Anti-Gun investing

[Machete]

I just recently bought some shares of a certain mutual fund, and have come to find that they are anti-gun. They even hold anti-gun violence benifits
I hate my life

Also, my wife recently set up an Roth IRA and her financial advisor was showing us funds and some of them would not hold alcohol, tobacco, or firearms stocks, for the socially conscious investor

I'm going to start my own mutual fund that will have holdings in:

Defence contractors
Big Oil
Lumber Companies
Firearm companies
Alcohol Companies
Chemical Companies

Fund Examples:
Fossil Fuels Growth fund
All nonrenewable resource emerging markets fund
Firearms Small Cap
Exxon and pals fund

 

[Mr White]

One of the mutual funds that my 401K invests in is called Social Choice. Its the same kind of PC feelgood crap. No firearms, hunting , alcohol, tobacco, sweatshop labor-using companies.

Its a real dilemma because its one of the better performers that we can choose from, consistently over 10%.

Little do they know that when I retire, I'm gonna use the money that their PC anti fund has made me and buy a bunch of new guns with it. That'll show 'em!

 

[JWarren]

What you are referring to is "Socially Conscious" Investments. When they first came out, they were not that great of performers. Now, there are a few that do perform well.

To each their own. I personally don't worry about too many of those funds. While I have some strong views, some of the things that they "boycott" are actually things I believe strongly in.


However, I have had clients that INSISTED on being 100% in those funds.


BTW... you'd probably do well in your mutual fund, but I'd HATE to go through the red tape and regulation to start one.

-- John

 

[Smokey Joe]

Pro-gun investing...

Machete--You Did Your Homework before buying in to the fund, no? Well, it's not too late to fix things. Wait'll the fund goes up a bit and pull out of it. That way, the brokerage fees will be covered, and you may make a couple of nickels into the bargain. The market is in an upward trend @ the present--your mu fund should be going up also.

There have been "sinful" mutual funds that have done quite well in the areas of tobacco, booze, guns, fast foods, petroleum, gambling, etc, etc. Oddly enough these pleasures are what people are willing to pay $$ for.

Now that you're wiser, mebbe it's time for you to manage yr own money, and stop paying someone else a profit to do so. Start watching Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" show on CNBC, buy AND READ his textbook on investing (Mad Money--Sane Investing in an Insane World), and you too can manage money and make the stuff for yourself. BTW, Jim Cramer himself is an avowed proponent of 2A. He said so in so many words on his show. Don't know his beliefs other than that, but he talks like a libertarian, and an investment guru for the beginner.

As to a broker, Scottrade charges a whopping $7/trade, whether for one or 10,000 shares. Take a look @ their website. They make it duck-soup easy to get set up, to do homework, and to trade on-line.

For starting investing, just do yr homework, hold yr breath, and buy some shares. It's only scary the first time. And if I can make money at it (which I am, BTW) ANYONE can do it!

Good luck!

(Not affiliated with any of the above mentioned except as a satisfied customer.)

 

[Machete]

Now that you're wiser, mebbe it's time for you to manage yr own money, and stop paying someone else a profit to do so. Start watching Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" show on CNBC, buy AND READ his textbook on investing (Mad Money--Sane Investing in an Insane World), and you too can manage money and make the stuff for yourself.

I do manage my own money, it's my wife who has the adviser. I knew it was a socially conscious fund and I was alright with that. I've seen what their top holdings were in (Deere & Company, CVS, Cisco, American Mobile, Procter & Gamble) not a big deal there, and I don't mind their investments in green technology either. My problem is what I've found out about them holding gun violence benefits and other anti activities.

As far as Mad Money goes. Every financial book I've read recently says to not watch CNBC and ignore Jim Cramer (Larry Swedroe's "Wise Investing Made Simple", and Pat Dorsey's "The Five Rules for Successful Stock Investing")
Right now I am moving away from investing in individual stocks, and focusing on Mutual Funds, and ETF's.

 

[Justin]

I'm going to start my own mutual fund that will have holdings in:

Defence contractors
Big Oil
Lumber Companies
Firearm companies
Alcohol Companies
Chemical Companies

It's been done:

Vice Fund

Note that my posting of this link doesn't constitute endorsement on my part, do your research before investing, blahblahblah.

 

[Machete]

nice, morningstar gives Vice Fund (VICEX) a five star rating. I'll be keeping an eye on this.

 

[Blackbeard]

Don't get emotional about money. Profit is profit and if they perform the best that's where your money belongs. Invest in them and use the money to buy more AKs.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Yep, everybody hates Jim Cramer...

Machete--I took a course in investment @ a local community college. Students were mostly "investment professionals" who wanted to obtain their CFP's (certified financial planner). Frankly didn't learn much besides a whole lot of mathematical formulae which the prof himself stated weren't very good predictors of future stock behavior.

Every one of the "investment professionals" who expressed an opinion in my hearing also hated Jim Cramer.

Could it be that they hate him because the more individual investors there are who do their own homework, they fewer customers they'll have who they can charge for the advice??

I confess to being a big Jim Cramer fan. Frankly I can't understand why he's hated--it seems to be an article of faith, rather than based on what he teaches. How can it be wrong to Do Your Homework before buying, and then continue doing your homework while owning, stock??

Could be his presentation--He's not dull and boring and full of math. He gets excited and waves his arms and yells and throws things. Just like real people who are not "financial professionals."

It can't be his credentials they hate--not everyone can run a hedge fund and make millions and millions of $$ for the owners, by buying and selling common stock. Cramer has BTDT.

Owning stock isn't for everyone. (Neither is silhouette rifle competition.) If you are happier with mu funds and ETF's, bless you. Hope you make a ton of $$ with 'em.

 

[jlbraun]

Virtually all funds fail to beat the S&P 500, especially after you take out management fees.

Jim Cramer's picks have a return of less than two percent, and an accuracy of less than 30%. I'd stay away.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Do your own thing...

but Do Your Homework!!

Jbraun, I won't argue numbers with you. Wasn't it Mark Twain who made the remark about liars, damn liars, and statistics?

You don't blindly buy what Cramer says, you Do Your Own Homework.

You wouldn't buy a Savage .300 WSM model 12 BVSS just because I say I like mine, would you? Nor would you (I hope) refuse to buy one just because I say I like it. You'd check it out for yourself, in as much detail as you could possibly manage, and then make an informed decision as to what's best for YOU.

As with any discipline, whether it be one of the several shooting sports, or one way to invest, one must be a constant and ongoing student in order to progress.

 

[cornman]

Jim Cramer is a fraud. In fact CNBC is nothing but shill programing. Not much better than FOX news for that matter. I would never invest in Gun, booze, defence contractors, or tobacco. I have morals after all.

 

[Citroen]

Try Dick Young

We subscribe to an investment newsletter by Richard (Dick) Young. I bought Ruger on his recommendation when it was $8 per share. Anyone who values the 2nd Amendment will appreciate Young's style and his candor.

He does not sell anything except his opinion and advise - he is not a broker. When it comes to a "conservative" investor he is the poster child and his recommendations far outperform the market as a whole.

Take a look - I think you will like it.

John
Charlotte, NC

 

[CU74]

So, I took a look at the Vice Fund - Expense ratio well over one percent, a 12-b1 fee and a redemption fee. Thanks but no thanks. I'll stick with my Vanguard funds - expense ratios less than one-half of one percent, no 12-b1 fees and most without a redemption fee. I invest to make money for myself, not for brokers and fund managers.............

 

[Nate C.]

Cash it all in and, under cover of darkness, bury it in coffee cans in your back yard.

Throwing money after dogma, while perhaps noble and idealistic, is not necessarily a sound financial decision. That applies equally regardless of what your beliefs are. Now convincing others to throw their money after dogma is darn profitable.