on 2009/06/29 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]

Both of the funds that we recommended last week have had excellent gains. IBB, a biotech fund, has earned 4.43% in a week. FXI, a fund that tracks the Chinese stock market, has earned 6.35%. By comparison, the S&P 500 index is up 2.90%. This week, we are going completely into cash. The coming week [...]

on 2009/06/22 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]

We pick the mix of investments that maximizes the expected return while not exceeding a fixed maximum risk. This week, we are recommending a fund that follows biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and another fund that follows large Chinese companies.

on 2009/06/15 by Alex, [TSP,Thrift Savings Plan]

We pick the mix of investments that maximizes the expected return while not exceeding a fixed maximum risk. As stocks are growing stronger, we are moving more money into them in our Balanced allocation. The Lifecycle 2030 fund, which we are recommending, currently keeps about 71% of its money in stocks. However, since the risk [...]

on 2009/06/15 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]

Our highest return last week came from DPC, an international consumer discretionary stock fund. It has earned 3.0% in a week. This week, we are recommending a fund of stocks from developed markets (excluding US) that have relative strength; an energy sector fund; a fund of US IPO’s; and, once again, a municipal bond fund. [...]

on 2009/06/08 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds,FAQ]

For the past two weeks, our ETF newsletter has been heavily invested in municipal bond ETF’s. I’ve received an email from a reader saying that his retirement account does not allow him to trade in muni funds. I had hoped that, as a replacement, I could find a non-muni ETF that was highly correlated to [...]

on 2009/06/08 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]

Our ETF newsletter is off to a great start. In the past week, our Conservative allocation has made 1.3%, though our Balanced allocation did lose 0.4%. Our highest return last week came from AFB, a municipal bond fund that returned 1.7%. A large part of that return came from a dividend that was paid out [...]

on 2009/06/01 by Alex, [Testimonials]

Alex, these are very interesting and trying times. I’ve never seen anything like it before. As you mention in your website, we are limited in the TSP on how to invest our money, so we obviously need to do it as wisely as we can. I look forward to your thoughts and ideas. I agreed [...]

on 2009/06/01 by Alex, [Testimonials]

I appreciate the effort that has gone into producing your excellent website and free guidance for investors. -L.M.

on 2009/06/01 by Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]

We pick the mix of investments that maximizes the expected return while not exceeding a fixed maximum risk. Stocks have shown a lot of strength in recent weeks. Although broad-based stock index funds have lost over 30% in the past year, they’ve been in a steady uptrend since March. It is now safe to start [...]

on 2009/06/01 by Alex, [TSP,Thrift Savings Plan]

We pick the mix of investments that maximizes the expected return while not exceeding a fixed maximum risk. In the past month, we have, once again, made a little money in bonds and the money market. Stocks have shown a lot of strength in recent weeks. Although the stock funds have lost over 30% in [...]