LTCM,
with two Nobel-prize winners, excellent supporting team and best technologies
then, ran their hedge funds into the ground. Many hedge funds are closed due to
frauds and/or poor performances.
The primary purpose is supposed to ‘hedge’ your investments
from market plunges / dips. Since 2008, the government prints so much money,
the market recovers and makes the hedges (shorts, derivatives, etc.)
unnecessary. In reality, most hedge funds do not hedge.
Hedge
funds get tons of press coverage as the Holy Grail of investing. The media
need the advertising from this $2.5 trillion industry. It is similar to mutual
funds but most tend to take more risk for better returns. Most require higher
minimum investments and more restrictions such as requiring longer periods before
withdrawal.
It could be the worst deal to their customers: 2% average up front and 20% average on your profit. It is more acceptable to me if the 20% is on profit over the S&P 500 or any relevant yardstick to the specific hedge fund.
Well, if they make a lot of money
for you, it is not too much to object. However, most risk your money by betting
big recklessly. When they win, they get 20% of your profit and they use you for
advertising to lure other suckers. When they lose your money, they do not lose a penny. It encourages them to take
big risks. I do not know any hedge fund (HF) manager who pays you back your
losses.
An average mutual fund charges
about 1.5% management fees. An average hedge fund charges 2% that would cover
the expenses to run an office, market the products and research expenses. While
the average mutual fund tries to beat S&P500 index or an index specific to
the fund. The real compensation of an average hedge fund depends on the
20% of the profit.
You have better return by investing in a no-load index fund or a diversified ETF than an average hedge fund. To calculate the average hedge fund performance, you need to include the many hedge funds that are out of business.
After a hedge fund has failed,
most fund managers just open another hedge fund (if they do not go to jail due
to frauds) and give you all the excuse for losing your hard-earned money. Some
lose their reputation but you need to check them out.
In 2011, the hedge fund industry did not beat the S&P 500 index fund after fees. I bet the hedge fund industry did not beat the market after 2011.
In 2011, the hedge fund industry did not beat the S&P 500 index fund after fees. I bet the hedge fund industry did not beat the market after 2011.
Some hedge fund managers learn modern portfolio theories from Ivy League universities and apply them in the hedge funds. Often their theories are wrong due to wrong testing procedures or they cannot be sustained in real life.
They usually invest in new companies and small companies
where they would have big profits swing. They need to learn the business of the
company they plan to buy the stocks, interview the owners, read between the
lines, and double check whether the owners are telling the truth by talking to
their competitors, vendors and customers. It explains the high cost of their
research. For us, we just look at the transaction of the insiders to have the
better research almost instantly with a low-cost subscription service. There is
no need to travel to visit the company unless you want to.
Some use their specialty in certain sectors and that's fine. If they use derivatives, be careful and that's what resulted in our 2007 financial crisis. Derivatives could reduce the risk of the portfolio if they are properly used. If you still want to invest in them, ask for their methods and their historical performance. Very few hedge funds are good. When you find a good hedge fund, most likely it has been closed to new investors or its fees are outrageous.
The owner of a famous baseball franchise lost big money from a hedge fund that concentrated in the oil sector. Almost every ETF in this sector made good money that year. He still stayed with the hedge fund and had similar miserable return the following year. I did not blame his first mistake, but on his sticking with the same hedge fund after a losing year. It could be the hedge fund gave him a hard time to take his money out.
One hedge fund has a performance of 25% every year for a long period. The SEC, take notes and investigate whether they were using insiders' information. There are very few hedge funds with consistent performance beating the market after fees. If you find some, stay with them forever. One hedge fund was rated as the top fund and the next year it was out of business due to poor performance.
Some use their specialty in certain sectors and that's fine. If they use derivatives, be careful and that's what resulted in our 2007 financial crisis. Derivatives could reduce the risk of the portfolio if they are properly used. If you still want to invest in them, ask for their methods and their historical performance. Very few hedge funds are good. When you find a good hedge fund, most likely it has been closed to new investors or its fees are outrageous.
The owner of a famous baseball franchise lost big money from a hedge fund that concentrated in the oil sector. Almost every ETF in this sector made good money that year. He still stayed with the hedge fund and had similar miserable return the following year. I did not blame his first mistake, but on his sticking with the same hedge fund after a losing year. It could be the hedge fund gave him a hard time to take his money out.
One hedge fund has a performance of 25% every year for a long period. The SEC, take notes and investigate whether they were using insiders' information. There are very few hedge funds with consistent performance beating the market after fees. If you find some, stay with them forever. One hedge fund was rated as the top fund and the next year it was out of business due to poor performance.
In 1980, this industry started with really capable fund
managers and made good money for their clients. After that, every analyst
wanted to open a hedge fund and most did not even beat the market after their
expensive fees. Alternatively, just buy the ETF SPY and relax, instead of
waiting for the hedge fund to wipe out your savings. This industry is not properly regulated.
Do not believe in any articles / ads praising how great the hedge funds are without knowing their credibility and their hidden agenda. The hedge fund indexes usually ignore the survivor bias of the bankrupted hedge funds and the early exits of many hedge funds.
Do not believe in any articles / ads praising how great the hedge funds are without knowing their credibility and their hidden agenda. The hedge fund indexes usually ignore the survivor bias of the bankrupted hedge funds and the early exits of many hedge funds.
Since the hedge funds very seldom
keep the stocks more than a year, their capital gains would be short-term and
hence would be taxed at higher rates than the long-term capital gains. In
addition, most funds have 1-3 year lock-up periods and only allow withdrawals
on the first day of each fiscal quarter.
Afterthoughts
·
From WSJ, from 1999-2008, the hedge fund
industry beats the S&P 500 by 13% a year. From WSJ, from 2009 thru July
2012, it lagged the market by almost 8%.
In 2011, the average hedge fund lost money when the S&P
500 was flat. In 2012, the average hedge fund earned about 6% when the S&P
500 was up 13%. It is ‘genius’ to buy an ETF representing the entire market
instead an average hedge fund.
·
Now hedge funds can advertise.
A pig wearing lipstick is still a pig. If you run 5
hedge funds, you will advertise your best fund. Advertising industry will
benefit and eventually their investors in hedge funds will pay for this
expense.
·
A hedge fund article
from SA.
·
Another hedge fund fraud.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/25/investing/sac-capital-charges/index.html?iid=HP_LN
·
Gold even managed by great hedge fund manager is
down as of 7/2013.
·
A famous hedge fund manager (so is the one on
Sears) has big losses in JCP and shorting another company. It teaches us to
diversify and be conservative.
·
Hedge funds must have a hard time in 2013.
Hedging against a rising market is a fool’s game. Another article.
·
In 50 years, the $10,000 investment will grow to
$1,170,000 assuming a 10% return a year. However, about $700,000 will be the
cost of the typical mutual fund. It will be better to buy an ETF (far lower
fee) and avoid market plunges described in this book.
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