Fund of the Week: BRSIX Bridgeway Ultra-Small Company

For the second week in a row, small cap stocks are gaining ground. Some believe that in an economic turnaround, small cap stocks will lead the way. Does that mean we've hit bottom? No- it might mean a number of people believe that we have and are buying small cap stocks.

If so, maybe they're right. Then again, maybe not.

The best fund performance of all the funds I track was BRSIX Bridgeway Ultra-Small Company a fund I hold in my brokerage. With the exception of JAGLX Janus Global Life Science, the number one fund last week, and Janus Overseas, the remaining top 10 funds were all small cap funds.

The biggest loser was PNRZX Jennison Natural Resources, also a fund I hold in my brokerage, with the energy funds from other portfolios rounding out the bottom.

Portfolio Update 7/25/08: Heavy Cloud No Rain

Despite an ugly decline on Thursday, the mutual fund portfolios I track posted only small declines for the week. I guess it was all Heavy Cloud, No Rain in the end.

And with the addition of JMCVX Janus Mid Cap Value fund to the WylieMoney Slowly Portfolio, the total % return for that portfolio improved over the Lazy 20 Mostly Index portfolio pushing the Lazy 20 back into 4th place.

The portfolio of ETFs is still posting terrible returns since I hypothetically invested, despite the best year to date performance of any of the portfolios.

Hopefully the markets will turn around so we can make some money so we can pay taxes on that money so we can help all the people who bought more house than they can afford stay in their houses and avoid having to downsize to something more reasonable.

WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed

WylieMoney Slowly

Lazy 20 Mostly Index

Three Fund Index

ETF 20

S&P 500

Today is the day I'm adding JMCVX Janus Mid Cap Value

Today is the day I'm adding JMCVX Janus Mid Cap Value to the WylieMoney Slowly Mutual Fund Portfolio.

Fund of the Week: SWFFX Schwab Financial Services

I first wrote about SWFFX Schwab Financial Services back in December of 2007. Well one of my brothers and I had some IRA cash that needed investing so we decided to put a little money into this fund in April.

This fund gained 6.24% this week which is sweet. It is still down 9.76% since I bought it which is lame.

The other big winner this week was Real Estate.

Bonds, Oil, and some international investments had a bad week with DJP iPath Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Total Return ETN (Broad Commodities), another fund I first mentioned back in December 08, leading the decline.

Portfolio Update 7/18/08: Something 2 Dance 2

The steep decline has ended, giving us Something 2 Dance 2!


Of course, the pain may not be over. Only time will tell. For now, let the bass kick.

My IRA has pulled ahead of the ETF index portfolio. Otherwise, same old story.

WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed

Lazy 20 Mostly Index

WylieMoney Slowly

Three Fund Index

ETF 20

S&P 500

Next WylieMoney Slowly Fund: Mid Cap Value

When I first researched no load no transaction fee mid cap mutual funds available through Etrade for less than $2500 initially, allowing $100 subsequent investments, I chose MRVEX Marshall Mid-Cap Value My Post.

I personally own Janus Mid Cap Value Inv JMCVX but Etrade had it incorrectly posted as closed to new investors at the time.

Well they've updated their site, and I'm updating my pick.


The first two funds listed do not have long enough track records and are not doing well recently. The other two non-Janus funds have higher expense ratios. Heartland Select HRSVX has a slightly higher 3 year return, but Janus Mid Cap Value is holding up much better in this down market.

Heartland has been around for half as long as Janus and has 25% of its assets in its top 10 picks compared with 15% for Janus meaning it has a bigger stake in fewer bets.

Janus has a higher turnover ratio which could result in higher taxes and transaction fees within the fund (as the fund manager buys and sells positions).

But lower expenses, a proven track record, and serious out performance in the recent decline make Janus Mid Cap Value JMCVX my pick and I'll add it to the WylieMoney Slowly portfolio the next day the market tanks.

Fund of the Week: JAGLX Janus Global Life Sciences

Very interesting. With all the terrible news and major indexes down for the week, I would not have expected that a health care based fund and domestic small cap funds actually went up.

JAGLX Janus Global Life Sciences was the top performing fund last week, from the portfolios I track, rising just under 2%. I hold this in my brokerage.


Large caps and financial funds took a beating with Janus Growth and Income fund posting the biggest one week decline, shedding over 3%.

Portfolio Update: Behind My Camel

The markets stink these days. They stink like they've been spending too much time behind my camel.


Look at that dive...

This week is the first week in a long time that the rankings have changed. And that is due in no small part to me being distracted by other things. You see I was supposed to pick the next fund for the WylieMoney Slowly portfolio and add it on the first down day in July. That would have raised the % loss since purchase for that portfolio as $2500 would have only declined for a few days.

Anyway- I'll get to that soon. But for now, the Lazy 20 Mostly Index Portfolio has passed the WylieMoney Slowly Portfolio and is close to the performance of my brokerage account.

The WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed portfolio maintains first place.

WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed

Lazy 20 Mostly Index

WylieMoney Slowly

Three Fund Index

ETF 20

S&P 500

Fund of the Week: ACITX American Century Inflation Protected Bond

Best fund of the week ending 7/04/08:

ACITX American Century Inflation Protected Bond My Post

Worst fund of the week:

JAOSX Janus Overseas My Post


Both the best fund and worst are in the WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed portfolio.

Fund of the Week: BTTRX American Century Target Mat 2025

Week ending 6/27/08:

Best fund- Bond Gov. Long- BTTRX American Century Target 2025 My Post

Worst Fund- Specialty Real Estate - VNQ Vanguard REIT Index

Portfolio Update 7/4/08: Calling it Quits?

Another down week. Is it time to be Calling it Quits? Since this is only Monopoly Money, I think I'll hang in there.



Actually, this is not all hypothetical. My retirement accounts (IRAs) are down 11.49% since May 1, 2007. And my non-retirement account, the investments I make hoping to grow some wealth to use before I hit 60, is down 7.62% since the same date.


Truth is, I've been adding to both accounts over the last year and 2 months and will continue to do so for a while yet.

My IRAs are tracking in line with the ETF portfolio which is not surprising since my IRAs are invested significantly in ETFs. I tend to save up and add the IRA limit all at once so conventional wisdom says ETFs, with their lower expenses should outperform mutual fund index funds not to mention managed funds, over the long term. Well over a year in is not exactly long term but it ain't exactly breif either and so far conventional wisdom has not applied to reality.

Regardless, I'm not calling it quits.

WylieMoney 20 Mostly Managed


WylieMoney slowly

Lazy 20 Mostly Index

Three Fund Index


ETF 20

S&P 500