Permanent Portfolio: 4 Fund

Permanent portfolio is one of well-known 4-fund investment portfolios. This permanent portfolio is introduced by free-market investment analyst Harry Browne in 1980.

This lazy portfolio is a buy-and-hold portfolio that contains a healthy allocation to gold. The portfolio holds equal allocations of gold, domestic stocks, short-term treasury bonds, and long term treasury bonds.

Who is Harry Browne?

Harry Browne was an American writer, politician, and investment advisor. He was the Libertarian Party's Presidential nominee in the U.S. elections of 1996 and 2000

Rules of Permanent Portfolio

The rules of Permanent Portfolio is simple. It invests its 25% allocation gold, domestic stocks, short-term treasury bonds, and long term treasury bonds.

This 4 fund portfolio is well like by followers in Bogleheads.

FMI International Fund (FMIJX)

FMI International Fund (FMIJX) is one of the best stock mutual funds. This mutual fund has delivered consistent performance. This equity mutual fund is popular among investors.

FMI International Fund (FMIJX) Profile

This FMI International Fund objective is to provide capital appreciation. The fund manager will invest mainly in a limited number of large capitalization (namely, companies with more than $5 billion market capitalization at the time of initial purchase) value stocks of foreign companies (also referred to as non-U.S. companies).

This FMI fund typically invests at least 65% of its total assets in the equity securities of non-U.S. companies. The majority of the fund's investments will be in companies that have global operations rather than in companies whose business is limited to a particular country or geographic region. The fund is non-diversified.

FMIJX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: December 2010
• Ticker Symbol: FMIJX
• CUSIP: 302933304
• Fund Manager: FMI Funds Inc
• Net Assets: $7.9 Billion
• Beta (3yr): 0.47
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 2.81%
• Expense Fee: 0.94%
• Min to Invest: $2,500
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 5 years

Couch Potato Portfolio

Couch Potato portfolio is one of well-known 3-fund investment portfolios. This coach potato portfolio is introduced by Scott Burns. It is also known as Andrew Tobias' Three Fund portfolio.

Who is Scott Burns?

Scott Burns is a newspaper columnist and author. He has covered personal finance and investments for over 30 years. He is known for creating the "Couch Potato Portfolio" investment strategy. This investment strategy advocates the use of index funds over managed funds or stock-picking.

Rules of Couch Potato Portfolio

The rules of Scott Burns’ Couch Potato Portfolio is simple. It invests its 33% allocation to inflation-protected securities, 34% allocation to US stock market, and 33% to international stock market. It mainly invest in US, international stock, and bond market (TIPS).

How to Invest

You can invest in this Couch Potato Portfolio through mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Below are the list.

Fidelity International Growth Fund (FIGFX)

Fidelity International Growth Fund (FIGFX) is a popular international stock mutual fund. This mutual fund is provide a decent dividend yield to investors.

Fidelity International Growth Fund (FIGFX) Profile

This Fidelity International Growth Fund (FIGFX) objective is to provide long-term capital growth. This mutual fund invests mainly in non-U.S. companies with growth potential. It also invests in emerging markets.

FIGFX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: October 31, 2007
• Ticker Symbol: FIGFX
• CUSIP: 06828M884
• Fund Manager: Jed Weiss
• Net Assets: $1.9 Billion
• Beta (3yr): 0.78
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 1.09%
• Expense Fee: 0.99%
• Min to Invest: $2,500

Taylor Larimore’s Three-Fund Portfolio: 60/40

Taylor Larimore’s Three-Fund Portfolio is a well-known 3-fund investment portfolio. This 3 fund portfolio is introduced by Taylor Larimore. Taylor Larimore is well known professional investor among Boglehead.

Who is Taylor Larimore?

Taylor Larimore was labeled by MONEY magazine as "The Dean of the Vanguard Diehards." Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard Group, calls Taylor "King of the Bogleheads." Taylor is extraordinarily well-versed after having spent most of his 83 years in the real world of finance and investments

Rules of Taylor Larimore’s Three-Fund Portfolio

The rules of Taylor Larimore’s Three-Fund Portfolio is simple. It invests its 60% allocation to world-wide stocks (42% in US stocks and 18% in international stocks) and 40% to bonds. It mainly invest in US, international stock, and bond market.

This portfolio is well like by followers in Bogleheads.

How to Invest

You can invest in this Taylor Larimore’s Three-Fund Portfolio through mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

Popular Mutual Funds in 2017

Find the popular mutual funds in 2017. This mutual fund include stock, bond, and hybrid funds.

Invest in Popular Mutual Funds

As a prospective investor, you need to ask whether you should invest in the biggest and most popular mutual funds. Can you get the extra return with these popular mutual funds? You can find many companies which provide ratings on mutual funds including Morningstar, US News, Lipper, Forbes, Money, Kiplinger, etc.

Index Funds

Index funds are popular funds in 401k plan or retirement account (IRA). Some of the best index mutual funds are provided by Vanguard & Fidelity.

Pros:

• Index funds are cheaper than actively managed stock funds in term of expenses.
• The funds may provide diverse selection of US companies than funds tracking the index such as S&P 500, etc.

Baron Emerging Markets Fund (BEXFX)

Baron Emerging Markets Fund (BEXFX) is one of the best emerging markets stock mutual funds. This mutual fund is popular among investors.

Baron Emerging Markets Fund (BEXFX) Profile

This Baron Emerging Markets Fund objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. This mutual fund invests mainly in non-U.S. companies of all sizes with significant growth potential.
The majority of investments are in companies domiciled in developing countries, and the Fund may invest up to 20% in companies in developed and frontier countries. It is a diversified mutual fund.

BEXFX Profile

• Fund Inception Date: December 30, 2010
• Ticker Symbol: BEXFX
• CUSIP: 06828M884
• Fund Manager: Michael Kass
• Net Assets: $3.3 Billion
• Beta (3yr): 0.77
• Category: Diversified Emerging Markets
• Yield: 0.13%
• Expense Fee: 1.38%
• Min to Invest: $2,000
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 4 years