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American funds has shown higher long term returns, but Vanguard has such low fees and does very well. In regaurds to A share mutual funds, which one do you recommend and why? Thanks.

2007-02-18 06:56:06 · 9 answers · asked by joe h 2 in Business & Finance Investing

9 answers

Vanguard has low-cost no-load funds that have beaten most high-cost load funds. There are some load funds such as American that have beaten Vanguard over the last 10 years. You would think a load fund with a good 10 year record should continue to outperform, but studies show that load funds with a good ten year record usually underperform in the future. An example is the Magellan fund which had a great 10 year record at one time, but has underperformed in the last 10 years.

2007-02-18 07:23:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I also think American Funds are excellent funds, but they do have a 5.25% sales charge. Vanguard has no sales charge, so you are 5.25% ahead to begin with. You should also consider Fidelity, T Rowe Price, and Royce Funds.

The main advantage of American Funds is the low initial investment requirement and the low subsequent investment amount. They also have low expenses, lower than most no load funds.

There are several American Fund funds that I think are excellent for long term investors. I do not actually have a favorite among them.

CWGIX has a very impressive record. 14.7% annual return over a very long time and last year it beat that significantly. WOW. Expense ratio 0.7% What I really like about this fund is that 2/3 of the portfolio is in non-U S investments. That is a good hedge against the sinking value of the buck.

AMECX is somewhat of an anomoly among mutual funds. An income fund that has beat the pants off of many growth funds. 12.6% life of fund annual return. Income return of over 4% annually. Conservative and yet having an excellent growth record. And the current year results are an impressive 18% before the sales charge. I actually own some of this fund so I am not talking from theory but from experience.

ANCFX is also an excellent potential choice. As is AEPGX. And there are several others besides. Heck why not invest in all of them. Give you good diversity.

2007-02-18 08:24:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

American funds has had high long term returns but the question to ask is "can they continue it in the future?" Since they do not close their funds, when it gets too big for their managers, they just add more managers. If the first couple of managers have done well picking their "best 50 stocks" can the last few added managers also find 50 "best" stocks? Their big funds are basically turning into index funds and I would rather invest in the no-load, lower fees of Vanguard's index funds. I have seen a couple of reports that find American's bloated funds do not have nearly so great a recent shorter-term return.

2007-02-18 07:09:48 · answer #3 · answered by gosh137 6 · 1 0

Both are great! It depends on the type of account you are looking to set up. American Funds for a retirement account and Vanguard funds for a taxable account. As mentioned previously, active management can take a bite out of your after-tax returns. That's why American Funds are better in a retirement account. Vanguard's index funds are tax efficient and holding them in a taxable account makes a lot of sense.

American Funds have done well, but it is hard to compare them to Vanguard. American Funds has a different philosophy and you can buy pretty much any one of their funds and be diversified. Vanguard's overall philosophy is to provide low cost index funds that you can combine to create a diversified strategy. So it just depends on whether you want to create a precise asset allocation by using Vanguard or just want American Funds to figure it out for you.

That's really why you are paying the commission for American Funds. For the advice you are getting from the financial advisor and the fund company.

2007-02-18 18:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by Contrarian 3 · 1 0

American Funds are great funds. The internal fees are fair. To compare this to index funds is not fair. I like managed mutual funds over index funds any day of the week. So..... find some good no load, low fee Mutual Funds & you'll get better returns just based on not paying the 5.75% load. There are many great fund companies without sales charges; T Rowe Price Dodge & Cox and a few hundred more....... Pay sales charges is just.... very costly. Read; Mutual Fund For Dummies

2016-05-24 03:05:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

American funds's performance track record is excellent, no doubt. As a prior responder mentioned, as they're broker sold, you're already in the hole when you start. Also, when comparing funds make certain you keep in mind their after tax performance. Funds with high turnover have higher tax bills vs. funds with low turnover. Index funds typically have a lower turnover.

2007-02-18 11:16:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

you should use exchange traded funds. The expenses are much less than Vanguard no loads, and a lot less than american funds loaded funds.

My broker has me in awesome ETF's

2007-02-18 07:03:09 · answer #7 · answered by shrinkrap4u2 2 · 0 0

I recommend VTSMX. My spouse has invested in American Funds for the past 3 years and they are doing well also. But my VTSMX has done slightly better.

2007-02-18 12:59:04 · answer #8 · answered by T G 2 · 0 0

i have been using american funds for years (i'm retired!) and am pleased. stable, no sweat on my part. i like that.

2007-02-18 07:04:48 · answer #9 · answered by westtexasboy 3 · 2 1

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