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<title><![CDATA[Thrivent Municipal Bond A]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/forumview?bn=33332</link>
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<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/forumview?bn=33332</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Still on the money]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=8&amp;mid=8&amp;tof=1&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Although this fund has recently slipped in the Morningstar ratings (from an overall 4 stars to 3 stars, which would place it in close to the 60 percentile), a quick ratings check at Ameritrade research produced the same result as previously:   Thrivent Municipal Bond was recommended above 4 other funds, all with 4-5 star ratings, most of them no-load, and most with a slightly higher return. (The funds were the muni goliaths run by Vanguard, T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, and T.I.A.A.).   Even though Thrivent had the highest expense ratio, its extremely low turnover per year and its high sharpe ratio made it, according to Ameritrade, the best value and the pick of the pack.   (Somewhat surprising to me was the 2nd highest expense ratio--T.I.A.A., which handles most of the retirement accounts--401K's, IRAs, etc.--for college teachers. Most of us have been brain-washed into assuming that T.I.A.A. is practically a non-profit service with an unbeatable record operated as a public "service" for America's educators. That myth is beginning to be dispelled.)]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:50:42 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[caponsacchi]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Is this fund an investment in Russian nuclear power?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=4&amp;mid=6&amp;tof=2&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[I retract the above.   Janet has steered this big ship back into calm and prosperous waters.   Once part of the tiny family of funds run by Lutheran Brotherhood, Thrivent Municipal is now one of a host of funds run by Thrivent.   Moreover, for more than a year now, it's blown away all of the other Thrivent funds.   Currently, it's Thrivent's flagship and is in the top 10% of all muni funds.   Anyone who's had their life savings 100% in this fund is looking awfully good about now instead of the 40-60% losses suffered by most mutual fund owners.   2008 taught me to stay away from mutual funds (ETFs are superior by a long shot), with the lone exception of Thrivent Muni.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:17:30 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[caponsacchi]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Is this fund an investment in Russian nuclear power?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=4&amp;mid=5&amp;tof=3&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[take a look at a chart of ORNAX for real muni pain, or a closed end fund from Nuveen...If you can't take a small loss, put your money in CD's.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:59:55 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[aferne81]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Is this fund an investment in Russian nuclear power?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=4&amp;mid=4&amp;tof=4&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[I can't believe the chart on this fund.   In the the last couple of weeks Thrivent Muni has fallen off the the cliff, losing 10-15 points per day.   All those Republicans who tremble at the thought of a tax increase to the wealthiest 5% of the population, should stick their money in speculative stocks--or, worse, municipal bonds if they want to know what it's like to have your retirement assets eaten away.   There's no reason whatsoever to expect a muni fund like this to recover those losses, and at this point there's no evidence to support "cost-averaging"--not when a fund loses as much in a single day as it previously had in six months.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:17:30 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[caponsacchi]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: 4+ % return?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=3&amp;tof=5&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Thanks, I think I will hold.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:36:47 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[chiturtle]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: 4+ % return?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=2&amp;tof=6&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Usually very well, though these are crazy times.   I don't recall the shares going down 15c in one day before, and by doing so, they're hit their low for the year.   Why?   The banks have collapsed, tens of thousands of jobs are lost, so inflation shouldn't be a threat.   Perhaps so many have lost wealth that the tax breaks of a muni fund are no longer compelling. Or perhaps smart money is betting that there will be a much bigger collapse, with defaulting on bonds extending even to conservative munis.   In any case, if you pay the sales charge, then immediately find your investment is down 15%, it's a bummer.   You can expect decent returns on your money, but it will take years to make up the loss of the total.   So it's a good fund for income, but can be a real loser for gain (same as any other muni).

The fund usually claims 3 out of 5 stars from Morningstar, but if you look at its record over the past 10 years, it's usually in the top 20% of the municipal funds out there.   The manager, Grangard, has been with them a long time, another plus.   If you're not out to get the very last fractional percentage point of an advantage, the Thrivent Muni is a solid bet.   I have no qualms in that regard.   Recently Thrivent offered the opportunity to purchase more shares without a sales charge.   Hope they do so again, because at these depressed prices it may be a good time to increase your position, but screw the 5% sales charge.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:36:46 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[caponsacchi]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[4+ % return?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_T/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=33332&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=1&amp;tof=7&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[I have just started to follow this fund. How does it stack up compared to the others?]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:36:46 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[chiturtle]]></author>
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