For those that deal with, E-trade, Schwabb

[byu71]

Fidelity, etc., I wonder if you would do something for me. Just out of the goodness of your hearts, because I am not going to do something for you in return.

Would you ask the person you deal with if the firm has had an unusual amount of Mutual Fund net redemptions the last few weeks. I can get the information from ICI, but I don't necessarily trust their numbers and I prefer the no loads not be lumped in with the loads.

By the way I am not trying to knock do it yourselfers. The IQ level on this board is high enough that I am "sure" those who do are doing very well.

[Sullyute]

Fidelity, etc., I wonder if you would do something for me. Just out of the goodness of your hearts, because I am not going to do something for you in return.

Would you ask the person you deal with if the firm has had an unusual amount of Mutual Fund net redemptions the last few weeks. I can get the information from ICI, but I don't necessarily trust their numbers and I prefer the no loads not be lumped in with the loads.

By the way I am not trying to knock do it yourselfers. The IQ level on this board is high enough that I am "sure" those who do are doing very well.

I assume it is the same with others, but I do everything online and don't deal with a person. If I called I would talk to someone (a customer service rep or trader) that more than likely is only able to see what they have done and wouldn't be able to talk about what is happening firm wide.

[byu71]

I assume it is the same with others, but I do everything online and don't deal with a person. If I called I would talk to someone (a customer service rep or trader) that more than likely is only able to see what they have done and wouldn't be able to talk about what is happening firm wide.

That makes sense. I did get a hold of the Fidelity 401k rep. I work with, so I do know the situation at Fidelity.

[Flystripper]

Fidelity, etc., I wonder if you would do something for me. Just out of the goodness of your hearts, because I am not going to do something for you in return.

Would you ask the person you deal with if the firm has had an unusual amount of Mutual Fund net redemptions the last few weeks. I can get the information from ICI, but I don't necessarily trust their numbers and I prefer the no loads not be lumped in with the loads.

By the way I am not trying to knock do it yourselfers. The IQ level on this board is high enough that I am "sure" those who do are doing very well.

I don't have enough money to get the kind of investment advice worth paying for.

[byu71]

I don't have enough money to get the kind of investment advice worth paying for.

LOL. It is free now days thanks to the internet. You just have to want to spend the time researching and analyzing and developing the proper temperment.

I could do my own taxes and look for my own real estate and remove my appendix. I don't though because I don't want to make the effort to become good enough at it.

[Flystripper]

LOL. It is free now days thanks to the internet. You just have to want to spend the time researching and analyzing and developing the proper temperment.

I could do my own taxes and look for my own real estate and remove my appendix. I don't though because I don't want to make the effort to become good enough at it.

What I am saying is that the amount of money that I could give a guy to manage is so small that it would not attract a guy that I trust to do a good job.

[byu71]

What I am saying is that the amount of money that I could give a guy to manage is so small that it would not attract a guy that I trust to do a good job.

I will tell you what I think is really sad. The regulations the government is coming up with and adding are really burdensome and in some cases hard to interpret.

Firms are more and more being run by the compliance people and lawyers. I heard that Merrill won't pay an investment advisor on any accounts he has under $250,000. I think they believe there could be more risk with the smaller unsophisticated clients.

A lot of the close relationship with clients is being broken because so many times a client will ask for something and they have to go through so many hoops to get it, it is like we think they are dumb or crooked.

I really liked the old days when someone called me up with $50,000 and I didn't think twice about wanting to help them.

I just don't think more government interference helps people, I think it hurts. Maybe all other professions are different. Of course the more rules that can be broken by accident or on purpose, the better for the lawyers (liability lawyers). I will bet tax and estate lawyers don't care for their distant cousins.

[Joe Public]

A lot of the gain-locking folks are turning around and repurchasing at the higher basis, but they keep some of the cash to cover the tax on the gains. That may be part of it.

Estate and gift planning has been really active, too.

[cowboy]

It seems the people who stand to benefit from financial services the most are often the least likely to use them. Professionals often need to invest wisely because they cannot rely on Social Security or even a 401K to maintain their lifestyle at retirement. Unfortunately, professionals are also likely to think they can manage their money themselves, and while some may be able to, most would benefit from a market professional.

Most of my savings is tied up on non-market assets, but I do have a small investment account that I started years ago. Though I was lucky and did quite well with it, I quit trying to manage it four or five years ago, rolled everything into the DIA ETF, and let it go. I have an MBA, took every finance class that was offered in grad school, and regularly testify in court regarding valuation of real estate and small businesses, but I still don't have the expertise necessary to analyze markets well enough to manage a large portfolio. Markets are complex, and staying on top of them requires a combination of experience and daily analysis that few non-investment professionals have.

[byu71]

It seems the people who stand to benefit from financial services the most are often the least likely to use them. Professionals often need to invest wisely because they cannot rely on Social Security or even a 401K to maintain their lifestyle at retirement. Unfortunately, professionals are also likely to think they can manage their money themselves, and while some may be able to, most would benefit from a market professional.

Most of my savings is tied up on non-market assets, but I do have a small investment account that I started years ago. Though I was lucky and did quite well with it, I quit trying to manage it four or five years ago, rolled everything into the DIA ETF, and let it go. I have an MBA, took every finance class that was offered in grad school, and regularly testify in court regarding valuation of real estate and small businesses, but I still don't have the expertise necessary to analyze markets well enough to manage a large portfolio. Markets are complex, and staying on top of them requires a combination of experience and daily analysis that few non-investment professionals have.

You have proven over time to be pretty well founded when it comes to economics and financial things. You are one of the folks on here I would take advice from or at least seriously consider it.

Things are so complex that I have finally come to feeling my worth is no in picking good equities, bonds, etc., but helping someone determine a good allocation for them and then finding a solid money manager in those area's. The days of selling individual stocks to clients are long gone, at least for me.

You can get what I consider a pretty good deal now. A fee of 1%-2.5% (investment advisor discretion) can get you a pretty dang good manager.