CGM Focus Fund (CGMFX)

As part of Forbes best fund, CGM Focus has outperformed many funds over the long term period. While it has been lagging its peers for the past 3 years, it is still one of the choice by investor to diversify his/her portfolio. The following is details CGM Focus fund review.

CGM Focus (MUTF: CGMFX)

CGM Focus fund details

The CGM Focus fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. This fund normally invests in the stock of between 20-100 companies at any one time. It may invest in companies of any size, but primarily invests in companies with market capitalizations of more than $5 billion. The fund may also invest in debt and fixed income securities (investment grade & non-investment grade or junk bonds).

G. Kenneth Heebner is the fund's manager since September 1997. This CGM fund has $2.58 billion net assets. The annual expense ratio is 1.03%. Morningstar has rated this fund with 2-stars rating. It has 1.29% beta for over the last three years. The annual holdings turnover of this rate is quite high (363.0%) compared to the average in Large Growth category which is 87.49%. This CGMFX is a no load fund, there is no 12b1 fee and no sales load fee as well.

American Century CA Intermediate Term Tax-Free Bond Fund BCITX

California is one of the largest states in USA. It also contributes significantly to total GDP of United States of America. To invest in California, you can do so in variety of ways. One of the safest ways is investing in California Muni bond mutual fund. One of the best California muni bond fund review is listed below. If you are interested in other best mutual fund, please check MEPB Financial. Single state muni bond fund can be more volatile than national muni bond fund. The following is the top national muni bond funds:

• Fidelity Intermediate Municipal Income
• AllianceBernstein Diversified Municipal

American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund (Ticker: BCITX)

The American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond fund’s objective is to achieve safety of principal and high current income that is exempt from federal and California income taxes. The fund invests >80% of assets in investment-grade debt securities with interest payments exempt from federal and California income taxes. This Municipal bond fund may also invest <20% of assets in below investment-grade securities. The fund’s weighted average maturity is about three years to ten years. However, there is no maturity limit on individual securities.

BCITX fund details

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: November 9. 1983
• Ticker Symbol: BCITX (Investor Class)
• CUSIP: 025075508
• Beta (3yr): 0.87
• Rank in category (YTD): 8
• Category: Muni California Intermediate
• Distribution Yield: 3.54%
• Net Assets: $ 826.33 million
• Sales Load: 0.0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.48%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 24 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Average Duration: 5.11 years

Updated on 10/1/2011

Royce International Smaller-Companies RYGSX Service Class Fund

Another alternative investment strategy is investing in small /mid cap international stock fund. As we know, international stock funds don’t have a straight correlation to domestic stock funds. These international stock funds also have outperformed some of the domestic stock funds. These funds can also be useful for portfolio diversification. One of the best rated international stock funds is listed below. More of top fund review can be found in my MEPB Financial website.

Royce International Smaller-Companies Service Class (MUTF: RYGSX)

The Royce International Smaller-Companies fund’s objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. The fund invests >80% of assets in the equity securities of companies with market capitalizations up to $5 billion at the time of investment. The fund also typically invests majority of assets (>65%) in the equity securities of international companies domiciled in >3 different countries. The fund invests <35% of assets in the securities of companies domiciled in developing countries. Generally, developing countries include every country in the world other than the United States, Japan, Western European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.

RYGSX Fund Details

Royce International Smaller Companies

• Fund Inception Date: June 30, 2008
• Ticker Symbol: RYGSX (Service Class)
• CUSIP: 780905139
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 76
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Value
• Distribution: 0.75%
• Net Assets: $ 22.01 million
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.69%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years

Updated on 10/1/2011

Top 25 Balanced Mutual Funds of Sep 2011 for past 3 months

The following is about the 25 top performing balanced mutual funds September 2011. The top performers include PIMCO Real Income 2029 A, Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2050 A, Federated Market Opportunity A, Hussman Strategic Total Return and more.

Volatility for the past 3 month has reminded us (i.e. investor) to remember to diversify our portfolio allocation. One of the easiest ways is to use balanced funds. Balanced funds or hybrid funds invest in equity and bond. Depending on their objective, these balanced mutual funds can allocate their asset accordingly. With European monetary crisis, this fund has relatively outperformed other classes of mutual funds, especially stock funds or equity funds.

For a refresh, there are several balanced funds. They can be classified as: Aggressive allocation balanced funds, conservative allocation balanced funds, moderate allocation balanced funds, world allocation balanced funds, retirement income funds, and target date balanced funds (Target date 2000-2010, target date 2021-2025, etc).

The 25 Top Performer Balanced Mutual Funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performer Balanced Funds 2011

1. PIMCO Real Income 2029 A (POIAX)
2. Invesco Balanced Risk Retire 2050 A (TNEAX)
3. Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation A (ABRZX)
4. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2030 A (TNAAX)
5. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2020 A (AFTAX)
6. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2040 A (TNDAX)
7. Federated Market Opportunity A (FMAAX)
8. Hussman Strategic Total Return (HSTRX)
9. JHFunds2 Retirement 2010 Portfolio 1 (JRTOX)
10. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire Now A (IANAX)

25 Top Performer Taxable Bond Mutual Funds 2011

Bond mutual fund or fixed income fund has enjoyed one of the longest bull markets for the past 30 years. While stock funds have stagnant for the past 10 year, bond funds have outperformed. With market volatility for the past 3months, bond funds have relatively stable and achieve better return. There are two types of bond funds: taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The following is the 25 top performing bond funds (3 month performance). I also include the short fund review.

Note: Bond funds include: Government bond, inflation protection bond fund (TIP), general bond, bank loan bond fund, world bond fund, multisector bond fund, emerging market bond fund, municipal bond fund, etc.

The 25 Top Performer bond mutual funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performer Bond Funds 2011

1. PIMCO Extended Duration Instl (PEDIX)
2. Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Instl (VEDTX)
3. ProFunds US Government Plus Inv (GVPIX)
4. Rydex Govt Long Bond 1.2x Strategy Inv (RYGBX)
5. Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury (WHOSX)
6. American Century Zero Coupon 2025 Inv (BTTRX)
7. Fidelity Spartan L/T Term Bond Index Inv (FLBIX)
8. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Inv (VUSTX)
9. Vanguard Long-Term Government Bond Index Instl (VLGIX)
10. T. Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term (PRULX)

Turner Emerging Growth Fund (TMCGX)

Small cap US stock funds have outperformed large cap US stock funds. This small cap stock fund can be very volatile. One of the best small growth US stock funds is Turner Emerging Growth Investor fund. Details about the fund review can be found below.

Turner Emerging Growth Investor (MUTF: TMCGX)

Turner Emerging Growth Investor

The Turner Emerging Growth Investor investment seeks capital appreciation. This Turner Investment Partners fund invests mainly in equity securities of U.S. companies with small and very small market capitalizations and also in securities of companies that are diversified across economic sectors. Its exposure is generally <5% of assets in any single stock, subject to exceptions for the most heavily weighted securities in the 2000 Growth Index.

This small growth domestic stock fund is on the top list of Forbes 10^th best mutual funds. Frank L Sustersic has managed this fund since its inception in February 1998. This fund has expense ratio of 1.40% per yeary. This expense fee is a bit lower compared to the average in the Small Growth category (1.52%). The total net asset of this fund is $595.72 million. This TMCGX fund is under the management of Turner Investment Partners. Currently it is on 24^th rank in the small growth category. The CUSIP of this fund is 872524301. Note: Previously, this fund is known as Turner Micro-Cap Growth fund.

Top Performer International Stock Funds of Sep 2011 (3 Month Return)

International stock funds have been taking a beating for the past 3 months. These equity funds have been underperformed their peer, domestic stock funds. These international stock funds can include European stock funds, diversified emerging markets stock funds, world stock funds, Japan stock funds, and many more.

The 24 Top Performer International Stock mutual funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performing International Stock Funds

1. The USX China C (HPCCX)
2. Commonwealth Japan (CNJFX)
3. GaveKal Platform Company Instl (GAVIX)
4. API Efficient Frontier Multiple Index A (APIMX)
5. Prasad Growth (PRGRX)
6. Nuveen Tradewinds Japan A (NTJAX)
7. DWS RREEF Global Infrastructure A (TOLLX)
8. DFA Japanese Small Company I (DFJSX)
9. Dynamic Infrastructure I (DWGIX)
10. Henderson Japan Focus A (HFJAX)
11. Virtus Global Opportunities A (NWWOX)
12. Morgan Stanley Inst Glbl Franchise I (MSFAX)