Portfolio advice sought
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 7:17 pm
We recently sold one of our properties. Had to reallocate A LOT of money (for us, at least).
I, of course, moved a substantial amount to REITs, which promptly got creamed. 7%+ divvies eases the pain a bit (VGSIX and some other middle of the road funds).
I kept in mind the 'you show me yours' thread, esp. your, raddr, ataloss, bpp, oliver and others' comments. I also used the model portfolio weightings of GMO. And Dreman Scudder.
This has meant changes as follows:
1. shrank VWEHX to 10% (was an eye-popping 21%)
2. grew REITs (up to 12%)
3. shrank individually held real estate (from 35% to 4% - sold property retained considerable debt)
4. grew emerging bonds (2.5%)
5. grew high dividend payers a la Dreman - individual equities and preferred stocks (3.7%)
6. grew cash (23%+ of ttl)
7. grew energy and timber stocks (using as my 'TIPS' - far from the same but can't bring myself to buy VIPSX at this yield... 6%). Mostly individual equities (integrated O&G, esp. foreign issues, and coal LPs).
8. grew health care (3%)
9. grew VEIEX to 6%
10. shrank US lge cap to 8.5%
Still need:
1. Commodities (besides energy). May buy individually but would prefer a mutual fund. VGPMX still closed. Haven't really looked at BGEIx yet.
2. SC int'l. (OAKEX closed)
3. Have mainly broad int'l indices. Getting small or large foreign value/growth seems like excessive bet at this point or simply impossible (VINEX closed, etc.).
4. Not enuf VISVX for my tastes but the run-up has scared me off.
Any ideas most welcome.
Probably boring, but the recent market action definitely has my attention. FWIW, even with a 15%+ allocation to real estate, we are only down maybe 2% overall. Diversification rules, baby.
What about a perfect financial storm? That would be bad news for early retirees like me.
I, of course, moved a substantial amount to REITs, which promptly got creamed. 7%+ divvies eases the pain a bit (VGSIX and some other middle of the road funds).
I kept in mind the 'you show me yours' thread, esp. your, raddr, ataloss, bpp, oliver and others' comments. I also used the model portfolio weightings of GMO. And Dreman Scudder.
This has meant changes as follows:
1. shrank VWEHX to 10% (was an eye-popping 21%)
2. grew REITs (up to 12%)
3. shrank individually held real estate (from 35% to 4% - sold property retained considerable debt)
4. grew emerging bonds (2.5%)
5. grew high dividend payers a la Dreman - individual equities and preferred stocks (3.7%)
6. grew cash (23%+ of ttl)
7. grew energy and timber stocks (using as my 'TIPS' - far from the same but can't bring myself to buy VIPSX at this yield... 6%). Mostly individual equities (integrated O&G, esp. foreign issues, and coal LPs).
8. grew health care (3%)
9. grew VEIEX to 6%
10. shrank US lge cap to 8.5%
Still need:
1. Commodities (besides energy). May buy individually but would prefer a mutual fund. VGPMX still closed. Haven't really looked at BGEIx yet.
2. SC int'l. (OAKEX closed)
3. Have mainly broad int'l indices. Getting small or large foreign value/growth seems like excessive bet at this point or simply impossible (VINEX closed, etc.).
4. Not enuf VISVX for my tastes but the run-up has scared me off.
Any ideas most welcome.
Probably boring, but the recent market action definitely has my attention. FWIW, even with a 15%+ allocation to real estate, we are only down maybe 2% overall. Diversification rules, baby.
What about a perfect financial storm? That would be bad news for early retirees like me.