 |
Online asset allocation tools
06-19-2007, 08:43 PM
|
#1
|
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 122
|
Recently I've begun more carefully scrutinizing my asset allocation. Previously I'd just dumped lump sums into various index funds to smooth out the uneven allocation I'd compiled.
Does anybody have thoughts on which websites have the best asset allocation tools? I've got a number of different accounts (brokerage, roth, 401k, DW's accounts, etc), so I'm looking for a site where I can input ALL the information (rather than just analyze the holdings I've got with that particular institution).
And now to hijack my own thread... recently I've noted the following message for several of my funds (this one applies to ETRUX). Does anybody know how these caps work, and should I just assume that the expense ratio will jump to .72 as soon as allowed (4/30/2008 according to the prospectus)?
"**The fund's expenses are subject to a cap and/or waiver on expenses. Without these caps and/or waivers, the total expenses would have been 0.72% as of 5/1/2007. There is no assurance that the caps and/or waivers will continue. For more information, please click on the prospectus link below."
Thanks! 
|
|
|
|
06-19-2007, 11:56 PM
|
#2
|
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 645
|
 Quote:
Originally Posted by bots2019
Does anybody have thoughts on which websites have the best asset allocation tools? I've got a number of different accounts (brokerage, roth, 401k, DW's accounts, etc), so I'm looking for a site where I can input ALL the information (rather than just analyze the holdings I've got with that particular institution).
|
Yes, log on to riskgrades.com, you need to establish an account and it will look at your allocation and provide comments.
Rita
__________________
Only got A dimple, would have preferred 2!
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 05:08 AM
|
#3
|
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 121
|
__________________
Hellbender
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 06:38 AM
|
#4
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,079
|
If you like the 9-box style guide of Morningtar (M*), then you can go to www.troweprice.com and establish a FREE online persona (aka account) then use the M* premium tools there for free. You can enter ALL your holdings into the portfolio manager/tracker and get a portfolio X-ray (not the less useful instant X-ray). Vanguard has a similar tool called "portfolio watch", but is less useful.
Gotadimple - I tried riskgrades, but I found it clunky and I could not interpret any of the results. It's got graphs and figures, and circles and arrows, but appears to just be trying to dazzle me with bullshit. How exactly do you use it? Does it tell you how much emerging markets and how much REITs you have?
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 07:14 AM
|
#5
|
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 958
|
As LOL said, the T. Rowe Price Calculators & Tools is excellent for seeing what you have. Use the Portfolio X Ray tool is the one you want.
Also, if you don't feel like creating your own spreadsheet for rebalancing, you can use Bob Beeman's Portfolio Rebalance Calculator.
- Alec
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 09:14 AM
|
#6
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,174
|
None of them are that special, but if you want some basic info they're not bad.
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. My annual software subscription budget for my practice is $3500.......... 
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 10:48 AM
|
#7
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,612
|
Just curious, what is the main thing the $3500 a year software gives you that you can't get for free or at a much lower cost somewhere else?
__________________
No man is free who is not master of himself. --- Epictetus
Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think). --- Guy Lombardo
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 12:14 PM
|
#8
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,143
|
FD spends extra money for the software because it tells him how much he's making on the folks he's helping invest.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 01:54 PM
|
#9
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,174
|
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 02:29 PM
|
#10
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oahu
Posts: 17,531
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73ss454
FD spends extra money for the software because it tells him how much he's making on the folks he's helping invest.
|
Quote:
Am I the only one enjoying the irony of watching the car dealers & financial advisors smack each other upside their heads?
Pass the popcorn, please!
__________________
*
*
For more info see "About Me" in my profile.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 02:46 PM
|
#11
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,174
|
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:03 PM
|
#12
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,143
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
Am I the only one enjoying the irony of watching the car dealers & financial advisors smack each other upside their heads?
Pass the popcorn, please!
|
X car dealer I might add. FD's still working (heheh) but a lot younger I'm sure.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:05 PM
|
#13
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,143
|
Quote:
I have no idea, remember, I'm retired.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:07 PM
|
#14
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,174
|
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:23 PM
|
#15
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,143
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FinanceDude
|
I'm sure you didn't leave the car biz to make less in finance. (heh)
I had the vanguard job in the car biz and there is no other believe me.
Probably the only person in the car biz to have off Sat and Sun for over 20 years. None the less I'm glad it's over. I'm sure your glad your out also.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 01:17 PM
|
#16
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,303
|
To OP's second question, a lot of fund companies hold down their fees in order to look good in league tables that are comparing them to other funds, at least for awhile until they build up a pile of investors' dough. Then the fine print says they can raise the fees on you, on the assumption that you'd rather pay the fees than sell the fund and pay capital gains taxes on the appreciation.
Caveat Emptor. btw, Vanguard doesn't do this.
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 01:18 PM
|
#17
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,113
|
From what I have read, any fancy asset allocation software "optimizers" are just an extreme exercise in data-mining. In other words, any tweaking to optimize an allocation is just an illusion. Better to just stick to the basic bonds/stocks ratios and foreign/domestic ratios according to your volatility/performance goals and not try to overly refine anything with software. You can find basic stats on various ratios on the internet (sorry I don't have any links handy).
I use my own basic spreadsheets to calculate any rebalancing.
Audrey
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 01:52 PM
|
#18
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,174
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by audreyh1
From what I have read, any fancy asset allocation software "optimizers" are just an extreme exercise in data-mining. In other words, any tweaking to optimize an allocation is just an illusion. Better to just stick to the basic bonds/stocks ratios and foreign/domestic ratios according to your volatility/performance goals and not try to overly refine anything with software. You can find basic stats on various ratios on the internet (sorry I don't have any links handy).
I use my own basic spreadsheets to calculate any rebalancing.
Audrey
|
Find me a link for free that can do Monte Carlo, overlap analysis, and all the other goodies, and I'll gladly cancel all my subscriptions........ 
Morningstar is NOT to be genuflected to.............
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
|
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:42 PM
|
#19
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Milford, OH
Posts: 1,341
|
T Rowe is the website I use for asset allocation. I tried quicken, it worked, but it does not recognize all my mutual funds as real mutual funds (like PREMX).
__________________
Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. One person's stupidity is another person's job security.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Hybrid Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
