Roth IRA, looking for advice

[MTK]

When I get my taxes back I'm looking to set up Roth IRAs for my wife and I.

I'm looking at ING Direct and here are the possible investing options, I want to be aggressive so I'm listing the most aggressive options:

Real Estate Funds:
ING Direct Real Estate Fund
ING Direct Global Real Estate Fund

Sector Funds:
Financial Services Funds
Global Science and Technology Fund

Any advice/suggestions?

[12thMan]

I think the Financial Services Fund has some upside right now.

Real Estate will probably pull back some - housing slow down. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% or more might not be a bad idea.

As a general rule, only commit what you're comfortable losing if the fund drops, say, 10% or more after you invest.

Think international too.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Real Estate will probably pull back some - housing slow down. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% or more might not be a bad idea.

Really? Everything I've heard is the housing slump is ending and most real estate markets are going to see a well-needed boost by the 3rd quarter.

[saden1]

Most of those funds you listed are value or blend funds which aren't aggressive. Global Science and Technology Fund is aggressive but it hasn't moved for the past 5.5 years which isn't a good thing when you consider the fact that it's under performing and has a ridiculous 1.75% expense ratio.

If you want to be aggressive look for mid cap or large cap growth funds. Looking at those ING performance and expense ratio I would be hard pressed to buy those funds.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Really? Everything I've heard is the housing slump is ending and most real estate markets are going to see a well-needed boost by the 3rd quarter.

I don't know about a boost in the 3Q. A lot of people say a lot of things.

The housing market has definitely slowed some, not a lot, but some. If the ecomony starts to heat up, Fed raises rates, that won't be favorable for REITs. Not a reason to stay away from them, I'm just more biased toward financials, that's all.

[MTK]

How about some of these:

ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - Global Equity Dividend Fund
ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - International Growth Fund

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

How about some of these:

ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - Global Equity Dividend Fund
ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - International Growth Fund

The International Fund has been around longer and it's more aggessive.

I take it you're limited to only ING funds.

[MTK]

I'm not limited to ING but I do like the low amount needed to start it up and I have several other accounts with them too.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

How about some of these:

ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - Global Equity Dividend Fund
ING DIRECT Orange Retirement Accounts - IRAs - International Growth Fund

ING DIRECT International Growth looks OK at best. Nothing to call home about but the good thing is that it is young and growing and might be worth taking a chance on. To be honest though, I wouldn't look at anything with less than 3 morning star ratings.

[firstdown]

You really do not want to put to much of your IRA in an agressive fund because it is what your saving for your retirement. I have mine set up something like this 20% safe stuff that will almost always grow but at a slow rate. 60% of moderate stuff that will do about average to a little above average growth. 20% in a somewhat agressive stuff but not anything over the top. Have you talked to a Financial Specialest if not you should talk to a couple and get a feel for which one has your best interest. If they start off by trying to sell you a varable annuity you need to ask alot of questions because they already have tax advantages and tend to have more cost involved which takes from your bottom line. Some do offer stuff which could offset any cost they may have but still be careful. I have a series 6 & 63 lic. but I do not sell these products because I have a specialest who does this for a me and I stick to property and auto ins. products. The reason I do not sell them is because I fell its better left to someone who does this full time and selling other ins. takes up most of my attention.

[That Guy]

i use american funds or us global. american has the lowest fees for managed funds with better returns than the S&P (lifetime, which varies between 10 and 70 years depending on the fund) and lower betas (vanguard or fidelity index funds have lower fees, but no research since they just buy what the market buys). beta is the volatility compared to the S&P (which is always 1, lower is better).

I'll get some more info up later tonight... don't have time to drag out my statements and such right now :/.

[saden1]

The general rule is you use your age to define what you should keep in low risk investments. In my case, I am 27 and I keep 27% of my money in low/moderate risk investments and the rest in aggressive funds. This means every year or two you need to re-balance your investment and make sure more of your money is safe as you near retirement.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by That Guy

beta is the volatility compared to the S&P (which is always 1, lower is better).

Lower is better if you're pushing 45 and up. As the old saying goes, no risk, no reward.

High-beta stocks are supposed to be riskier but provide a potential for higher returns; low-beta stocks pose less risk but also lower returns.

[That Guy]

well, i meant all things being equal. there are stocks returning 14% with beta under 1, and stocks returning 14% with beta's well over one.

U.S. Global Investors, Inc. | Family of No-Load Mutual Funds

American Funds

american funds has some really good "set and forget" options that'll beat any s&p index fund by a mile, and have the lowest fees for a managed fund.

I bought us global's china regional and eastern european funds a few years ago and have gotten 20% and 42% annual growth over that time. for IRAs, there is NO minimum to invest in usfunds, which is really nice.

[MTK]

I've dug up a few other IRAs I'm considering, what do you guys think of these? These are all starting to look the same to me.

Transamerica Premier Equity Inv (TEQUX) - Google Finance

Transamerica Premier Diversified Eq Inv (TPVIX) - Google Finance

Delafield (DEFIX) - Google Finance