What international markets are you investing in now?

[Lsbcal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire I will proudly proclaim that I don't have a CLUE about investing. I've read online, done a lot of thinking, and I keep Swedloe's and Bernstein's books at my bedside. ... The best way to learn is to get one's feet wet, and start small. So, last January I put $5K into VEURX; that would be 50% of my small adventure (my new Roth IRA). Seems fine to me!

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Important to recognize you don't have a CLUE as many of us haven't recognized this fact yet . Swedroe's book had some recommendations for VG funds and I'm currently tracking this portfolio along with my own -- helps to see the day to day fluctuations in perspective. Anyway for a 60/40 stock/bond allocation he had this in international: 6% VEURX (europe), 6% VPACX (pacific), 6% VEIEX (emerging mkt).

Les

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsbcal Sounds like you are off to a good start. Important to recognize you don't have a CLUE as many of us haven't recognized this fact yet . Swedroe's book had some recommendations for VG funds and I'm currently tracking this portfolio along with my own -- helps to see the day to day fluctuations in perspective. Anyway for a 60/40 stock/bond allocation he had this in international: 6% VEURX (europe), 6% VPACX (pacific), 6% VEIEX (emerging mkt). Les

Good! At least he likes VEURX. I do too. I just looked in my records, and I bought $5000 worth of VEURX on February 1. Vanguard says that as of today it is worth $5462 (having come down from a high of $5716). So, I am very pleased. That is wonderful for less than half a year. VEURX does tend to jump around more than the other half of my Roth, which is in VWNDX. But that is to be expected.

In the interests of diversification, my 2008 Roth contribution will be something domestic that is not mostly large value (haven't decided yet). My plan is to buy one or two different Vanguard funds each year until my Roth starts looking more like one of Swedroe's porfolios.

[Lsbcal]

Want2retire: perhaps you got this out of Swedroe's Appendix? He also has a part of the allocation in VWNDX of about 3% I think. Don't know why he did this as he tends to recommend index funds not active. But VWNDX is a good fund and happens to be my bogie to beat. Personally I have used DODGX with my own bond allocations -- but each to his own. There is more then one path to Dublin.

Oops, the Swedroe 3% position was in VWELX. Still VWNDX is a good choice in my opinion.

Les

[Moemg]

I have totally wimped out .I have Vanguards Total International stock Index .

[2soon2tell]

Check out the T. Rowe Price New Asia fund - PRASX.

2soon

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsbcal Want2retire: perhaps you got this out of Swedroe's Appendix? He also has a part of the allocation in VWNDX of about 3% I think. Don't know why he did this as he tends to recommend index funds not active. But VWNDX is a good fund and happens to be my bogie to beat. Personally I have used DODGX with my own bond allocations -- but each to his own. There is more then one path to Dublin. Oops, the Swedroe 3% position was in VWELX. Still VWNDX is a good choice in my opinion. Les

I like Windsor (VWNDX) too, and I'm not sure where I got the idea to get it. It has been one of my favorites to follow (before I actually put money into it). Maybe I read about it on the diehards board, or maybe in Swedloe. Or, maybe it just met some criteria that I used when screening funds that I might like to acquire. I like the idea of having a domestic large value fund like VWNDX, along with my European index fund (VEURX), and several others that I am considering.

Anyway, I am pretty happy with my little Roth so far, and I have until next January before I can put any more money into it. So, I have some time to contemplate what fund to buy next.