short take on PRPFX: it's a convenient, legitimate one-fund PP; expense ratio is quite high; the asset allocation is not 4x25, but is in the same ballpark; it does not always track the 4x25, but that's well explained by the asset allocation differences; returns and volatility are pretty close to the 4x25.

Ultimately I think a DIY 4x25 is better, particularly due to the lower expenses and ability to hold physical gold directly.

But it's still nice having PRPFX in our toolbox for certain corner cases. It's one of the few viable vehicles for a PP in the $1,000-$5,000 range. DW has a lame 401k that bans ETFs and gold but allows PRPFX, so she holds that. Once I had to rollover between brokers with different $0 commission lists, but both have no transaction fee on PRPFX, so I exchanged my 4x25 for PRPFX, did the rollover, then exchanged PRPFX back to a 4x25 made of slightly different funds. That way I was fully invested in a PP during the rollover and paid no fees.
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dualstow
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Re: PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by dualstow » Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:45 am

I think Medium Tex used to refer to Cuggino as an engineer, as in the guy with the black and white striped hat that merely drives the train.
I'm glad the article mentions Harry Browne and Terry Coxon.

PRPFX is closer to the original plan for the pp, which did include silver, before Browne whittled away what he felt was unnecessary.
I might buy shares again if I ever had to open a new account that only had a few thousand $ in it.
RIP Marcello Gandini
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ochotona
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Re: PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by ochotona » Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:20 am

not sure I see the point of PRPFX


1 VTI, TLT, Cash, GLD
2 PRPFX

Portfolio Returns 2005-2016

Portfolio performance statistics
# Initial Balance Final Balance CAGR Std.Dev. Best Year Worst Year Max. Drawdown Sharpe Ratio Sortino Ratio US Mkt Correlation
1 $10,000 $21,882 6.74% 6.94% 13.96% -3.02% -12.59% 0.80 1.38 0.38
2 $10,000 $19,612 5.77% 9.76% 19.31% -8.36% -19.13% 0.51 0.77 0.66
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dualstow
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Re: PRPFX article on MarketWatch

Post by dualstow » Sat Jan 07, 2017 7:39 pm

I guess it's for those who want one-and-done with no rebalancing.
- those who don't want to buy physical gold,
- and most importantly those who don't want to see how the sausage is made,
i.e. don't want to see individual sinking assets.

But, I agree, we could do better.
RIP Marcello Gandini
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