5 Stock Portfolio Makeovers
2011 Stocks Forum and Investor Workshops
October 13-14, Morningstar Global Headquarters, Chicago
May 21, 2011 - 5 Portfolio Makeovers by Christine Benz - by Morningstar Investment Research
Have you ever taken a look at your portfolio and felt it was in serious need of a change? Or have you thought you were on the right track to retirement but could've been doing things a little better? Well, Morningstar.com's Portfolio Makeover week has solutions for you. Although we can't promise it is as flashy as the home makeover shows on HGTV, we do hope our Portfolio Makeover Week, featuring the handiwork of our director of personal finance Christine Benz, serves up some compelling food for thought as you consider if your own portfolio needs some TLC. Whether you're just getting going, playing catch-up, moving into retirement, or trying to get back in the market, our makeovers have something to pique your interest.
Benz took a retiree's cash-heavy portfolio and reconfigured it so it included a reasonable equity position, allowing for far greater growth potential, in this article.
Benz also addressed the ambitious financial plans for a 36-year-old IT executive and how he could align his holdings to meet those goals.
In a third makeover, Benz tackled a young retiree's portfolio and how the newly retired person can effectively manage her in-retirement expenses without stretching herself, considering her long time horizon.
Additionally, Benz touched on how a former military serviceman can meet his retirement goals with the proper allocations of stocks, funds, Thrift Savings Plan holdings, and a pension.
Finally, Benz focused on a very common investor profile of people who are getting close to retirement but are concerned they haven't saved enough, detailing how a married couple could retire comfortably with a few adjustments to their own portfolios.
Click here for full coverage of Portfolio Makeover Week, including all of Benz's makeovers and related articles that will help you match your portfolio with your financial goals.
Tune in for Live Web Seminar Hosted by Christine Benz
Benz will host a live portfolio makeover webinar at 12 p.m. CDT, Monday, May 23 on Morningstar. During this Premium Member webinar, Benz will show you how to assess your current portfolio positioning, fine-tune your allocation, and upgrade your investments. To view the event, register on Morningstar.com here. The webinar is free to Morningstar Premium members.
Among the other topics we addressed this week:
Should You Bank on Alpha? In Part 3 of our series on modern portfolio theory, we discuss the alpha data point's reliability in determining a fund's risk/reward profile.
Stanek: Don't Write Off Bonds Altogether Now is not the time for investors to overstretch themselves in fixed income, but decent returns are still available in high-quality bonds, says Baird's Mary Ellen Stanek.
What Happens if the Debt Limit Isn't Raised? The political wrangling over raising the debt ceiling could have dire consequences for investors.
Health-Care Stocks Don't Guarantee Healthy Returns Plus, debate over money market reform continues, and more.
Our Disconnect With LinkedIn's Valuation We are very positive on the prospects for the company, but even good companies should be bought for less than they are worth.
Should Fundholders Fret When the Longest-Tenured Managers Leave? When experience walks out the door, whether or not to sell depends on the circumstances.
MLPs, REITs, and the Search for Uncorrelated Returns Should MLPs be added to your asset allocation?
A Closer Look at CEF Duration Risk An examination of 10 CEFs with the highest duration risk.
Should You Worry About These Sectors? Wellington's Edward Bousa says smartphone makers and copper firms are possibly overheating, while energy and pharma companies are positioned for growth.
Making Over Your Portfolio? Avoid These Lemons These sour investment laggards may be worth tossing from your portfolio.
Ten High-Conviction Buys From Our Ultimate Stock-Pickers "Old tech" and "fortress balance sheets" are drawing our top managers' interest.
Capital Protection Funds Back From the Grave? Janus tries to improve on an old idea.
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