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Feb 15, 2007 11:11 pm

Which is your favorite all around MF family for holding IRA's at the fund company. 

I have a number of friends and family with small accounts I still want to manage when I go independent this year.  But I've been told ticket charges will kill these so I need to put them at a MF company.  Again these are a few small accounts so I just want one family that does is all well, that I can use for all of the accounts. 

I'm with Jones now, so I considered American but just not enough options for my liking.  I'm leaning toward Franklin. 

I know I'm sheltered so enlighten me on some other great all around families. 

Feb 16, 2007 12:22 am

You know, I never worked for Jones, but I use both American and Franklin for my direct IRAs...ING Landmark for those who can't handle much risk.

IMO, there's nothing wrong with either American or Franklin for small IRAs.

Feb 16, 2007 12:57 am

Franklin Founding Funds for accounts south of $100K. Set it and forget it. Of course you dont forget about it, but you could with that strategy…

Feb 16, 2007 1:35 am

Blarm...you been readin' my playbook?!!

You can jazz that up a bit by allocating 10-20% to the Templeton BRIC fund...

Feb 16, 2007 2:26 am

Try using Mutual Discovery or Mutual European, if you want to be more conservative add Strategic Income. Bric would really jazz things up at 20% huh???

Feb 16, 2007 5:22 am

[quote=blarmston]Franklin Founding Funds for accounts south of $100K.
Set it and forget it. Of course you dont forget about it, but you could
with that strategy…[/quote]



I’d do 90% American Century Livestrong and 10% AmCen Inflation Protected.



Otherwise I personally would send them over to VG and do the same overthere. Fidelity also has a good bunch of funds.



The BRIC fund is not appropriate for small accounts. Unless you don’t mind them getting smaller.

Feb 16, 2007 5:35 am

[quote=AllREIT]The BRIC fund is not appropriate for small accounts. Unless you don't mind them getting smaller. [/quote]

Oh says you.  There's not a thing wrong with allocating 10-20% to emerging markets for long term accounts with an appropriate risk tolerance.

...and I like my chance with Mark Mobius running the show.

Feb 16, 2007 12:50 pm

I agree about Founding Funds.  It includes Franklin’s best 3 funds allocated evenly, has an incredible track record and is extremely easy to sell.

Feb 16, 2007 1:28 pm

10-20% in Emerging Markets more like 5%

Feb 16, 2007 3:46 pm

[quote=bankrep1]10-20% in Emerging Markets more like 5%[/quote]

Again, that depends upon risk profile.  For some, 0% in emerging markets is appropriate.  For aggressive investors, I'm OK with up to 20%.

You guys have no balls...

Feb 16, 2007 4:13 pm

80% to Founding Funds. The remaining 20% allocated to Cohen and Steers International Realty (tactical play) and Columbia Marsico 21st Century (alpha generator). Reinvest the interest/ dividends and start building a position in Loomis Sayles Strategic Income...

DONE AND DONE.

Feb 16, 2007 4:19 pm

I also like Franklin Founding Funds.  As for American, now that they have the retirement date funds, that's not a bad choice, there's just no past history to show the client. 

I also use Goldman's Asset Allocation Strategies (primarily the Growth Strategy).  Their IRAs are only $10, and those funds are also a "set it and forget it" type of fund.

Feb 16, 2007 4:26 pm

I use Accessor Funds for accounts under 50K - 100K depending on the situation.  Then add a RE fund, and I have even used Franklin Precious Metals in the past.

Feb 16, 2007 8:03 pm

iShares from Barclays or Vanguard ETF's.

Cheaper and more tax-efficient.

Feb 16, 2007 10:02 pm

[quote=EDJ to RIA]

iShares from Barclays or Vanguard ETF's.

Cheaper and more tax-efficient.

[/quote]

So Barclays has a direct account?  Vanguard let's you manage?  I'm confused.  Do you charge your fee separate? 

My question is best places for small accounts to avoid excess ticket charges.

Feb 17, 2007 12:42 am

[quote=Indyone]

[quote=bankrep1]10-20% in Emerging Markets more like 5%[/quote]

Again, that depends upon risk profile.  For some, 0% in emerging markets is appropriate.  For aggressive investors, I'm OK with up to 20%.

You guys have no balls...

[/quote]

Maybe, if you knew why we had no balls, you'd lower your allocation percentage! 

(P.S. Beware of clients with sharp objects!!!)

Feb 17, 2007 3:05 am

[quote=gad12][quote=EDJ to RIA]

iShares from Barclays or Vanguard ETF's.

Cheaper and more tax-efficient.

[/quote]

So Barclays has a direct account?  Vanguard let's you manage?  I'm confused.  Do you charge your fee separate? 

My question is best places for small accounts to avoid excess ticket charges.

[/quote]

What are your ticket charges? Perhaps you should just charge these people a flat fee and move on with life?


Feb 17, 2007 5:15 pm

Back to GAD's question, I would go with a fund family you are familiar with and plan on continuing to use, which is very likely American or Franklin.

After you are independent, you will probably you use DSTVision.com to keep track of most of your direct mutual fund accounts, but you have to use a different site to track Franklin, which is a pain in the a**. 

Personally I don't use either American or Franklin much, because their wholesaler service sucks (I know this varies by who your wholesaler is).  At EDJ I got good service from American, but in my area they basically wholesale only to EDJ and a few other big players, if you drop a $500,000 ticket you won't even get a phone call from American.  Franklin is a little better, although I have yet to see the elusive wholesaler face to face, but I guess I've only been in the biz for 4 years.

Feb 17, 2007 6:40 pm

EDJ4now, thanks for the good info.  Since I would much rather use Franklin than American is this DSTVision enough of a pain to not use Franklin?  Or if I try to go exclusively Franklin would that work out ok?  I’m not planning on having more than a dozen or so of these type of accounts. 

Feb 17, 2007 10:57 pm

I like American for more conservative investing - going for real low beta/

low correlation portfolios with decent return - but Franklin gives you far

more choices on the aggressive end (and has good conservative options

as well).



I find it hard to use one fund family for everything. For example, I really

do like American’s value and global stuff, but their growth stuff is non-

existant. Nor do they have anything as far as sector plays or useful tax-

free’s. If I have enough $$ to work with, I will hit a decent breakpoint

with AF core holdings, then break off to one or two other fund families

(usually only one) for growth, bonds, ETC.