Ask Rande 10,000+

Top 366. Oct 30, 2001 8:55 AM

» Kirk - Re: Thanks Rande

In response to message posted by Karin_:

Karin, beating inflation involves risk. Hard to get around that. If ANYONE tells you otherwise, then check your wallet as they might have their hand in it trying to sell you magic timing models or "safe" 12% annual returns... I've helped people that didn't believe me when I told them their "junk bond fund" was returning capital to keep the monthly payments high when rates were rising... When they got their statement and saw the total was down 20%... they became believers!

I like Total Bond from Vanguard.
1994 was a tough year for bonds and it only lost 2.66% and then made up for it in 1995 to balance out for a very respectable 8% average return...

check it out:
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/mp/v/vbmfx.html
GNMAs are similar... you might have a negative year but that usually is followed by a better than average year
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/mp/v/vfiix.html

Good liquidity with either as you don't tie up your money for 5 yrs as you do with an iBond.

-- posted by Kirk

Top 367. Oct 30, 2001 9:01 AM

» Rande - Re: Re: Thanks Rande

In response to message posted by Kirk:

There are some "too good to be true" (yet true) strategies out there, typically involving hedges of one sort or another, but anything less than a $1 million initial investment and at least a one-year time horizon need not apply. Same old story, little guy need not apply.

-- posted by Rande

Top 368. Oct 30, 2001 10:08 AM

» Thruhiker - Re: Re: Thanks Rande

In response to message posted by Kirk:

money is tied up for 6 months with an i-bond.

redeeming before 5 years is a 3 month forfeiture of interest.

-- posted by Thruhiker

Top 369. Nov 1, 2001 8:09 PM

» gorby - bargain hunting!

Rande, I'm thinking gas prices are about as low as they're going to be. ( 1.02 at Sam's Club last week ) Is there a way to play a potential move upwards, using something that trades like XLF or XLK?Thanks! GorbGorby

-- posted by gorby

Top 370. Nov 1, 2001 8:19 PM

» Kirk - Re: bargain hunting!

In response to message posted by gorby:

what about heating oil futures? Winter IS coming you know??? smile

-- posted by Kirk

Top 371. Nov 1, 2001 8:57 PM

» gorby - futures?

Futures are out of my league. Could be especially risky if it turns out to be mild as the weather folks are saying.
I try to keep all my vehicles full, because I'm sure these gas prices won't last or drop significantly.
Gorby

-- posted by gorby

http://www.suite101.com/discussion.cfm/i...

Top 372. Nov 2, 2001 1:12 AM

» JenL_2 - Re: futures?

In response to message posted by gorby:

Hi Gorby - long time no see! Posted your question to the "Energy Sector" thread....

Lcha may have an answer for you......Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 373. Nov 2, 2001 4:31 AM

» mitelo - Wash?

Rande,

A stock was bought 200 shares at 60 on 11/10/00 and 100 shares at 40 on 11/28/00, and the stock is now 20. Can a short term loss be taken on 300 shares now or only the first 200? Does it make a difference if the two lots are sold on different days?

Thanks.

Len

-- posted by mitelo

Top 374. Nov 2, 2001 5:33 AM

» Kirk - Re: Wash?

In response to message posted by mitelo:

Let me try.

You can sell both for a short term loss since the time is under 1 year for both and you have not bought any additional shares in the last 30 days (I used 31 just for safety).

The ONLY problems you will have is if you buy the same stock back within the 30 day window. You can sell the shares any way you wish as long as the clock is under 1 year and you don't buy it within the wash window.

-- posted by Kirk