• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Stock Thread 2018

Do you have experience buying gold ETFs? Do you recommend them?

I recommend staying far away from the ETFs.

The single-best way to be exposed to gold is in the form of physical ownership. Bullion bars, minted coins, jewelry, anything physical. Only use those funds that are absolutely dedicated to long-term investment... never buy more than you can comfortably keep without needing to sell it for anything less than a life-threatening emergency. It is the ultimate "set it and forget it" investment.

A distant second, and yet one that offers much greater ROI potential, are:

- shares of mining companies (individual stocks > mutual funds)
- shares of companies that own royalties & streams in gold mining
- shares of companies that supply equipment/services/financing to gold mining companies

Don't forget about silver, too.
 
Good Afternoon:

What are your thoughts about Alibaba (BABA) as a long-term hold? I bought a small position a short time back and it's gone mostly backwards. I fully expected and am prepared for a rocky ride with it.
 
I recommend staying far away from the ETFs.

The single-best way to be exposed to gold is in the form of physical ownership. Bullion bars, minted coins, jewelry, anything physical. Only use those funds that are absolutely dedicated to long-term investment... never buy more than you can comfortably keep without needing to sell it for anything less than a life-threatening emergency. It is the ultimate "set it and forget it" investment.

A distant second, and yet one that offers much greater ROI potential, are:

- shares of mining companies (individual stocks > mutual funds)
- shares of companies that own royalties & streams in gold mining
- shares of companies that supply equipment/services/financing to gold mining companies

Don't forget about silver, too.

I appreciate your feedback :thumbup
 
Good Afternoon:

What are your thoughts about Alibaba (BABA) as a long-term hold? I bought a small position a short time back and it's gone mostly backwards. I fully expected and am prepared for a rocky ride with it.

I like the company a lot. The issue is global trade growth, or the lack thereof in this case. So many question marks moving forward...
 
it's about that time: annual benefits enrollment

i am considering a medical plan with a health savings account (HSA).


all that i know is that the immediate benefit is that they are pre-tax dollars and is portable.


can anyone share what kind of options you have to help the unused balance grow? are the options limited? it does not seem that all transparent from the outside ...
 
Just checked my account and down mucho dinero this past month :(
I don't feel like going for a walk today

12172916.jpg
 
Just checked my account and down mucho dinero this past month :(
I don't feel like going for a walk today

12172916.jpg

If you haven't been looking, the last week has shown a strong turn around. Yes, the last month was actually a large downside event. (That's what we call a fucking disaster.)
 
it's about that time: annual benefits enrollment

i am considering a medical plan with a health savings account (HSA).


all that i know is that the immediate benefit is that they are pre-tax dollars and is portable.


can anyone share what kind of options you have to help the unused balance grow? are the options limited? it does not seem that all transparent from the outside ...

Here are the options my company offers. A quick cut and paste so it looks a little crude. Name, Symbol, Category, Minimum required:

MFS Conservative Allocation MACJX $100.00
MFS Moderate Allocation MAMJX $100.00
MFS Growth Allocation MAGJX Growth Allocation $100.00
MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation MAALX Aggressive Allocation $100.00
Vanguard Equity Income VEIRX Large Cap Value $100.00
Schwab S&P 500 Index SWPPX Large Cap Blend $100.00
Vanguard Growth Index VIGIX Large Cap Growth $100.00
Vanguard Extended Market Index VIEIX Mid Cap Blend $100.00
Delaware Small Cap Value DEVIX Small Cap Value $100.00
Schwab Small Cap Stock Index SWSSX Small Cap Blend $100.00
Janus Henderson Triton Fund A Shares JGMNX Small Cap Growth $100.00
MFS International Value MINJX International $100.00
PIMCO International StocksPlus TR PISIX International $100.00
Oppenheimer Developing Markets ODVIX International $100.00
Loomis Sayles Ltd Term Govt and Agcy NELYX Fixed Income $100.00
PIMCO TOTAL RETURN FUND PTTRX Fixed Income $100.00
BlackRock Total Return MPHQX Fixed Income $100.00
Ivy High Income IVHIX Fixed Income $100.00
Schwab Target 2020 SWCRX Target Date $100.00
Schwab Target 2030 SWDRX Target Date $100.00
Schwab Target 2040 SWERX Target Date $100.00
Schwab Target 2050 SWNRX Target Date $100.00
Schwab Target 2060 SWPRX Target Date $100.00
AllianzGI NFJ Mid-Cap Value PRNIX Mid Cap Value $100.00
Principal MidCap PCBIX Mid Cap Blend $100.00
 
If you haven't been looking, the last week has shown a strong turn around. Yes, the last month was actually a large downside event. (That's what we call a fucking disaster.)

I didn't look at my account last week.
APPL & FB have been a kick to the gonads and they're still down. I suppose I could look at this as an opportunity but I'm sitting tight for now.
 
I didn't look at my account last week.
APPL & FB have been a kick to the gonads and they're still down. I suppose I could look at this as an opportunity but I'm sitting tight for now.

That's the problem with buying opportunities. If you wait to find out that they were one, you find out by stock prices going up, :laughing.
 
Bought IVV (S&P 500 index ETF) shortly before market close, with some spare cash in the IRA. They say the market always goes up after an election. We'll see. :)
 
Go with the appropriate target date fund and sleep well at night.

I have Vanguard through work and I believe that target funds are an option for me.

Anyone want to chime in on this strategy?


Current funds (That I picked LOOOOONG ago):
Vanguard Strategic Equity fund
" Institutional Index fund Admiral shares
" Wellesley Income Fund Admiral shares

Disclaimer: I am admittedly a financial noob. I am just beginning to do more than just dump $$ into my account. My account is growing (After 20 years of deposits) to a point where I am getting nervous about protecting/growing it.

Am I going to need a flame suit for posting this, HOPE NOT!
 
If you have neither the time nor inclination to actively manage and research, the target funds can be a decent alternative. Sometimes they get pretty bond heavy, which may end up biting you in the ass, as opposed to stock heavy, which can also bite you in the ass. :laughing
 
from the target date funds I've been offered, I have observed much higher account maintenance fees than other funds. something to be aware of, I guess.
 
from the target date funds I've been offered, I have observed much higher account maintenance fees than other funds. something to be aware of, I guess.
Your 401k?

Your employer must have picked shitty funds (like Primerica), or they didn't negotiate the fees down much.

The Fidelity target funds in my 401k are like 0.3% or 0.4% fee, last I checked

Is that higher than an index fund, sure.....but its not an index fund
 
Your 401k?

Your employer must have picked shitty funds (like Primerica), or they didn't negotiate the fees down much.

The Fidelity target funds in my 401k are like 0.3% or 0.4% fee, last I checked

Is that higher than an index fund, sure.....but its not an index fund

I never really gave it much thought. I assumed that since there would be more work to do on their side to give an appropriate mix year by year as the target date nears, the fees would justifiably be higher. And they are. For those who don't wish to do anything active with their 401k, the extra cost is probably better than letting the 401k go unmanaged.
 
Back
Top