May 21, 2013

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund (GICAX)

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund is an international stock fund. It invests in non-U.S. companies stocks. It also has a high yield of 4.35%.

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund (GICAX)

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund objective is to provide long term capital appreciation. It uses its assets to buy a broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap non-U.S. issuers. It seeks to maximize its expected return, while maintaining risk, style, and capitalization characteristics similar to the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Small Cap Index. It may invest in emerging countries and fixed income securities.

Fund Details

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund (GICAX)
Goldman Sachs fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 09/27/2007
  • Ticker Symbol: GICAX
  • CUSIP:
  • Beta (3yr): 1.00
  • Rank in category (YTD): 6%
  • Category: Foreign Small/Mid Value
  • Distribution: 4.35%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.30%
  • Net Assets: $ 286.3 million
  • Number of Years Up: 3 years
  • Number of Years Down: 2 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 150%
Updated on 5/21/2013

May 18, 2013

Best Hartford Mutual Funds 2013

Top 19 Best Hartford mutual funds 2013 are Hartford Balanced Income fund, Hartford Equity Income, Hartford Dividend & Growth, etc. You may find stock, bond, and balanced funds.

Best Hartford Mutual Funds 2013
Best Funds

Top 19 Hartford Mutual Funds


Hartford Funds is part of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE: HIG). It is mostly known as The Hartford. It is one of the America’s largest insurance and investment companies for individual and business customers. It has 4 business segments: commercial markets, consumer markets, wealth management, and runoff operations.

The Hartford funds consist of 54 mutual funds. There are 5 main categories such as domestic equity, international/ global equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi strategy. For instance, you can find the Hartford Target Retirement 2020 fund in multi strategy category.

These best Hartford mutual funds for 2013 are selected based on its performance history. The funds are ranked with 3 star rating or higher by Morningstar. You may find the fund review below and other fund information.

The best Hartford mutual funds 2013 are:
  1. Hartford Balanced Income fund (HBLAX)
  2. Hartford Equity Income fund (HQIAX)
  3. Hartford Dividend & Growth fund (IHGIX)
  4. Hartford Midcap fund (HFMCX)
  5. Hartford Growth Opportunities fund (HGOAX)
  6. Hartford Inflation Plus fund (HIPAX)
  7. Hartford Growth Allocation fund (HRAAX)
  8. Hartford Healthcare fund (HGHAX)
  9. Hartford International Opportunities fund (IHOAX)
  10. Hartford Short Duration fund (HSDAX)
  11. Hartford Small Company fund (IHSAX)
  12. Hartford Mid Cap Value fund (HMVAX)

May 17, 2013

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX)

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX) is a sector stock fund. It invests in common stocks of companies which are operated in consumer staples. The companies are Procter & Gamble Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, etc.

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX)


The investment objective of ICON Consumer Staples Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The mutual fund uses its assets to purchase equity securities of companies in the Consumer Staples sector. Equity securities in which the fund may invest include common stocks and preferred stocks of companies of any market capitalization. It is non-diversified.

Fund Details
ICON Consumer Staples Fund
ICRAX fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 09/29/2010
  • Ticker Symbol: ICRAX
  • CUSIP: 44929K291
  • Beta (3yr): 0.48
  • Rank in category (YTD): 60%
  • Category: Consumer Defensive
  • Distribution: 1.38%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.77%
  • Net Assets: $ 42.6 million
  • Number of Years Up: 2 years
  • Number of Years Down: 0 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 81.81% 
Updated on 5/17/2013

May 15, 2013

Top 25 Highest Yield Closed End Funds 2013

Top 25 highest yield closed end funds 2013 are Cornerstone Strategic Value, Columbia Seligman Premium Tech, PIMCO High Income Fund, etc. These investment funds provide high dividend for income.

Highest Yield CEFs

Top 25 Highest Yield Closed End Funds 2013
Highest Yield CEFs
Closed end fund is also known as closed end mutual fund. Regular mutual fund is known as open end mutual fund. Unlike its counterpart mutual fund, closed end fund is traded like stock or ETF (exchange traded fund). You can buy it from your regular online stock brokerage. Some CEFs also provide high yield income for investors.

These closed end funds list is selected based on its high yield for the past 1 year. The yield may include only pure dividend or mixed between dividend and return of assets (ROA). For details about the closed end fund screener, you can find the below table. Some of these top highest yield CEFs are among the best closed end funds.

From this article, you can also find the each closed end fund research below. The fund families include Cornerstone Advisors Inc, RiverSource Investments LLC, Gabelli Funds Inc, PIMCO, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, Wells Fargo Funds Management, and others.

The top 25 highest yield closed end funds 2013 are:
  1. Cornerstone Strategic Value (CLM)
  2. Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)
  3. Cornerstone Progressive Return (CFP)
  4. Oxford Lane Capital Corp (OXLC)
  5. Columbia Seligman Premium Technology (STK)
  6. GAMCO Global Gold Natural Resource & Income (GGN)
  7. AGIC Convertible & Income II (NCZ)
  8. PIMCO High Income Fund (PHK)
  9. Cushing MLP Total Return Fund (SRV)
  10. AGIC Convertible & Income (NCV)
  11. AGIC Intl & Premium Strategy (NAI)
  12. GAMCO Nat Res Gold & Income (GNT)
  13. ING Global Equity Dividend & Prem Opportunities (IGD)
  14. GDL Fund (GDL)
  15. Wells Fargo Advantage Global Dividend Opportunities (EOD)

May 14, 2013

Franklin Adjustable US Government Securities Fund (FISAX)

Franklin Adjustable US Government Securities Fund (FISAX) is a taxable bond fund. It focuses mainly in short duration government bonds or treasuries. It provides yield for investors.

Franklin Adjustable US Government Securities Fund (FISAX)


The investment aim of Franklin Adjustable US Government Securities Fund is to provide a high current income level, while providing lower volatility of principal. The fund utilizes its assets to purchase a portfolio of adjustable-rate U.S. government mortgage securities. This Adjustable-rate U.S. government mortgage securities include adjustable-rate mortgage securities (ARMS) and other mortgage-backed securities with interest rates that adjust periodically to reflect prevailing market interest rates.

Fund Details
Franklin Adjustable US Government Securities Fund
Franklin Templeton fund
  • Fund Inception Date: October 19, 1987
  • Ticker Symbol: FISAX
  • CUSIP: 353 612 302
  • Beta (3yr): 0.04
  • Rank in category (YTD): 13%
  • Category: Short Government
  • Yield: 1.54%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 0.87%
  • Net Assets: $ 2.4 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 24 years
  • Number of Years Down: 1 year
  • Average Duration: 0.7 year
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 9.89%
Updated on March 17, 2013

May 12, 2013

Best Performing Retirement Income Mutual Funds May 2013

Best performing retirement income mutual funds May 2013 are Vanguard Managed Payout Growth Focus fund, Fidelity Income Replacement 2042, etc. Find best mutual funds for retirement account (Roth IRA or Traditional IRA) or 401k.

Retirement Income

Retirement income mutual funds are part of balanced fund. It uses its assets to purchase a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and cash. Depending on its objective, the mutual fund will adjust its assets to align with investors’ retirement goal. Some retirement income funds are more conservative than the others. The fund’s objective is to provide steady income throughout retirement.

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on 1 year total return up to May 1st, 2013.

Best Performing Mutual Funds

Best Performing Retirement Income Mutual Funds 2013
Top funds
Best performing retirement income mutual funds May 2013 are:
  1. Vanguard Managed Payout Growth Focus fund (VPGFX)
  2. Fidelity Income Replacement 2042 fund (FIXRX)
  3. Fidelity Income Replacement 2040 fund (FIRWX)
  4. Fidelity Income Replacement 2036 fund (FIRUX)
  5. Fidelity Income Replacement 2034 fund (FIRSX)
  6. Fidelity Income Replacement 2032 fund (FIRRX)
  7. Vanguard Managed Payout Growth & Distribution fund (VPGDX)
  8. Fidelity Income Replacement 2030 fund (FIRQX)
  9. Fidelity Income Replacement 2028 fund (FIRPX)
  10. ING Global Target Payment fund (IGPAX)
  11. Fidelity Income Replacement 2026 fund (FIROX)
  12. Legg Mason Target Retirement fund (LMPAX)

May 10, 2013

Fidelity Pacific Basin Fund (FPBFX)

Fidelity Pacific Basin Fund (FPBFX) is an international stock mutual fund. It focuses its investment in equities of companies located in Pacific Basin such as Japan, Korea, or Singapore.

Fidelity Pacific Basin Fund (FPBFX)

The investment seeks growth of capital over the long term. The mutual fund uses its assets to purchase securities of Pacific Basin issuers and other investments that are tied economically to the Pacific Basin. It invests mostly in common stocks. The fund allocates investments across different Pacific Basin countries. The fund management will uses fundamental analysis of factors such as financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, to select investments.

Fund Details
Fidelity Pacific Basin Fund
FPBFX fund
  • Fund Inception Date: September 30, 1986
  • Ticker Symbol: FPBFX
  • CUSIP: 316343201
  • Beta (3yr): 0.86
  • Rank in category (YTD): 1%
  • Category: Diversified Pacific/ Asia
  • Yield: 1.08%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.26%
  • Net Assets: $ 647.8 million
  • Number of Years Up: 15 years
  • Number of Years Down: 11 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 26%
Updated on 5/10/2013

The Importance of Diversification in Investing

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