Re: Well now...

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Posted by Cathy on November 07, 2009 at 00:14:03:

In Reply to: Re: Well now... posted by Old Joe on November 06, 2009 at 09:51:09:

Thanks Joe! That makes sense. I didn't realize that many of these other type of funds could change their allocation percentages significantly.

I'll probably end up doing what you're doing, at least in the beginning anyway, as it will help me analyze the whole picture.

: : If one decides on a Portfolio holding 40% bonds, then also has some Balanced, Blend or Large/Small Caps funds that also include bond percentages, should the percentage of bonds held by these funds be included in with the total percentage of the all-bond part of your portfolio?

: Hi Cathy-

: Depends upon how anal you want to be. Since I keep track of everything in a spreadsheet, what I do is use the "percentage data" from the funds to update a table within the SS to account for their equity/bond/cash ratios. Interestingly, you'll find that even funds which theoretically are all "equity" or all "bonds" frequently have significant percentages in cash or other odds and ends. As others have mentioned, the fund percentage makeup can change on a day-to-day basis, and I only update this info quarterly, so it is still a guess at best. To be honest, I only made a SS mechanism to include this data because I wondered if I could, so I tried it, and I did. My wife accuses me of goofing off more than working on the computer and she may be sort of right sometimes.

: In the case of Balanced Funds, though, the ratios should be fairly consistent, and probably worth the effort.

: OJ

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Comments: : Thanks Joe! That makes sense. I didn't realize that many of these other type of funds could change their allocation percentages significantly. : I'll probably end up doing what you're doing, at least in the beginning anyway, as it will help me analyze the whole picture. : : : If one decides on a Portfolio holding 40% bonds, then also has some Balanced, Blend or Large/Small Caps funds that also include bond percentages, should the percentage of bonds held by these funds be included in with the total percentage of the all-bond part of your portfolio? : : Hi Cathy- : : Depends upon how anal you want to be. Since I keep track of everything in a spreadsheet, what I do is use the "percentage data" from the funds to update a table within the SS to account for their equity/bond/cash ratios. Interestingly, you'll find that even funds which theoretically are all "equity" or all "bonds" frequently have significant percentages in cash or other odds and ends. As others have mentioned, the fund percentage makeup can change on a day-to-day basis, and I only update this info quarterly, so it is still a guess at best. To be honest, I only made a SS mechanism to include this data because I wondered if I could, so I tried it, and I did. My wife accuses me of goofing off more than working on the computer and she may be sort of right sometimes. : : In the case of Balanced Funds, though, the ratios should be fairly consistent, and probably worth the effort. : : OJ

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Comments:	: Thanks Joe! That makes sense. I didn't realize that many of these other type of funds could change their allocation percentages significantly. : I'll probably end up doing what you're doing, at least in the beginning anyway, as it will help me analyze the whole picture. : : : If one decides on a Portfolio holding 40% bonds, then also has some Balanced, Blend or Large/Small Caps funds that also include bond percentages, should the percentage of bonds held by these funds be included in with the total percentage of the all-bond part of your portfolio? : : Hi Cathy- : : Depends upon how anal you want to be. Since I keep track of everything in a spreadsheet, what I do is use the "percentage data" from the funds to update a table within the SS to account for their equity/bond/cash ratios. Interestingly, you'll find that even funds which theoretically are all "equity" or all "bonds" frequently have significant percentages in cash or other odds and ends. As others have mentioned, the fund percentage makeup can change on a day-to-day basis, and I only update this info quarterly, so it is still a guess at best. To be honest, I only made a SS mechanism to include this data because I wondered if I could, so I tried it, and I did. My wife accuses me of goofing off more than working on the computer and she may be sort of right sometimes. : : In the case of Balanced Funds, though, the ratios should be fairly consistent, and probably worth the effort. : : OJ
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