Featured Articles
Products of the Pros: Index Funds
Jennifer Saranow Schultz of the New York Times talked to Richard Ferri, founder of Portfolio Solutions to find out where he invests...
MyPlanIQ's observation is that this is a four asset class portfolio (Bonds, US, international and real estate) with a strategic asset allocation. With our SIBs, and an agressive portfolio (20% fixed income) we would expect to see returns along the lines of:
Schwab Announces three New Bond ETFs
Charles Schwab announced on Thursday three new, low-cost bond exchange-traded funds with no online trading commissions for Schwab clients.
We view this is a very positive step for Schwab: our recent study showed that, though relatively young, Schwab ETFs have mostly outperformed their counter parts offered by low cost leader Vanguard and volume leader iShares. With the fixed income bond ETFs, it is no getting closer (not completely there yet, though) for an investor to fully build an effective commission free ETF portfolio.
More Featured Articles »
Best of The Web
Young Millionaires Skeptical of Need for Advisors
Young millionaires doubt the value of financial advisors, according to Spectrem Group.
According to the Chicago-based company’s monthly newsletter, millionaires under the age of 45 say that they prefer self-directed investing and they find the services of a professional advisor to be too expensive.
Cheaper Choice in 401(k)s
An increasing number of 401(k) plans offer investment options that look a lot like the typical mutual funds. But they're actually a whole different animal—and investors would be smart to know the difference. These alternatives are instruments from banks that are known as collective investment trusts or collective trust funds. They typically have lower expenses than funds, making them attractive to plan overseers and cost-conscious investors, who can see their returns enhanced.
Worried about A Double-Dip
Charles Rotblut, CFA and editor of the AAII Journal gives a sound perspective on the uncertainties in the market today.
The estimates of second-quarter GDP growth are starting to appear. Bloomberg’s consensus forecast calls for the U.S. economy to have expanded at a 2.5% pace. The actual reported number will be revised in subsequent reports from the Commerce Department. (First-quarter GDP was 2.7%.) Many forecasts for the second half of the year call for more of the same.
Plan Investment Choices Ranking
Top 10 Plans With Best Overall Scores
| Plan Name | TAA 5Yr Return | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| WACHOVIA SAVINGS PLAN | 14% | 92% |
| Schwab OneSource Select List Funds | 17% | 92% |
| Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC Bargaining Unit 401(k) Plan | 15% | 92% |
| RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF BNY SECURITIES GROUP | 14% | 92% |
| MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC. 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN | 12% | 92% |
| TD Ameritrade Premier List No Transaction Fee Mutual Fund Plan | 13% | 90% |
| COMPUWARE CORPORATION ESOP/401(k) PLAN | 14% | 88% |
| PEPCO HOLDINGS, INC. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN | 11% | 88% |
| WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION 401(k) PLAN | 10% | 87% |
| HESS CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN | 14% | 87% |