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 ..Look back over the years and try to remember how... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
I don't know what kind it is, but I saw... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
There are many good penny stock investments available, which could... Read More
I am sure that if you have a brokerage account... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
What the heck am I talking about?It is often said... Read More
The demand for world oil is increasing while world reserves... Read More
First let's see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster... Read More
The stock market has been in an up trend for... Read More
Have you seen all those big full page ads for... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
Two weeks ago I wrote about what the Securities and... Read More
I am taking the time to help others learn the... Read More
If you have been dealing with mutual funds for any... Read More
Stocks breakout from properly formed bases everyday but many investors... Read More
You must take the time once a month to review... Read More
It has often been said that there is only two... Read More
∙ Make every investment in the stock market a long-term... Read More
You have heard about a particular mutual fund from a... Read More
TOO OFTEN, INVESTORS SIMPLY CHOOSE TO follow the crowd. This... Read More
I was recently interviewed for a press release through a... Read More
Very few people, even professionals, have heard of the Dalbar... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..(1) CHK stock price $16.74, NAV $32.5CHK is my favorite... Read More
Do you own any mutual funds? In an IRA or... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This... Read More
The Winter Games for the Olympics are coming up soon... Read More
AS BUILDERS BEGIN WORK ON THE FREEDOM TOWER in New... Read More
If you have talked to a stock broker or financial... Read More
Four blind men were asked to give a description of... Read More
I know there are a lot of you out there... Read More
The trash business in its efforts to cook their books... Read More
Profitable day traders recognize that momentum trading is among the... Read More
Reach in your pocket and take out that big roll... Read More
Time to look back2004 is over, now we are in... Read More
I made my very first investment in the stock market... Read More
Duck! No I don't mean a quack, quack. I meant... Read More
You read and hear a lot about hedge funds. Unfortunately,... Read More
I have watched my cat play with a bag of... Read More
Intervention. Now don't let that big word scare you. The... Read More
One of the big advertising kicks today from mutual funds... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
In today's volatile and confusing stock markets everyone is searching... Read More
There is no question that the stock market is being... Read More
Two weeks ago I wrote about what the Securities and... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |