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: 2/25/2008 Subject: Short term investing
Question I am very new to the idea of investing.
I am saving up to renovate my bathroom in three years. Where do I put my money in the short term?
My own thoughts were...
Do I want to be in a mutual in Munis?
Do I want to be in a mutual in TIPS? I think inflation will be a big problem in the next couple of years.
Can you recommend some funds for either?
Do you have other recommendations?
Thanks for your time
Answer Hi Matt,
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 such a short time horizon and the fact you are very new to investing, makes me wonder whether you should invest this money in anything outside of a money market mutual fund.
If you are interested in mutual funds that invest in TIPS, you might want to take a look at the Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities Fund. For shorter-term munis, Fidelity, Vanguard and T. Rowe Price all have good funds in this area. Vanguard has the Short-Term and the Limited Term Tax Exempt Fund. Fidelity has the Short-Intermediate Term Muni Fund and T. Rowe Price has the Tax Free Short-Intermediate Muni Fund.
