This page is an attempt to provide general guidance suggesting
"best-in-class" investments (i.e., "offshore funds") which might be suitable for
offshore investors (i.e., those seeking, for whatever reason, to invest in
investment vehicles outside their country of residence). However, each
investor's situation is different, so some or all of the recommendations on this
page may not apply to all such investors.
Offshore investors tend to have very complex criteria governing investment
selection, so, in addition to standard criteria
(e.g., passive funds, low cost, no load, etc.),
the following issues must also be considered:
Asset Class
|
Investment
|
Domicile
|
| Short-Term Bonds |
DFA Global Short Bond Fund (this fund is not yet open) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Index Fund (E/R: 0.38%; Min
US$100,000) (this fund is not yet open) |
Ireland |
| Ladder of Individual Treasury Bonds (E/R: 0.0%) |
US |
| US Large Cap Stocks |
BGI US Equity Index Fund (E/R: 0.231%; Min US$1,000,000; 0.05% Purchase
Fee; 0.05% Redemption Fee) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard US Futures Fund (E/R: 0.3%; Min US$1,000,000) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard Large Cap ETF (VV) (E/R:
0.11%) |
US |
| Vanguard Tax-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund Admiral Shares (VTCLX)
(E/R: 0.11%; Min US$10,000) |
US |
| Non-US Large Cap Stocks |
Fidelity Spartan International Index Fund - Fidelity Advantage Class (FSIVX) (E/R: 0.07%;
Min $100,000; Early
redemption fee for < 90 days) |
US |
| Vanguard Institutional Developed Markets Index Fund (VIDMX) (E/R: 0.07%;
Min $5,000,000) |
US |
| Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA) (E/R: 0.09%) |
US |
| Vanguard European Index Fund ETF Shares (VGK)(E/R: 0.12%) PLUS Vanguard Pacific
Index Fund ETF Shares (VPL) (E/R: 0.12%) |
US |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) (E/R: 0.14%) (this fund
contains both emerging and developed market stocks, including small cap) |
US |
| Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU) (E/R: 0.15%) (this fund
contains both emerging and developed market stocks) |
US |
| European Large Cap Stocks |
Vanguard European Index Fund ETF Shares (VGK) (E/R: 0.12%) |
US |
| Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VEUSX) (E/R: 0.12%;
Min $10,000; Early redemption fee for < 2 mo) |
US |
| Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (E/R: 0.50%; Min US$100,000; 0.25%
Purchase Fee) |
Ireland |
| BGI Europe ex UK Index Fund PLUS BGI UK Index Fund |
Ireland |
| SSgA BALZAC Europe Index Fund (E/R: 0.50%) |
France |
| Pacific Large Cap Stocks |
Vanguard Japan Stock Index Fund (E/R: 0.5%; Min US$100,000; 0.10%
Purchase Fee) (this fund is only Japan — Japan
makes up the overwhelming majority of the Pacific stock market) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard Pacific Index Fund ETF Shares (VPL) (E/R: 0.12%) |
US |
| BGI Japan Index Fund PLUS BGI Pacific Rim Equity Index Fund (E/R: .415%; Min US$1,000,000; 0.85%
Purchase fee; 0.85% Redemption Fee) |
Ireland |
| Global Large Cap Stocks |
Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) (E/R: 0.18%) |
US |
| Vanguard Global Stock Index Fund (E/R: 0.50%; Min US$100,000) |
Ireland |
| BGI World Equity Index Fund (E/R: 0.276%; Minimum US$1,000,000; 0.35%
Purchase Fee; 0.30% Redemption Fee) |
Ireland |
| SSgA BALZAC World Index Fund (E/R: 0.50%, 0.25% Purchase Fee, 0.20%
Redemption Fee) |
France |
| US Large Value Stocks |
DFA US Large Cap Value Portfolio (DFLVX) (E/R: 0.28%) |
US |
| Guggenheim S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV) (E/R: 0.35%) |
US |
| DFA U.S. Value Fund (This fund is not yet open) |
Ireland |
| Non-US Large Value Stocks |
DFA European Value Fund (this fund is not yet open) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard European Value Stock Index Fund (E/R: 0.50%; this fund is not
yet open) |
Ireland |
| DFA International Value Portfolio (DFIVX) (E/R: 0.45%) |
US |
| iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund (EFV) (E/R: 0.40%) |
US |
| US Small Stocks |
iShares Microcap Index Fund (IWC) (E/R: 0.60%) |
US |
| Bridgeway Ultra-Small Company Market Fund (BRSIX) (E/R: 0.65%) |
US |
| DFA US Small Companies Fund (Min US$250,000) |
Ireland |
| Non-US Small Stocks |
DFA European Small Companies Fund (Min US$250,000) PLUS DFA Pacific Basin Small
Companies Fund (Min US$250,000) |
Ireland |
| DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) (E/R: 0.45%) |
US |
| iShares MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index Fund (SCZ) (E/R: 0.40%) |
US |
| iShares FTSE Developed Small Cap ex-North America Index Fund (IFSM)
(E/R: 0.50%) |
US |
| Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small Cap Index ETF (VSS) (E/R: 0.20%)
(this fund contains both emerging and developed market stocks) |
US |
| US Small Value Stocks |
Guggenheim S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Value ETF (RZV (E/R: 0.35%) |
US |
| Emerging Markets Large Stocks |
DFA Emerging Markets Fund (this fund is not yet open) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard Emerging Market Stock Index Fund (E/R: 0.65%; Min US$100,000
— this fund is scheduled to open on June 7 2006) |
Ireland |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VWO) (E/R:
0.15%) |
US |
| PowerShares BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE) (E/R: 0.30%) |
US |
| Emerging Markets Large Value Stocks |
DFA Emerging Markets Value Fund |
Ireland |
| DFA Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (DFEVX) (E/R: 0.61%) |
US |
| REITs |
Vanguard REIT Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) (E/R: 0.10%) |
US |
| Commodity Futures |
BGI Commodity Total Return Fund (E/R: 0.35%; Min US$1,000,000; 0.1%
purchase/redemption fee) |
Ireland |
| PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) (E/R: 0.83%) |
US |
We believe the information provided here to be useful and accurate at the time
it is written.
Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be
reliable, but is not guaranteed.
No investor should invest solely on the basis of information listed here.
Before investing, it is important to consult each prospective investment's
prospectus and consider both its risk/return characteristics and its effect on
your overall portfolio.
This information is not intended to be a
substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning
advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Altruist
recommends consultation with a qualified tax adviser, CPA, financial planner, or
investment adviser. If you would like to discuss the rationale or support
for any particular idea expressed on this web page, feel free to
contact us.
