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Smarter Money: The Landis Backlash

 

The backlash against my criticism of the mutual fund industry is beginning and, as usual, I will present it along with my own view so you can make up your own minds. Yesterday, I got an incredibly well-reasoned letter that pretty much encapsulates all of the mutual fund excuses in one neat package for all to read. Here goes:

"First off, let me say that I own none of the Firsthand funds, so I am not trying to defend a position I currently have. I have been following your constant hammering of Kevin Landis lately and, frankly, I am surprised that someone like yourself who has been around this game for a while and theoretically knows how investments work is attacking Firsthand for the reasons you are.

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"Unlike a hedge fund, with which you are familiar (?), mutual funds by their charter must follow certain investment guidelines. This can and often does include the inability to go short or use much, if any, hedging techniques. Also, the amount of cash most funds can carry is limited. Thus, regardless of what the markets are doing day to day or even year to year, a mutual fund manager (unlike a hedge fund manager) simply must do as well as he/she can within the segment of the market which they are driven by their charter/prospectus to invest in. ...

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