No free lunch with ETFs, unless you’re a disciplined DIY investor
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP There may be a trend afoot in the industry whereby mutual fund companies launch funds housing exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The first I can recall is the now-defunct Spectrum...
View ArticleAlphaPro Balanced ETF could have low fees for now
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP I was quoted in today’s National Post regarding the launch of the Horizons AlphaPro Balanced ETF (HAA/TSX). As is common practice in the ETF world, the firm only quotes the...
View ArticleFees impact bond risk & return
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP Many financial advisors say that I harp too much on fees. Many investors (and investor advocates) say that I’m not tough enough on fund fees. Sometimes, I just can’t win....
View ArticleWant lower fund fees? Vote with your wallet
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP The mutual fund industry seems to be under the microscope on a regular basis. That’s partly a function of its size. But, to be fair, it’s also because the industry has earned...
View ArticleMutual fund critics missing the big picture
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP Every time markets bleed red, mutual fund investors and the media become much more price-sensitive. So it’s no surprise that print media have featured a barrage of anti-fee...
View ArticleStock pickers’ markets a myth for retail investors
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP Whenever the notion of a volatile sideways market bubbles up among portfolio managers, they claim indexing will fail in comparison to active stock selection. In other words,...
View ArticlePIMCO Global Income Opportunities: enthusiasm vs reality
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP Tom Bradley just posted a smart analysis of a new closed-end fund. PIMCO’s newly-launched Global Opportunities Income fund attracted $600 million – the top end of its target....
View ArticleRegulatory initiatives may not solve this fee transparency problem
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP Securities regulators have a lot on the go. Among the many proposed regulations is the requirement for financial advisors to show clients how much they pay in fees and the...
View ArticleCalPERS’ hedge fund decision offers important lessons
By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP The California Public Employees’ Retirement System – aka CalPERS - announced plans to liquidate its $4 billion hedge fund portfolio. It’s big news because CalPERS is...
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