Intermediate Bond Fund

[Tiger]

I have been thinking about buying one of the funds below for my wife's IRA, any opinions or suggestions?

Dreyfus Bond Market Index - DBIRX
T. Rowe Price U.S. Bond Index - PBDIX
TCW Total Return Bond I - TGLMX
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index - VBMFX

 

[Darryl]

More similarities than differences in this group, intermediate term & high quality. Looks like the DBIRX & VBMFX are the lowest expense rate at .15 & .19 that's how I would decide.

 

[slouch]

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

BND https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0928&FundIntExt=INT has an 0.11% expense ratio.

 

[chinaco]

I would go with the lowest cost fund or ETF from a reputable fund. I prefer indexes.

 

[Tiger]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[mickeyd]

I prefer the Vanguard Intermediate-Term bond index fund because I hate GNMA bonds and this fund has the same mix as the TBM fund except that it does not have any GNMAs. Half of my FI is in this and the rest is in VG TIPS fund. Nothing fancy.

 

[brewer12345]

I am just curious: what is so bad about Ginnie Maes?

 

[CuppaJoe]

I am just curious: what is so bad about Ginnie Maes?

-
I'm curious, too. Anyone?

 

[chinaco]

GNMA securities are backed by the US Govt.

Ginnie Mae: For Investors

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

No problem with them here. They're slightly more risky than treasuries (not that you'd notice) and enjoy a higher return. I think you're more than well rewarded for that tiny little bit of risk that agency bonds have over treasuries.

If the US Government has to default on these bonds, what sort of bond you're holding isnt going to matter much.

 

[mickeyd]

I am just curious: what is so bad about Ginnie Maes?

Oh, nothing's wrong with them at all if that's what you want. I just have a personal bias against them that goes back many years ago and since the I-T bond fund excludes them, it was perfect for my needs.