Tagged Questions
3
votes
0answers
70 views
Couch Potato Portfolio for Europeans?
I recently came across the Couch Potato Portfolio concept and was happy to find an investment strategy that made sense to me. Its origin seems to be the Canadian version, and it has been translated ...
5
votes
2answers
102 views
Investments backed by physical Diamonds?
I understand people can invest in Gold via ETF's which are investments backed by physical gold. My question is, do investments exist which are physically backed by Diamonds?
2
votes
4answers
301 views
How to invest in gold at market value, i.e. without paying a markup?
At 2013-03-24 - 11:30am, the value of gold in the UK per oz was 1056.7GBP. I can buy a 24 carat 1oz gold coin (999.9) for 1132GBP. I can sell that gold coin for 1010GBP.
I am clearly doing ...
11
votes
5answers
368 views
Why is the dominant investing advice for individuals to use mutual funds, exchanged traded funds (ETFs), etc
The dominant advice on this site (including that which I give to novices) regarding investing is to only invest in fund vehicles (mutual funds, ETFs, etc), rather than in individual stocks.
Why is ...
4
votes
2answers
387 views
Pros & cons of buying gold directly vs. investing in a gold ETF like GLD, IAU, SGOL?
Google search brings up some articles on this topic, but they can be biased, so:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying physical gold vs. investing in a gold ETF like GLD, IAU, or SGOL? ...
6
votes
3answers
177 views
How do I calculate the current risk involved with US Bond Index Funds?
For months I have been trying to wrap my head around the concept of risk involved with the US Bond Index Funds in my portfolio. My initial conclusion is that the risk of long-term damage to my ...
3
votes
1answer
181 views
“Cap gains exposure” of an ETF — what does it mean?
Morningstar provides an ETF data point called potential cap gains exposure. For example, here is Vanguard's Europe ETF (VGK):
This value is negative 78% for VGK. I understand that this is a good ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
Do all ETFs fall under the Investment Company Act of 1940?
Do all ETFs fall under the Investment Company Act of 1940? If not, how would a buyer know? Are there legal or financial terms to look for in the prospectus, or will be it spelled out explicitly?
5
votes
3answers
226 views
Do ETF managers charge management fees on top of transaction fees?
I see that ETFs do work very similar to diversification of individual stocks following either an industry or an index. I am thinking of changing my strategy to reduce my cost of investing which at ...
4
votes
2answers
50 views
International (ex-US) ETFs with low exposure to financial sector?
I've noticed that many international ETFs (especially emerging market funds) have a large stake in the financial sector. Are there any ETFs that de-emphasize financials?
Conversely, are there any ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
US or UK based ETF Index funds for UK investor?
I would like to invest in ETF Index funds.
Vanguard funds have cheapest MER, around 0.2% and it was my initial choice, but then I've learned about some tax complications which I still don't ...
10
votes
3answers
227 views
Investing in a leveraged index ETF for retirement. Risky?
I'm 23, and in addition to my 401k at work, I have a few thousand saved in an IRA. Right now I have it sitting in Treasurys earning around 3%.
Over the past 50 years the S&P has averaged around ...
6
votes
3answers
193 views
What factors affect the yield and “trade value” on an exchange of a junk bond ETF?
In an effort to further my grasp of financial derivatives available for speculation and losing money, I realize I need further understanding of how "high-yield corporate", aka junk bond ETF's, "work" ...
4
votes
1answer
66 views
Is there an ETF for commodities without heavy emphasis on precious metals?
Is there an ETF that holds a basket of common industrial commodities (copper, oil, corn, etc.), but places less emphasis on "hoarded" metals such as silver and gold?
4
votes
1answer
243 views
I would like to publicly share the details of my investment portfolio. What websites add value in this regard?
I want to have the ability to share the details of my holdings and have a website track the return over time while making this information 100% public to anyone who may be interested. What websites ...
5
votes
2answers
344 views
Using P/E Ratio of an ETF to decide on asset mix
I am a conservative investor with an asset mix of around 50% bonds/cash and 50% stock via large index ETFs. Recently I've been thinking about settling down on a non-emotional way to decide whether ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Can you help me find an ETF Selection website that evaluates my ETF holdings?
I came across a website that charged a fee and told me which ETFs I should be buying. Unlike a traditional website, I remember this website telling me that the ETF I have invested a year ago is not ...
3
votes
1answer
191 views
Resources for comparing mutual fund and ETF historical performance?
What are good magazines/publications/newspapers/websites to follow for someone wishing to compare historical performances of index funds, ETFs, managed funds etc?
Do I start with my bank's web site ...
5
votes
2answers
297 views
Should you diversify your ETF investments between companies?
I've found a number of interesting index funds, of which a lot are run by Vanguard. However, since I'm diversifying my investments between index funds, it seems sensible that I'd want to make sure all ...
1
vote
2answers
284 views
How to calculate the investment fees your portfolio is paying?
Disclaimer: I am going to mention the investment company that I am using, but I am not related in any way with this company, is just to exemplify my question.
I am currently using foliofn.com. ...
4
votes
1answer
615 views
How to buy Greek bonds either directly or via ETF?
Is there an online brokerage, for UK citizens, that provides access to Greek bonds? Interactive Brokers doesn't.
Alternatively, are there other assets (say ETFs) that have a percentage invested in ...
6
votes
7answers
587 views
Are there any Social Responsibility Index funds or ETFs?
Are there any Index Funds or ETFs that focus on Socially Responsible Investing, or will I have to choose my own basket of stocks?
6
votes
1answer
934 views
Which US market indexes (Dow/DJIA, S&P500, NASDAQ) include reinvested dividends?
Which major US market indexes (Dow/DJIA, S&P 500, NASDAQ) include returns from reinvested dividends, and which don't?
Where can "total return" information be found for each index that doesn't ...
13
votes
1answer
316 views
What are the important differences between mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)?
I've been considering, but haven't committed myself yet to investing in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), but have to admit that I don't yet fully understand the use-case for them.
What factors are ...
7
votes
3answers
222 views
What to do with small dividends in brokerage account?
I just got paid some dividends from an ETF that I own. It is only $4, which is sitting as cash in my brokerage account. I'm aware that this is a very tiny amount of money in the grand scheme of ...
8
votes
3answers
183 views
What kinds of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) should specifically be avoided?
This is related to my other question. There, I was asking what exchange traded funds I should consider for inclusion in my retirement portfolio. That got me thinking: What kinds of exchange-traded ...
8
votes
3answers
475 views
What low-fee & liquid exchange-traded index funds / ETFs should I consider holding in a retirement portfolio?
I'm still (one year later) going through an exercise to restructure my retirement portfolio.
To date, I've been using a mix of exchange-traded index funds. Some trade on the TSX, and others trade in ...
6
votes
3answers
331 views
Should I buy individual bonds for my retirement portfolio, or stick to funds/ETFs?
To avoid the fees on bond mutual funds or exchange traded funds I have been thinking of buying actual bonds inside of my retirement portfolio. Does that make sense or are there drawbacks to consider?
10
votes
2answers
265 views
What's an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)?
I've been hearing a lot about exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. What exactly are they, and how would I use them?
