Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : A.I.M Users Group Bulletin Board -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bernie Goldberg who wrote (17068)	10/12/2001 2:13:26 PM
From: THE FOX	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18931

Hi Bernie, Nice to see you have returned to the board. Many moons ago when I found this board and proceeded to read each and every post at some point I came across some of your posts. My first impression was you were a to the point type of guy and your perception of investing was wonderful. NO FLUFF ! My perception has not changed and I am hoping I will eventually get to meet you at one of the AIM gatherings. GO NORTEL ! FOX

To: Bernie Goldberg who wrote (17068)	10/12/2001 4:45:54 PM
From: rgammon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18931

Bernie, PLEASE understand that I am NOT attempting to step on toes, in spite of the way my comments may be interpreted. You and Tom use ACG primarily for income, secondarily for AIM. I do value your comments here on the board and at our 'conventions'. My first comments about Morningstar came BEFORE I had actually visited the site this week. Yes, the plot does cover 4 years. My other comments on the utility of the chart are unchanged. As a tool to assist me in evaluating the suitability of this fund for AIM, while displaying NAV and Market Price, its a no go. It has all the usefulness of the nutrition labels on food. The list of ingredients tells me alot more than the nutrition label does. I am still looking for a site that will plot Market Price AND NAV over time, in the same manner that bigcharts.com does for stocks and mutual funds (including these CEFs, but not including a plot of NAV) Please remember that the tirade was directed AT Mr Gates, not you. In some respects, this parallels the current geo political situation, the US keeps saying that the attacks are on the terrorists, while the Taliban and the mullahs scream that the US is attacking Islam. You had the misfortune to read my message on this topic. Note, I still won't use the information, won't visit the site if it is on MSN. I am rooting for the state's Attorneys General in their pursuit of the penalty phase of the Micro$oft trial. On this board, I assume EVERY stock/fund/bond/option discussed is being discussed is in the context of an existing AIM'd item or solicitation of advice on the suitability of the item for starting an AIM. Yes, ACG is a closed end bond fund. Much of its holdings seem to be long term bonds that it has held for many years (what happens to the dividend when many of those 10+% bonds mature and have to be reinvested??). It has a juicy, but not supremely so, monthly dividend. It is a fine candidate for someone who is looking for 1. Income 2. a long term holding 3. doesn't mind some volatility that AIM can help capture for your benefit. I am far more attracted to the PIC list than I do to the income oriented CEFs. I have specific goals for the overall value of my portfolio before I start pursuing Fixed Income in any significant way, other than to meet short term emergency reserves, and for my education in the characteristics of Fixed Income investments. After all, the value of a $1,000/mo annuity (i.e. $1,000/mo SSA benefit) is in the range of $135K-$145K (amount needed to pay a single premium annuity, payments for a single life - maybe more now that interest rates are down now). We started down this road based on the comments of a person who represents himself as a person much younger than either of us. A bond fund like ACG is still not appropriate for someone who is building the foundation of their investment pyramid. It works GREAT in the middle layer. The foundation needs something that is ROCK solid in its behavior. ACG and similar funds are too volatile for the foundation. The ONLY way I see it working there is IF you can accumulate enough shares that the monthly dividend is sufficient to meet ALL of your family's current financial needs. Tom appears to be there with his fixed income holdings. I will repeat the point that I made in another posting, AIM does not appear to care that you are making your initial buy when prices are high (i.e. Mkt Price > NAV). The only reason I can see to make my initial purchase when prices are low (i.e. Mkt Price < NAV) is for a Buy n' Hold position, one that has nothing to do with AIM. Your comments are most welcome. Robert