You may have wondered why your mutual funds have been going down for the past 2 years. The answer is very simple, but not one you will hear from Wall Street as they want you to send money.
In order for stock mutual funds to go up you must have a bull market. Unfortunately, that bull ended 2 years ago and is probably not going to return for a long time. Yes, there will be short-term rallies that can last from weeks to months, but the downward spiral will continue. For the past 100 years the Price/Earnings ratio of the S&P500 index has a mean average of about 15. With the current P/E running about 41 the rubber band has been stretched too far and is now contracting toward a more realistic level. It will take a time, probably several years, for a true bottom to be reached.
Mutual fund charters require the fund manager to be fully invested at all times. The fund may be required to be invested in tech stocks, pharmaceuticals, automotive, Asia or some other specific category. If that particular sector is weak and almost all stocks therein are headed down the fund manager has nothing to buy and is not allowed to sell to put the money in cash or bonds to protect the investors. Some are allowed to buy and sell what they wish; others must invest in stocks of a particular index such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500 or the Nasdaq. Most of the fund managers today are too young to have experienced a bear market and do not know how or what to do.
The small investor today has been taught to believe that the stock market always goes up. From 1982 to 2000 it did, but that was the end. All the talking heads on radio and TV have been telling you to buy the breaks and that the market always comes back - except when it doesn't. Almost none of them has ever seen or even studied a major bear market. The last one was 1973-74 just about the time most of these guys were in grade school or high school. They haven't a clue and don't know when or how to sell.
Today there are trillions of dollars in 401Ks, IRAs, pension plans, etc. run by professional fund managers, financial planners, bankers, etc. who have no idea how to protect their investors. More trillions are getting ready to go down the drain. Last year 90% of stock mutual funds lost money. The Grim Reaper is now the manager of your mutual fund.
For the little guy, that's you, there is only one way to protect your money. If you are in one of those plans you can tell them you want to have your funds in a money market account. At least it won't go down. If there are any fixed income or bond funds available to your account that is another safe venue.
Mutual funds are no longer a good long-term investment. The age of the stock mutual fund is over. Dead. Don't let your hard-earned money get away.
Al Thomas' best selling book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter to receive his market letter for 3 months at www.mutualfundmagic.com to discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Comments to al@mutualfundmagic.com
Copyright Albert W. Thomas All rights reserved.
professional maid services Park Ridge ..This is a guide to the different types of mutual... Read More
There is so much involved in developing peak performance, that... Read More
Because there are so many stocks that are NOT paying... Read More
Alfred Winslow Jones started hedge funds in 1949. He was... Read More
Ever wondered what is a mutual fund? A mutual fund... Read More
Regardless of the fact that the world's stock markets have... Read More
This is an extract of an article which was first... Read More
Every Wall Street analyst, financial planner and broker will tell... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
When purchasing mutual funds we are cautioned to read the... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
You've decided to try your luck at trading stocks or... Read More
Cat or dog? Maybe Zebra. Shucks, I don't know, but... Read More
"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action!" Johann... Read More
Fundamental analysis.Fundamentals analysis says the best way to predict the... Read More
"If you don't know where you are going, any road... Read More
I love roller coasters. The steeper the better. High and... Read More
As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to... Read More
People are always asking me when should I sell my... Read More
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More
Among the largest forces that affect stock prices are inflation,... Read More
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are growing. Investors are choosing low... Read More
Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
Are hedge funds a suitable investment for you? Hedge funds... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Much like the middle child, mid-cap stocks have long struggled... Read More
It is difficult to make money in a bull market,... Read More
Economists know more about how the fragments of society work... Read More
The bulls and bears of the stock market are both... Read More
Every successful trader has a winning system. There are of... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
(1) Stock Market is Tough Place to Make Any Money... Read More
Day trading is all about making buy and sell decisions.... Read More
With the internet such a huge part of our daily... Read More
Today's society gives special recognition to alcoholics, sexaholics, binge-aholics, shopaholics,... Read More
In a previously written article, we expanded the use of... Read More
Sometime around 1980, can't remember exactly, there was a flight... Read More
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
With all the bad news that has been dumped upon... Read More
What are you thinking when it comes to your no... Read More
Where is the beef? Or maybe it should be where... Read More
Using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis when Trading Stocks... Read More
The stock market is very unstable at this time going... Read More
Someday you may want to retire and continue to live... Read More
No, this is not a symbol for some Latin number.... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
Wall Street has been preaching the doctrine of Buy and... Read More
This is an extract of an article which was first... Read More
Picking a beaten-down stock requires a different kind of selection... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |