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486 Plus: Callable Bonds, U.S. AI Stock Bubble, Robinhood, and Crypto Taxes

In Plus episode 486, we review how to estimate expected returns when a fund or ETF holds callable bonds. We consider two questions from members worried about high valuations for the U.S. stock market. We discuss the long-term viability of Robinhood. Finally, we discuss ways to reduce the tax headache of owning cryptocurrency. … [Read more...]

484 Plus: ETF Family Size and a Review of QE’s Impact on Inflation and Asset Prices

In Plus episode 484, we answer a member's question on whether it is better to invest in larger ETFs and with larger ETF families. We also review quantitative easing and quantitative tightening. We look at how the per capita increase in the money supply due to QE led to a big jump in inflation and asset prices, including for houses and stocks. We also look at the per capita increase in the national debt. … [Read more...]

483 Plus: Private Credit, BDCs, CLOs, Cash Balances and Is This Portfolio Too Aggressive

In Plus episode 483, we analyze the Virtus Private Credit ETF (VPC), which invests in business development companies (BDCs), leveraged loans, and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). We review the characteristics of all those asset categories. We also discuss the appropriate cash balance for retirees and consider whether a retired member's portfolio has too much in stocks. … [Read more...]

482 Plus: Investing in Municipal Bonds, Interpreting Bond Spread Data, and YieldStreet Update

In Plus episode 482, we review the types, structures, default risks, and different tax treatments of municipal bonds. We also explain how to interpret the Income Strategies and Bond table in the monthly investment conditions report and discuss our plans to improve the table later this year. Finally, we provide an update on the YieldStreet crowdfunding platform, which encountered problems with its ship deconstruction deals. … [Read more...]

480 Plus: U.S. Treasury Auctions, Fundamental Index, and a Peer Street Bankruptcy Update

In Plus episode 480, we explore how Treasury auctions work and what metrics are monitored to assess whether demand is strong or weak. We review the performance of fundamental indexing relative to value strategies and size-weighted indexes. Finally, we look at likely recoveries for investors on the bankrupt Peer Street crowdfunding platform. … [Read more...]

478 and 479 Plus: Public and Private REIT Update, Analyzing Individual Stocks, Comparing Brokerage Firms, and Direct Indexing

In this combined Plus episodes 478 and 479, we review public equity REITs' historical performance, expected returns, and current valuations. We also compare public equity REITs to private REITs and explain why private REITs continue to limit redemptions. We review how stock managers evaluate individual stocks. We compare Schwab's, Fidelity's, and Vanguard's ownership and explain why Schwab has less compelling cash sweep options. Finally, we look at FREC, a new competitor in the direct … [Read more...]

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