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- Personal Account: Danielli, Part I
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- On Becoming a Financial Grown-up
- Challenge: Wear Just Six Things
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Tickle Your Ticker
By MP Dunleavey Thursday March 11, 2010
Many of you have been following the Invest-Along-With-Ashley series, and we have a key update on the situation. As you may recall: - Ashley was eager to start a retirement account—and learned her mom had opened a Roth IRA for her a few years ago.
- Next, Ashley committed to contributing $25 per month into her Roth. Excellent.
The key question now: Where is her money going?
In Ashley's case, her mom's financial planner picked a mutual fund for her Roth IRA (normally, you'd have more than one fund to balance your portfolio). Which fund was it?
Ashley did her homework and learned the fund's ticker symbol: AWSHX
Every investment—be it a stock, bond, mutual fund—is known by its ticker symbol. These codes look funny (Ashley's looks like, "Aw, shucks"), but they are just abbreviations.
Coca Cola Company stock = KO
Walmart Stores stock = WMT
Vanguard 500 Index fund = VFINX
AWSHX stands for the American Funds Washington Mutual fund. To learn more, enter any ticker symbol into any financial site (or Google it). If you go to Morningstar.com, a top research firm, and look at a snapshot of Ashley's Aw, Shucks fund, You'll see a chart of its performance, and you can scroll down to see a list of its holdings. (Remember, a mutual fund holds many stocks and/or other investments.)
Now, it's your turn! Look up the ticker symbol of an investment you own—and tell us what it is, and what you like or don't like about it.
MP owns FFFFX, a Fidelity target date fund.
Amanda owns a few Calvert and Oppenheimer funds, including the Oppenheimer Value Fund - CGRBX.
Comments
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Written by Erin, March 11, 2010
I have a Fidelity Roth IRA, FDRXX, and a Fidelity Money Market, FNYXX. Fidelity is really clear, user friendly, and easy to contribute to from various bank accounts. I can also invest in stocks and bonds through Fidelity. While I am still learning, I am LOVING watching my money grow!
Written by MP Dunleavey, March 11, 2010
Hi Erin, it's GREAT that you're saving. We're psyched. And maybe this is obvious, but just wanted to clarify for readers: FDRXX is not a Roth IRA. FDRXX is the fund IN your IRA. FDRXX stands for Fidelity Cash Reserves.
http://content.members.fidelit...7,00.html
It's basically a cash account, and earns very little interest: 2.57% over the last three years.
FNYXX stands for the New York Municipal Money Market Fund, and it's also very conservative, with a low yield. If you're near retirement, these may be a safe bet. But if you want your money to grow, keep reading our investment stories to find out other options!
http://content.members.fidelit...7,00.html
It's basically a cash account, and earns very little interest: 2.57% over the last three years.
FNYXX stands for the New York Municipal Money Market Fund, and it's also very conservative, with a low yield. If you're near retirement, these may be a safe bet. But if you want your money to grow, keep reading our investment stories to find out other options!
Written by k, March 11, 2010
I just started contributing to my 401k 3 paychecks ago. I am contributing 5% to take full advantage of the amount that my employer matches. I had no idea what to choose so I took the "Risk Quiz" which said I was comfortable with moderate risk (although my boyfriend tells me I should change everything to high risk since I'm only 27). It spread my contributions to MANY different funds. One of these funds is Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value Fund (PCVAX). I picked one at random to mention as I don't know what any of them are. But YTD it has grown over 7%. It was the highest!
Written by MP Dunleavey, March 11, 2010
hey k, that's great! great that you signed up, great that you're grabbing that free money, and great that you looked up one of the ticker symbols. have you checked it out on morningstar or yahoo finance? OK, I couldn't resist. here's the morningstar report:
http://quote.morningstar.com/fund/f.aspx?Country=USA&ss=gf&Symbol=PCVAX
Congrats! you're the proud parent of a five-star small cap value fund. ;-)
http://quote.morningstar.com/fund/f.aspx?Country=USA&ss=gf&Symbol=PCVAX
Congrats! you're the proud parent of a five-star small cap value fund. ;-)
Written by BarbfromCal, March 11, 2010
My fund is VFINX from Vanguard. True story, on Feb 26th, MP did an article on "Do the Saving Sweep". I thought, "Whoo-Hooo! I am in!" then I looked at my checking account. I did not have even $5.00 extra sweep. I was crushed thinking, "Now what??????" Then I took another look at my Roth IRA. I had some money from a Traditional IRA that I wanted to roll into my Roth anyway. When I did this I had enough (FINALLY!!!!!!!!) to move some money into the VFINX Fund (there is a $3000.00 minimum). When I opened my Roth IRA, VFINX was the original fund that I wanted but did not have enough to open it. So MP, while you were sweeping I was rolling. Yes!!!!! I am so excited!!!!! Next goal is to research another fund to add to my portfolio. Thank you for your encouragement.
Written by Laura Hoopes, March 11, 2010
I have TIAA-CREF retirement funds. One of my funds is TIEIX, an index fund through them. I found out Exxon-Mobil, Microsofe, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, and Apple are their top 5 holdings by going on Morningstar. Interesting!
Written by Amanda (DW Founder), March 11, 2010
BarbfromCal - congratulations. You're now the official DW poster child. Seriously - that just made my day.
Written by MP Dunleavey, March 12, 2010
YAY BARB! You made my day, too. And good for you, Laura--for looking up the actual holdings! ah, the possibilities of choice...
p.s. am i the only one who noticed that 26 people responded to the grocery post, and only, um 4 (not counting me and Amanda) responded to the ticker symbol post?
p.s. am i the only one who noticed that 26 people responded to the grocery post, and only, um 4 (not counting me and Amanda) responded to the ticker symbol post?
Written by Petunia, March 12, 2010
It's great that Ashley is now contributing to her Roth. I wonder if anyone has pointed out to her that she is paying 5.75% of every single contribution for the privilege? Is she aware that she is paying a load, and what that means to her bottom line? Is she aware that she is not "married" to her load fund, and can roll her money to a no-load if she so chooses?
Barb - congrats on hitting the 3k min and rolling into the fund of your choice.
k - It is your money, so it is very important that you are comfortable with the amount of risk you are taking on. If you are happy with moderate risk, then stay right where you are.
Happy investing everyone.
Barb - congrats on hitting the 3k min and rolling into the fund of your choice.
k - It is your money, so it is very important that you are comfortable with the amount of risk you are taking on. If you are happy with moderate risk, then stay right where you are.
Happy investing everyone.
Written by Petunia, March 12, 2010
My tickers are...
Traditional IRA
VTSMX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
VGTSX Vanguard Total Intl Stock Mkt Index
VISVX Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Mkt Index
VIPSX Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securites
Roth IRA
VTHRX Vanguard Target Retirement 2030
Simple IRA
AAETX American Funds Target Retirement 2030
Traditional IRA
VTSMX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
VGTSX Vanguard Total Intl Stock Mkt Index
VISVX Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Mkt Index
VIPSX Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securites
Roth IRA
VTHRX Vanguard Target Retirement 2030
Simple IRA
AAETX American Funds Target Retirement 2030
Written by Joy, April 05, 2010
FSLEX stands for FIDELITY SELECT ENVIRONMENTAL SVCS
When I typed this fund into the search field at Morningstar.com I learned the following:
One of the top money holdings within this fund is a company called The Pall Corporation.
"Pall makes filters used to remove contaminants from a variety of substances in many critical applications."
Another company the fund is investing in is Calgon Carbon Corporation
Morningstar reports: "Calgon Carbon provides products and services for purifying water. Its carbon products and related purification, filtration, and extraction systems and services are used in the manufacture of food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in water treatment, air and water purification, and environmental cleanup. The company also produces charcoal for outdoor barbecue grilling, which is sold primarily in Germany."
Sounds like pretty cool companies to be investing in. I was happy to learn that my funds were investing in Environmental companies. If I were more actively involved in my investing, I would be looking at similar types of companies.
Thanks for teaching me about Morningstar. Now the funds can have a little more meaning instead of a generic bunch of letters.
When I typed this fund into the search field at Morningstar.com I learned the following:
One of the top money holdings within this fund is a company called The Pall Corporation.
"Pall makes filters used to remove contaminants from a variety of substances in many critical applications."
Another company the fund is investing in is Calgon Carbon Corporation
Morningstar reports: "Calgon Carbon provides products and services for purifying water. Its carbon products and related purification, filtration, and extraction systems and services are used in the manufacture of food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in water treatment, air and water purification, and environmental cleanup. The company also produces charcoal for outdoor barbecue grilling, which is sold primarily in Germany."
Sounds like pretty cool companies to be investing in. I was happy to learn that my funds were investing in Environmental companies. If I were more actively involved in my investing, I would be looking at similar types of companies.
Thanks for teaching me about Morningstar. Now the funds can have a little more meaning instead of a generic bunch of letters.
