Retirement Planning:
Mutual Fund and Bond (Fixed Income) News and Information


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"Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused" (McGraw-Hill, December 2008)
Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused

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Retirement with a Plan

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans says "The book explores the importance of time and retirement philosophy in making a retirement plan."
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Signed copies
on sale: Investing for the Utterly Confused by Paul Petillo


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Our 2009 Outlook

Are you following our discussion about risk in 2009?
Special Report: Managing the Financial Crisis


Bond News and Information

Fixed income investing is more than just a conservative investment tool for those who seek no risk. The Bond markets are more than just Treasuries, more than just savings bonds, and more than just what you found in some old box in the attic.

By definition, they are loans made to the government or a business with the promise that the money you invested will be returned with interest. Both governments and companies are subject to many outside influences from financial news to geo-political events. This adds risk and reward.

This page explores some of those events and their impact on your investments. It should be noted that bonds are important is a smart retirement investor's portfolio.

Can Your Fund Fail?

Investor's panic: mutual funds withdrawals reach new record in this report by Sree Vidya Bhaktavatsalaam

Is your Money Market Fund safe? Fixed Income Update


Throughout the month, a wide variety of economic surveys are published that move markets not only here at home but around the world as well. The following link will provide you with a guide to when these reports are released as well as some insight into what they mean.

Today's market Composite Bond Yields

Taking a Hit on the Cusp of Retirement
by Ann Marsh
At 64, Gary Bowne's retirement is so close he can almost touch it. But last year he made a serious misstep. He walked into his local Wells Fargo branch and asked for a safe investment for some of his savings.

Current Economic Commentary from Paul Petillo, Managing Editor
Past Economic Commentary

Perhaps you would like to take another look at the world of Investing in Bonds

Should you be investing in Bond funds or should you avoid them?

There are many different types of bonds from which to chose, how do you decide. First, you educate yourself. Here is a quick look at some of the different types of bonds.
Corporate Bonds
Municipal Bonds
College Bonds

Savings bonds, the old standby guaranteed by the "full faith and credit" of the Federal Government are still a very popular way for use as investments.

There is something amiss in your pension plan. Here are three brief updates on how this will affect you. And believe me, it will.
Part One | Part Two
Part Three

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Our Glossaries
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Buy bonds two ways: Download the form, and mail it from here or buy them online here


In the News

Fred Moseley, professor of economics at Mount Holyoke College looks at the current housing situation.

So bonds might have done better than stocks - but not by much. And now, municipal bonds look attractive. Do you know how to use them?
The 10 Commandments Of Muni-Bond Investing byMarilyn Cohen

This Recession, It's Just Beginning
By Steven Pearlstein

So much for that second-half rebound.
While three-year returns on a single fund are only of little value they are of more value when looking at many more observations in the form of the firmwide performance.

Emerging-Market Bonds Gain on Signs Credit Crisis May Be Easing
By Lester Pimentel
Emerging-market bonds rose, led by gains in Ecuadorean debt, as speculation global banks will be able to weather credit crisis buoyed demand for higher-yielding assets.

Finding Your Refuge From Inflation
By MARK GONGLOFF
March 30, 2008

Bonds are a particularly bad place to park your money if inflation is rampant. You're essentially lending dollars to the bond issuer, and those dollars will buy a lot less when the issuer pays you back.

Last year, our yearly predictions were almost spot on. And if that happens again this year, we will be in for a wild ride. Never have we hoped to be so wrong.
Our 2008 Outlook

The Worth of Corporate Bonds
Transparency has always been a problem with investing. It is no different when using corporate bonds

The Bond Glossary

The following are summaries of the definitions of Moody's ratings for long-term bonds.

Aaa Best quality, with the smallest degree of investment risk.

Aa High quality by all standards; together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds.

A Possess many favorable investment attributes. Considered as upper-medium-grade obligations.

Baa Medium-grade obligations (neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Bonds rated Baa and above are considered investment grade.

Ba Have speculative elements; futures are not as well-assured. Bonds rated Ba and below are generally considered speculative.

B Generally lack characteristics of a desirable investment.

Caa Bonds of poor standing.

C Lowest rated class of bonds, with extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.


Previous Bond Market Reactions - Past articles

Fixed Income Update


Throughout the month, a wide variety of economic surveys are published that move markets not only here at home but around the world as well. The following link will provide you with a guide to when these reports are released as well as some insight into what they mean.

Past Reactions

On Ben Bernanke:
(02.09.07) - Add to that the steady overseas appetite for U.S. bonds
Will bonds be the next winner or is expectation just too great? And the winner is...
Previous Bond Market Reactions - Past articles


Two Quick Questions
Money News... on the Run

Past Articles
Finding the Right Level
Sand In the Gearbox This Can't Be Good
Could Junk Be Better?
Interest Coverage Ratio : The New Watch-phrase
The Cost of Strength: A Strong Dollar
The Mutual Fund Glossary

Mutual Fund News and Information


A mutual fund is defined as a group of investors who pool their money together, entrust a professional money manager to invest those funds in the stock market, bond market, or a combination of both spreading the risk and increasing your opportunity for diversified growth.

The BlueCollarDollar believes in mutual funds as an investment and retirement planning tool We believe that mutual funds best serve the BlueCollarDollar reader but only if the manager has withstood the test of time and has placed the investor first, keeps the cost of managing those funds low and does not charge (much) for your involvement.

Our managing editor writes about his latest book "Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused" (McGraw-HIll, December 2008) on his blog : Mutual Fund Investing


Special Report 12.18.08: When should I sell a mutual fund?
Plus Mutual Funds and Taxes
The Pain of Investing

So many redemptions... Was it wise? We don't think so.

Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D. writes: "If you are like a lot of investors who are anxious, you have become derailed in your thinking in recent weeks, feeling that the bottom might fall out.
Anxiety, Investing and Time Perspective, September 29, 2008

Fears were raised about the giant money market mutual fund industry earlier this week when Primary Fund announced that the value of its fund's assets had dropped to 97 cents for each $1 put in by investors, exposing them to losses.

How many financial stocks do your mutual funds own? Could be none. Could be more.

How telling are mutual fund investment trends? Updated for August 2008

The Investment Company Institute has recently published a look at where we are retirement-wise. You can download the pdf here.

Q How about mortgage rates?

Q What about bank and credit union accounts?

Q What about credit cards?

Q What about the stock market?

Q What about my taxes?

401(k) participation grew despite market volatility. See what auto enrollment has done

According to Pensions and Investments, At least seven pension funds lost their private equity investments in Washington Mutual, following its failure and subsequent purchase by JPMorgan Chase, according to a source.

And speaking of pensions: Owners of these types of retirement plans can feel a little smug.

"Fannie and Freddie's stocks are down about 80 percent so far this year, with losses accelerating in recent weeks."Should you be worried about your mutual funds?John Detrixhe reports.

There is a growing concern about the money you have saved. Where it is matters.

As is common in a bear market, even the best and brightest investing professionals are hard-pressed to read the near-term tea leaves for either the economy or stock market. Gail MarksJarvis shares her thoughts.

A vastly different Congress is not likely, so understanding how to prepare your investments for an inflationary future is essential. Unlike the 1970s, today's situation is more complex. Frank Beck reports.

Investors battle the bear as thestock-market sag spilled into the second quarter, leaving little to be gained.
By Martin Skala

How to Green a BlueCollarDollar Investor

Nobel prize winning economics professor offers this for your consideration. Annuities: A New Idea?

The downside risks in annuities are something to consider and if you donšt, the attraction these instruments have can be problematic.

Taxes and Retirement Planning
Ian Salisbury, Dow Jones Newswires
June 04, 2008: Index funds are boring intellectually...

Bogle speaks: His advice for investors seems to square with a popular marketing pitch: Set it and forget it.

ICI: Consumer retirement assets rise to $17.6 trillion
By EILEEN ALT POWELL
The retirement assets of Americans grew 7 percent to $17.6 trillion last year.

Mutual fund expenses held steady in '07
By Sue Asci
The era of declining mutual fund expenses is over, and in fact, the cost of investing in a fund may soon be headed back up.

More on expenses and fees in mutual funds.

Can mutual fund managers pick stocks?
According to our measures of skill, certain funds perform persistently better than others, and the best performers tend to have a growth objective, large size, high turnover, and use incentive fees to motivate managers.

Top Performers

Picking the Forest or the Trees
The ability to find top-performing industries is a crucial factor in determining mutual funds that are likely to perform best in the future.

How Well Do You Know... Funds and Taxes?
By WILLIAM POWER AND LESLIE SCISM
Tax time is here, a reminder for investors in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that knowing how tax issues work can make a difference in your returns.


Visit Retiring with a Plan

Use this guide to help you determine when and how to sell your fund shares

Inside each of us, hidden away and waiting to be tapped, is a Financial Planner. All you need do is ask the right questions.
Many mutual fund companies don't mention soft money.
Is there a way you can benefit from herd mentality? More on Mutual Fund Investing
How Mutual Fund Investors Lose What is a hard close?
Soft money is back
Let's take a look at this hidden and often needed cost of doing business in mutual funds.
Is the price you pay for a share of a mutual fund the best one.
The average investor now has the opportunity to speculate by purchasing Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs .
So the question is: if it is good for grocers is it an acceptable practice for mutual funds trying to reach customers in 401(k) plans?
Accident Prone Investing
Let me tell you a little story first about investing...

You are a mutual fund investor. So why should you worry about Hedge Fund Influence?
Baby Boomers need is a new retirement strategy.
Is it a using the Stock Market game the best way to teach young investors?
Your fund manager will be worried about the Valuation of Your Mutual Fund
In other fund news that will be good for all investors concerned, the S.E.C. has made the practice of directed trading illegal.
Are you looking for a mutual fund? Screen it here.
How to fix the mutual fund industry once and for all. Mutual Funds are fine.
How will your survivors invest their inheritance? Investment Planning After
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