Mutual Fund Performance

[mdklatt]

How can you tell if a mutual fund's performance figures include the expense ratio? For example, here (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pm?s=VTSMX). Is there a standard meaning for "return"?

[usmc-sooner]

como se what?

[Osce0la]

I have no idea...FWIW, I did place a trade on this fund yesterday :D

[Osce0la]

I could ask my supervisor...but I can't stand that ****er, so you'll just have to hope someone on the board can answer...

[Hamhock]

How can you tell if a mutual fund's performance figures include the expense ratio? For example, here (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pm?s=VTSMX). Is there a standard meaning for "return"?


i would try using morningstar.com. since you're talking about a vanguard fund, i bet the expenses are pretty darn low and wouldn't change the analysis either way.

[mdklatt]

i would try using morningstar.com.

I was poking around on there the other day, and it wasn't much help.



since you're talking about a vanguard fund, i bet the expenses are pretty darn low and wouldn't change the analysis either way.


I'm trying to compare Vanguard funds with other funds that have higher expense ratios. The returns are higher--but is that with or without including the higher expense ratio?

[Hamhock]

I was poking around on there the other day, and it wasn't much help.



I'm trying to compare Vanguard funds with other funds that have higher expense ratios. The returns are higher--but is that with or without including the higher expense ratio?

if you're serious, figure out how to use morningstar. they have great mutual fund comparison capability.

[usmc-sooner]

I have a vanguard fund but I don't try to figure all that out, I just read the statement they send me every month.

[Partial Qualifier]

He's asking if the funds expenses (fees, commissions, etc.) are factored into the fund's published performance. Good question; I have no idea. I don't remember ever seeing that mentioned as being included/excluded in the performance figures, morningstar or otherwise

[Howzit]

Alls I know is I'm gonna become a brazilianair by day trading in mutual funds through my ex-emploeyer's rolled over 401 k.

[Veritas]

They are not.

[mdklatt]

They are not.

That's what I always thought, but then I saw this (http://hr.ou.edu/documents/1/retirement/bearnings.pdf). It's a comparison from the OU benefits office of some of the funds we can invest in.

It clearly says at the bottom that these are the net returns after expenses. However, when I compare these numbers to some sales brochures that I got from Fidelity and Vanguard, the returns are the same. I would assume that the sales brochures would not give you the net performance becuase 1) they're sales brochures; 2) they explicitly list the expense ratio.

:confused:

Maybe I should just go find a dart board.

[Veritas]

It may have changed since I was an SEC/NASD licensed agent (this was a few years back). There was no strict requirement, but most didn't.

[StoopTroup]

I was an SEC/NASD licensed agent
That sounds painful.

[Rogue]

So, when you figure out which one, how you gonna buy it? Rather, how would I buy one? Online? Broker? Discount broker? Fidelity.com someone here gave me that site a couple weeks ago and it's pretty good. Nearest agent is 5 hours away though.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

So, when you figure out which one, how you gonna buy it? Rather, how would I buy one? Online? Broker? Discount broker? Fidelity.com someone here gave me that site a couple weeks ago and it's pretty good. Nearest agent is 5 hours away though..

Set up a Roth IRA.

I recommend Fidelity. My and my wife's Roth IRAs are with Fidelity. I did everything by mail or internet in setting things up. I also set up 529 college savings plans for my two kids with Fidelity.

I recommend Fidelity Export and Multinational Fund. It's done great and should continue to with our growth in exports. Multinationals are whats keeping the U.S. economy going.

also own International small cap opportunities, and International Discovery, Large Cap Stock, Small Cap Independence, and U.S. Equity Index.

Contrafund is my largest holding, but it's closed to new investors.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/poncaparker/ChartWrapperHypoLOF.jpg
Rated 5 stars by Morningstar (highest possible rating)

[Curly Bill]

I have a vanguard fund but I don't try to figure all that out, I just read the statement they send me every month.

Yep, I just look too see if there's more money in the newest statement then was shown on the last one. Any more then that would just hurt my head.

I'm a Janus guy myself.

[OklaPony]

Here's some info from the Vanguard site:

Fees
12b-1 Fee - None
Account Service Fee - Waived
Purchase Fee - None
Redemption Fee - None


Initial Minimum / Additional Investments
General Account - $3,000 / $100
IRA - $3,000 / $100
UGMAs/UTMAs - $3,000 / $100
Education Savings Account - $2,000 / $100

They claim an expense ration of 0.19%

[mdklatt]

They claim an expense ration of 0.19%

Depends on the fund.

[mdklatt]

So, when you figure out which one, how you gonna buy it? Rather, how would I buy one? Online? Broker? Discount broker? Fidelity.com someone here gave me that site a couple weeks ago and it's pretty good. Nearest agent is 5 hours away though.

Don't mess with brokers; buy directly. I know you can do this Vanguard, and I assume you can with Fidelity or anybody else.

[mdklatt]

I recommend Fidelity Export and Multinational Fund. It's done great and should continue to with our growth in exports.


Maybe in the short term, but according to this (http://finance.yahoo.com/charts#chart5:symbol=fexpx;range=my;compare=vfinx; indicator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;logsc ale=on;source=undefined) it's underperformed the S&P 500 over the past 10 years or so...but past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Read the prospectus before investing.

[Curly Bill]

Don't mess with brokers; buy directly. I know you can do this Vanguard, and I assume you can with Fidelity or anybody else.

Probably so, I know you can with Janus. I think most, if not all of them require that they send you a prospectus first, you look that over, fill out the pertinent information, send them a check, you're in business. A lot of this can also be done online.