January 6, 2009: Portfolio Flexibility - Different Paths. Taxes, ETFs and Real Estate
Just about everybody who has an opinion on the markets has offered their view on the upcoming year. In a previous post (December 26), I rostered income producing bond and preferred stock ETF holdings owned. I deliberately neglected to offer proportion, as this is an individual choice, not for me to cloud.
Moving on with my investment scheme, I offer further observations and some investment vehicles that are in my world for 2009 and beyond.
First, avoiding taxes. Investors can only profit from what is kept. I have pounded the table in previous posts that financial planners had better begin to advise and show evidence of appropriate products to implement tax avoidance tactics over and above hot stock picks and micromanaging asset allocation. Creating LLCs, portfolio and income splitting and other tax reduction plans to protect and expand family asset protection is vital. So long as IRS rules are followed, fear not. However, beware of of new and improved tax shelters. My rule is simple, if it sounds too good to be true and you don't understand all the details, pass. Uncle Sam will be looking out for these with a vengeance as our treasury coffers need to be replenished with your money. If your financial guru does not present tax reduction procedures as Plan 1, fire 'em.
Second, proportional bond and preferred stock securities. Season your portfolio to taste from amongst the following (see my December 26th post for rationale):
IDV - IShares Dow Jones Select EPAC Dividend Fund ETF
BWX - SPDR International Treasury Bonds ETF
BSV - Vanguard Short Term Bond Fund ETF
LQD - IShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
PFF - IShares Preferred Stock Index ETF
SHY - IShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Index ETF
TIP - IShares Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities ETF
PGF - PowerShares Preferred Financial Portfolio ETF
I am lightening up a bit on treasuries and stretching to a larger position in corporate bonds and preferred ETFs. History has shown that when the government runs the money presses white hot 24/7, inflation is a matter of when, not if. TIP provides an answer to this situation.
More than a few readers have e-mailed me regarding ProShares' double shorts/longs. While I admit to maintaining a micro speculative position with these instruments a few times, I do not recommend them. I am not sure they perform as advertised, and am very sure that these will be highly regulated in the future.
Third, don't chase stocks. Sit back with some ETFs and a pseudo-ETF stock or two and gradually add as you see fit. Here are several I own or am following for an entry point.
EWL - IShares MSCI Switzerland Index ETF
IAK - IShares US Insurance Index Fund ETF
MDU - MDU Resources (common)
EWS - IShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund ETF
SLV - IShares Silver Trust ETF
BBT - BB&T Bank (common)
AOM - IShares S&P Moderate Allocation Fund ETF - especially noteworthy
PTO - PowerShares International Growth ETF
RJI - Swedish Exportcredit (Jim Rogers' commodity fund)
PHO - PowerShares Water Resources ETF - good infrastructure play
Fourth, rental real estate. Tax benefits liberals and conservatives won't touch, write-offs, depreciation and holding a tangible asset that pays you very well every thirty days. Not for everybody's temperament and must be self-managed to extract the maximum benefits.The media's description of a brutal real estate market be damned, my holdings have been sterling and performed much better than the pundit's chant. Only the over leveraged or the usual critics who are not in the business seem to criticize this part of my investment scheme.
Holistic portfolio management means that the investor should not be content with a stock picking service, double wide computer screen and a twitching hand ready to BUY BUY BUY. Tax avoidance, income streams cascading from several directions, ETFs and like-type investments along with active tangible assets you manage may deliver a satisfying investment result for 2009 and beyond.
Moving on with my investment scheme, I offer further observations and some investment vehicles that are in my world for 2009 and beyond.
First, avoiding taxes. Investors can only profit from what is kept. I have pounded the table in previous posts that financial planners had better begin to advise and show evidence of appropriate products to implement tax avoidance tactics over and above hot stock picks and micromanaging asset allocation. Creating LLCs, portfolio and income splitting and other tax reduction plans to protect and expand family asset protection is vital. So long as IRS rules are followed, fear not. However, beware of of new and improved tax shelters. My rule is simple, if it sounds too good to be true and you don't understand all the details, pass. Uncle Sam will be looking out for these with a vengeance as our treasury coffers need to be replenished with your money. If your financial guru does not present tax reduction procedures as Plan 1, fire 'em.
Second, proportional bond and preferred stock securities. Season your portfolio to taste from amongst the following (see my December 26th post for rationale):
IDV - IShares Dow Jones Select EPAC Dividend Fund ETF
BWX - SPDR International Treasury Bonds ETF
BSV - Vanguard Short Term Bond Fund ETF
LQD - IShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
PFF - IShares Preferred Stock Index ETF
SHY - IShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Index ETF
TIP - IShares Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities ETF
PGF - PowerShares Preferred Financial Portfolio ETF
I am lightening up a bit on treasuries and stretching to a larger position in corporate bonds and preferred ETFs. History has shown that when the government runs the money presses white hot 24/7, inflation is a matter of when, not if. TIP provides an answer to this situation.
More than a few readers have e-mailed me regarding ProShares' double shorts/longs. While I admit to maintaining a micro speculative position with these instruments a few times, I do not recommend them. I am not sure they perform as advertised, and am very sure that these will be highly regulated in the future.
Third, don't chase stocks. Sit back with some ETFs and a pseudo-ETF stock or two and gradually add as you see fit. Here are several I own or am following for an entry point.
EWL - IShares MSCI Switzerland Index ETF
IAK - IShares US Insurance Index Fund ETF
MDU - MDU Resources (common)
EWS - IShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund ETF
SLV - IShares Silver Trust ETF
BBT - BB&T Bank (common)
AOM - IShares S&P Moderate Allocation Fund ETF - especially noteworthy
PTO - PowerShares International Growth ETF
RJI - Swedish Exportcredit (Jim Rogers' commodity fund)
PHO - PowerShares Water Resources ETF - good infrastructure play
Fourth, rental real estate. Tax benefits liberals and conservatives won't touch, write-offs, depreciation and holding a tangible asset that pays you very well every thirty days. Not for everybody's temperament and must be self-managed to extract the maximum benefits.The media's description of a brutal real estate market be damned, my holdings have been sterling and performed much better than the pundit's chant. Only the over leveraged or the usual critics who are not in the business seem to criticize this part of my investment scheme.
Holistic portfolio management means that the investor should not be content with a stock picking service, double wide computer screen and a twitching hand ready to BUY BUY BUY. Tax avoidance, income streams cascading from several directions, ETFs and like-type investments along with active tangible assets you manage may deliver a satisfying investment result for 2009 and beyond.
posted by T @ 1/04/2009 09:56:00 AM
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