Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX)

Vanguard Wellington Investor (VWELX) fund is a top rated moderate allocation balanced mutual fund. This Vanguard fund focuses its investment in bonds and stocks.

Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor (VWELX)

The investment objective of Vanguard Wellington fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation and reasonable current income. This equity fund invests about 60%-70% of its assets in dividend-paying and, to a lesser extent, non-dividend-paying common stocks of established, mid and large companies. Most of these stocks are known as value stocks.

It invests the rest of assets (30%-40%) of the assets in fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a reasonable level of current income. These securities include investment-grade corporate bonds, U.S. Treasury and government agency bonds, and mortgage-backed securities.

Fund Details

Vanguard Wellington Fund

• Fund Inception Date: 07/01/1929
• Ticker Symbol: VWELX (Investor Shares)
• CUSIP: 921935102
• Beta (3yr): 1.00
• Rank in category (YTD): 11%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution/ Yield: 2.43%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.25%  
• Net Assets: $ 55.24 billion
• Number of Years Up: 63 years
• Number of Years Down: 18 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 31%

Updated May 2017

Fidelity Puritan Fund (FPURX)

Fidelity funds are among of the most popular mutual funds. They have various old and best rated funds such as Fidelity Magellan, Fidelity Puritan, Fidelity Growth Company, and more. This next fund review is Fidelity Puritan. This fund is balanced fund which invests in stock or equity and bond or fixed income.

Fidelity Puritan (FPURX)

The Fidelity Puritan fund’s objective is to provide income and capital growth consistent with reasonable risk. This hybrid fund invests 60% of assets in stocks or equities and the remainder in bonds and other debt securities, including lower-quality debt securities. It invests >25% of total assets in fixed-income senior securities such as debt securities and preferred stock. The fund also invests in domestic and foreign issuers and invests in Fidelity funds.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 04/16/1947
• Ticker Symbol: FPURX
• CUSIP: 316345107
• Beta (3yr): 1.05
• Rank in category (YTD): 33%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution: 1.83%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%
• Net Assets: $18.64 billion
• Number of Years Up: 49 years
• Number of Years Down: 14 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 154.00%

Updated on 12/12/2011

American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (ANCFX) Class A

American Funds Fundamental Investors A (ANCFX) fund is one of popular U.S. domestic stock mutual funds. This American Funds fund invests in US stocks.

Large Cap US Domestic Stock funds have achieved better result than other Large Cap International stock mutual funds for 2011. One of this popular US Stock funds is American Funds Fundamental Investors fund. This top fund also pays regular dividend. More details about the fund review below.

American Funds Fundamental Investors A (ANCFX)

The investment objective of American Funds Fundamental Investors fund is to seek long-term capital growth and income. This American Funds fund invests mainly in common stocks of companies that appear to offer superior opportunities for capital growth and most of which have a history of paying dividends. It may invest significantly in foreign companies outside the United States.

ANCFX Fund Details

American Funds Fundamental Investors

• Fund Inception Date: August 1, 1978
• Ticker Symbol: ANCFX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 360802102
• Beta (3yr): 0.98
• Rank in category (YTD): 64%
• Category: Large Blend
• Distribution/ Yield: 1.45%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.61%  
• Net Assets: $ 86.8 billion
• Number of Years Up: 27 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 32%

Updated May 2017

Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX)

This Fidelity Balanced fund is classified as hybrid mutual fund which invests in equities and fixed incomes. This mutual fund can become the one stop shop for your investment strategy. More details about the fund’s review is below.

Fidelity Balanced (FBALX)

The Fidelity Balanced investment fund is seeking income and capital growth consistent with reasonable risk. This Fidelity fund invests >60% of assets in stocks and other equity securities and the remainder in bonds and other bond securities, including lower-quality debt securities. It invests >25% of total assets in fixed-income senior securities such as preferred stock. The fund invests in domestic and foreign stocks and bonds.

Fund Details

Fidelity Balanced fund

• Fund Inception Date: 11/6/1986
• Ticker Symbol: FBALX
• CUSIP: 316345206
• Beta (3yr): 1.04
• Rank in category (YTD): 19%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution: 1.86%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.60%  
• Net Assets: $ 19.81 billion
• Number of Years Up: 20 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 193%

Updated on 12/8/2011

Lightspeed Offers New Commission fee for WebTrader 2012

lightspeed

Lightspeed is one of the discount brokerage which has been rated among the top brokerage by various financial magazine such as Barron, Smart Money, and more. It offers Lightspeed Trader, Lightspeed Gateway, Lightspeed Web Trader, and Lightspeed Forex.

New Commission Fee on 1/15/2012

There will be new commission schedule for Lightspeed WebTrader user on 1/15/2012.

• Lightspeed will eliminate the per-share rate plan. Any customer on per-share rate will be switched to the new per-trade plan.
• Lightspeed will reduce the current per-trade plan from $4.50 per trade to $3.00 per trade.

The new commission will be:

• For equities, $3.00 per trade with 50,000 share maximum order size
• For options, $0.60 per contract ($3.00 minimum commission)

YTD Top Performer Mutual Funds of December 2011

YTD Top Performer Mutual Funds 2011

The year 2011 has been one of the most challenging years for traders and investors to invest in mutual funds. The following article will look into the year to date top performer of each category of Mutual Funds.

The year to date top performers include PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy A, Morgan Stanley Institutional Select Global Infrastructure Portfolio I, PIMCO Extended Duration Institutional, and more.

Note: This list doesn’t include any leveraged funds except on alternative funds category.

The YTD Top Performer Funds of December 2011 include:

• US Stock Funds: 
• PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy A (PETAX)
• FBR Gas Utility Index Investor (GASFX)
• PIMCO StocksPLUS Long Duration Institutional (PSLDX)
• International Stock Funds: 
• Morgan Stanley Institutional Select Global Infrastructure Portfolio I (MTIIX)
• DWS RREEF Global Infrastructure A (TOLLX)
• Morgan Stanley Global Infrastructure B (UTLBX)
• Taxable Bond Funds
• PIMCO Extended Duration Institutional (PEDIX)
• Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Institutional (VEDTX)
• Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury (WHOSX)
• Municipal Bond Funds: 
• Dupree Taxable Municipal Bond (DUTMX)
• Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Bond Strategy Long Term A (EALTX)
• Oppenheimer AMT-Free Municipals A (OPTAX)
• Balanced Funds: 
• PIMCO Real Income 2029 A (POIAX)
• Federated Muni and Stock Advantage A (FMUAX)
• FBR Balanced I (AFBAX)
• Alternative Funds: 
• ProFunds UltraShort Emerging Markets Inv (UVPIX)
• ProFunds UltraShort Japan Inv (UKPIX)
• Direxion Mthly Emerging Markets Bear 2X (DXESX)

updated on 12/17/2011

Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Open (LZOEX) Fund

Emerging Markets stock fund has been one of the outperformer asset classes of mutual funds for the past 3 years. One of this popular EM equity funds is Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Open (LZOEX) fund. This Lazard fund invests in undervalued emerging market companies. More details about the fund review is described as follow.

Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Open (LZOEX)

The investment objective of Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Open fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This equity fund invests mainly in undervalued equity securities of non-U.S. companies located in emerging market countries.

Fund Details

Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Open

• Fund Inception Date: January 8, 1997
• Ticker Symbol: LZOEX (Open Class)
• CUSIP: 52106N764
• Beta (3yr): 1.05
• Rank in category (YTD): 26%
• Category: Diversified Emerging Markets
• Distribution: 1.02%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.49%  
• Net Assets: $ 15.23 billion
• Number of Years Up: 8 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 23.00%

Updated on 12/11/2011