About Michael A. Weiss, CFA Expertise I can provide high quality answers to questions about mutual funds domiciled in the United States. Overall, I have 15 years of investment experience. I am currently the Editor of <a href="http://www.mutualfundinvestor.net/">The Mutual Fund Investor</a>, a quarterly publication that provides recommendations and commentary on various no-load mutual funds. I am also currently the Chief Investment Officer of a state registered investment advisory firm that specializes in no-load mutual funds.
Experience Overall, I have 15 years of investment experience. I am currently the Editor of The Mutual Fund Investor, a quarterly publication that provides recommendations and commentary on various no-load mutual funds. To learn more about The Mutual Fund Investor, please visit <a href="http://www.mutualfundinvestor.net/">http://www.mutualfundinvestor.net/</a>. I am also currently the Chief Investment Officer of a state registered investment advisory firm that specializes in no-load mutual funds.My mutual fund experience began at a company called Lipper Analytical Services, where I researched and wrote about mutual funds. Lipper is one of the premier mutual fund research and ratings organizations. After Lipper, I worked as an investment analyst for Merrill Lynch’s multi-billion dollar Mutual Fund Advisor and Selects Programs. I also have experience working with individual stocks and bonds. I have managed investment portfolios for both Merrill Lynch Investment Managers as well as Evergreen Investments.<BR><BR><B>Organizations</B><BR>CFA Institute
CFA Society of Philadelphia
<BR><BR><B>Publications</B><BR>The Mutual Fund Investor
<BR><BR><B>Education/Credentials</B><BR>CFA charterholder
MBA in Finance and Investments from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College<BR>
Expert: Michael A. Weiss, CFA Date: 2/18/2008 Subject: Mutual Funds
Question With the volatility in today's market does it make sense to move out of Mutual funds in a 401k into a stable Insurance fund and "ride" things out?
Tom
Answer Dear Thomas Sullivan,
Thank you for the question. Please understand that I cannot provide you with personalized investment advice in this type of forum. With that said I will certainly try to help you with this issue.
No one knows what the future holds as far as broad market movements or volatility is concerned. I expect that volatility will continue to be high, which is what you should sometimes expect as an investor. Investors are generally compensated for taking risk.
I tend to be somewhat of a contrarian and tend to be more uncomfortable when markets are strong and optimistic when markets are turbulent. (Of course, no one feels good about losing money, including me.) Most people tend to have the opposite view and become very optimistic when markets are strong and pessimistic when markets are weak.
I would say that perhaps if you are uncomfortable with current allocations, you should re-evaluate your risk tolerance. If your risk tolerance is lower than you thought, then it might makes sense to take a more conservative approach.
