retirement fund

justin22g

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I have been looking around on ameritrade at index funds... I don't have much cash at hand to start... but I've gotta start somewhere..


I ran across this fund

SWANX Schwab Core Equity Fund (Large Blend)

It's minimum investment is $100, plus it's expense ratio is low @ 0.78%

I know very little about funds... what else should I look at?

The investment seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in large-and mid-cap stocks. The fund invests at least 80% of net assets inequity securities of U.S. companies which generally have capitalizations in excess of $500 million. It seeks to assemble a portfolio with long-term performance that exceeds that of the S&P 500 index. The fund uses Schwab Equity Ratings to aid its stock selection.



Trailing Total Returns
As of 09/30/2008
Total S&P 500 TR Large Blend
1-Month -7.99% -8.91% +0.89%
3-Month -6.43% -8.37% -8.50%
Year-to-date -17.53% -19.29% -11.73%
1-Year -19.61% -21.98% -10.89%
3-Year +1.00% +0.22% +3.36%
5-Year +7.08% +5.17% +6.75%
10-Year +4.43% +3.06% +5.23%
Since Inception +7.41% +10.48% --



Tax Analysis
Pretax Return (3yr avg)
1.00%
Tax-adjusted Return
(3yr avg)
0.67%
Tax Cost Ratio (3yr avg)
0.33%
Potential Cap Gains
Exposure % (3yr avg)
-7.33%

Risk Measures
Standard Deviation 11.21 R-Squared 96.11
Mean 1.69 Beta 0.97
Sharpe Ratio -0.22 Alpha 0.65
 
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saint

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and show I buy into 2 or 3 of these funds? or just stick to one?

I'm a vanguard guy, they have the lowest expenses out there. If you went with them and had just a little bit, you can look at their total stock market index fund.

really i would suggest reading "bogleheads guide to investing"...great, easy read that really got me interested in this sort of thing.
 

justin22g

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I'm a vanguard guy, they have the lowest expenses out there. If you went with them and had just a little bit, you can look at their total stock market index fund.

really i would suggest reading "bogleheads guide to investing"...great, easy read that really got me interested in this sort of thing.

Thanks Saint... I will pick that book up.. I have tried reading around on the net to understand a little of it. When I get older I want to invest myself, I just don't see the point of paying someone to do this for you. After all... it is YOUR money.
 

kneifl

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I'm worth about 50% of what I was a few months ago, my 401k and investment accounts have taken a nose dive. I doubt I'm alone in this, others are taking a bath too. I would and might start buying stocks once the dow hits 6-7k. I don't think it will go lower than that, but who knows.

kneifl
 

justin22g

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I'm a vanguard guy, they have the lowest expenses out there. If you went with them and had just a little bit, you can look at their total stock market index fund.

really i would suggest reading "bogleheads guide to investing"...great, easy read that really got me interested in this sort of thing.

VTSMX... I really like it... but its not a NTF fund.

I understand what a load fund is... but if it has a transaction fee... does that mean TDameritrade will charge me when I buy the fund?

Where I am getting at is... Is this a one time charge, or will I be charged this transaction fee everytime I invest more into the fund?

I think ameritrade charges $50..
 

saint

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I'm up about 40% in the last year only by constantly keeping informed about what is going on.

That's great that you are up 40%, but it's more so due to luck. No one can time the market, period. That is something that a majority of investment gurus will agree on. The key is to buy and hold. Otherwise you are just gambling.
 

saint

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VTSMX... I really like it... but its not a NTF fund.

I understand what a load fund is... but if it has a transaction fee... does that mean TDameritrade will charge me when I buy the fund?

Where I am getting at is... Is this a one time charge, or will I be charged this transaction fee everytime I invest more into the fund?

I think ameritrade charges $50..

Why give ameritrade 50 bucks when you can do it yourself?

Go to vanguard.com, open an ira, then select the funds you want from them (total stock market index fun, total bond, international...you can split your money b/w whatever you want). If you buy it at vanguard you will avoid the transaction fee.

NM just saw the part about you not having the minimum needed... You will get eaten alive with the fees at ameritrade if you don't yet have the minimum needed at a place like vanguard. With the market as crazy as it is, I'd just keep saving until you have enough (3k) to start at a place like vg. just my 2c
 
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saint

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Anyone taking long positions now is a fool. The market will go down another 50% over the next 1-2 years. Again, read the blogs I indicated above. If you open an IRA you cannot sell short or buy puts. How will you make money when the market is crashing? You won't. This is a time when you cannot follow the traditional rules. Stay informed.

I'm not going to retire for 30+ years. I'd be a fool not to take a long position. I'll do the same as I've always done, make my monthly contributions and plug along. Are you telling me the market is either going to 1 completely zero out 2. not rebound within the next 30 years? I'm not trying to make money as the market crashes...since you asked. I'm trying to make it for when I retire. I don't even open my accounts...it's irrelevant what they are at now. In 2030 that will be a different story.

I will take a look at those blogs though thanks
 
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MadJack

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Anyone taking long positions now is a fool. The market will go down another 50% over the next 1-2 years. Again, read the blogs I indicated above. If you open an IRA you cannot sell short or buy puts. How will you make money when the market is crashing? You won't. This is a time when you cannot follow the traditional rules. Stay informed.


saint knows everything :shrug:

i have open ears and i'm old. ask vinnie.
 

Wineguy

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Sure Pug, you just have the gift of reading the right things. Show us what you invested in and reference where in the book you learned it AND timed it correctly, and you win the MADJACK MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD!! :00hour You sound like the same blowhards that say they bet a dime here, 2 dimes there, and ALWAYS WIN! You being 40% up in this market is like a tout saying they hit for 80-90% of their plays, GUARANTEED!!!!!! :nono: :mj07: If I follow your investments, will you guarantee my money back if not correct? :0corn Because, in your words, " anyone can do it" :bsflag

Come on, dude.....and I haven't even been drinking tonight! :eek:
 

saint

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saint knows everything :shrug:

i have open ears and i'm old. ask vinnie.

you don't have to be an asshole jack. i know enough to know that i don't know very much about investing, but the one thing i do know that maybe a few people in history have shown the ability to predict the market. But alas, one of them is in our presence...PUG!

i'm still in my 20s, most of you are just a tad bit older. would you not agree that what makes sense for me on retirement investing may not make sense for you, and vice versa?
 
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